French National Assembly debates new sexual violence legislation

The French National Assembly has begun examining a comprehensive bill aimed at addressing sexual and gender-based violence. One of the most contentious provisions involves increasing the penalty for the murder of sex workers from a maximum of 30 years to life imprisonment. While the government and some lawmakers support the measure to protect vulnerable populations, members of the left-wing opposition have criticized it as unnecessary “penal escalation.”

In a separate development, deputies unanimously approved an article extending the “sliding statute of limitations” mechanism—previously reserved for minors—to adult victims.

Amidst these legislative debates, questions have been raised regarding the role of the Catholic Church. While the Church has implemented prevention and reparation measures following the CIASE report, critics note a perceived lack of active engagement in the current national debate compared to its high-profile involvement in issues such as end-of-life legislation. Observers emphasize that true transformation requires changing institutional cultures and addressing past failures in reporting and victim support.