A coalition of French rape victims and advocacy groups is mounting an increasingly vocal campaign for systemic reform of the country’s judicial handling of sexual violence. Drawing explicit comparisons to the United Kingdom’s legal framework, they argue that British statutes and procedural safeguards provide a more effective model for securing convictions and protecting complainants.
The call for change follows a series of high-profile cases in France where victims have faced protracted trials, invasive questioning and low conviction rates. Data from the French Ministry of Justice indicates that fewer than 1% of reported rapes result in a conviction, a figure that ranks among the lowest in Europe. By contrast, conviction rates in England and Wales stand at approximately 5%, with a more streamlined process for gathering evidence and cross-examining witnesses.
Central to the French activists’ demands is the adoption of a statutory definition of consent, a principle already enshrined in UK law since the Sexual Offences Act 2003. French legislation currently lacks an explicit consent-based framework, relying instead on criteria of violence, coercion or surprise. This ambiguity, campaigners say, often leaves victims’ accounts subject to subjective interpretation by magistrates and juries.
“The absence of a clear consent standard means that victims must prove they resisted, which places an undue burden on them,” said Dr Camille Lefevre, a legal scholar at Sciences Po. “Britain’s approach, which focuses on the defendant’s belief in consent and whether that belief was reasonable, shifts the emphasis onto the accused’s behaviour and mental state. That is a more rigorous and fair system.”
The campaign also highlights disparities in pre-trial procedures. In France, victims are frequently subjected to psychiatric evaluations and detailed scrutiny of their sexual history, a practice that Britain has largely curtailed through Sections 41-43 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999. These provisions restrict the admissibility of a complainant’s sexual history unless deemed relevant by a judge, reducing the risk of secondary victimisation.
Another point of contention is the role of specialised courts. The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service operates a network of Rape and Serious Sexual Offences units, which bring dedicated expertise to case preparation and prosecution. France, in contrast, relies on generalist investigating magistrates, who may lack specific training in trauma-informed interviewing or forensic evidence gathering.
“We have watched how British courts handle these cases with a focus on protecting the victim’s dignity while still ensuring a fair trial,” said Marie Duval, spokesperson for the collective ‘Nous Toutes’. “Our system treats complainants as witnesses to their own assault, not as full participants in the justice process. That must change.”
In response, French Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti has acknowledged the need for reform but stopped short of endorsing a wholesale adoption of British practices. Speaking to the National Assembly, he described the UK model as “interesting” but noted that France’s civil law tradition posed obstacles to direct transplantation. “We are examining ways to strengthen our legal tools without undermining the foundational principles of our inquisitorial system,” he said.
Campaigners remain sceptical. A petition with over 200,000 signatures has been submitted to the Élysée Palace, demanding a parliamentary commission to investigate legal reforms. The pressure comes as France prepares to host a major international conference on gender-based violence next spring.
For now, the protesters show no signs of relenting. Every week, they gather outside the Palais de Justice in Paris, holding placards that read “Consent is not a crime” and “Justice for all victims”. The British Embassy has declined to comment publicly, but diplomatic sources suggest officials have been in informal contact with French counterparts to share best practice.
The debate reflects a broader reckoning across Europe over how legal systems should evolve to address sexual violence. As French victims point across the Channel, the message is clear: there is a template for change, and it is already in use.
