France advances legislation on sexual violence and civil liability for rioters

The French National Assembly and Senate have made significant legislative progress regarding the protection of victims of sexual and gender-based violence. The Senate unanimously adopted a proposal to ensure victims are automatically informed when their aggressor is released from custody. This measure follows the tragic suicide of a teenager in 2025 who was unaware of his attacker's release.

Additionally, the National Assembly passed a comprehensive law aimed at strengthening the fight against sexual violence against women and children. The legislation proposes specialized jurisdictions and magistrates, improved investigation procedures, and enhanced protections for minors, including better identification of violence within the national education system.

In a separate legislative move, the French government is advancing the “casseurs-payeurs” (rioters-payers) bill. This project seeks to establish collective civil liability for damages caused during riots. To complement this, a ministerial circular signed by the Ministers of Justice and Housing aims to immediately reduce or eliminate social benefits for individuals whose income is derived from illicit activities such as theft or trafficking.