Reforms Against Sexual Violence Against Minors to Be Implemented Before End of Term

Paris – 18.06.2026: The French Minister for Equality between Women and Men, Aurore Bergé, has promised that significant reforms to protect minors from sexual violence will be implemented before the end of the current legislative period. Ahead of the debate scheduled for July 15 in the French Parliament on the draft law to protect children, Bergé emphasized the urgency of legally enshrining the principle of the non-statute of limitations for sexual violence. The aim is to provide victims comprehensive legal protection and ensure that criminal complaints can be filed even years after the offenses.

The draft law foresees that sexual offenses against minors can be prosecuted criminally without any limitation period. This change responds to demands from numerous victims’ organizations and experts, as traumatic experiences are often only processed and reported long after the act. The legal introduction of the non-statute of limitations is intended to significantly strengthen the protection of those affected and provide them with greater legal certainty.

This initiative is part of an intense societal debate in France about the prevention and prosecution of sexualized violence. In recent years, abuse scandals in various institutions have repeatedly become public— including schools, sports clubs, and church organizations—causing great public attention and increasing political pressure to act.

Minister Bergé stressed that the protection of children and adolescents is the highest priority. A consistent criminal prosecution of sexualized violence must be possible without time restrictions, especially in light of the severe long-term consequences for victims. She described the planned legal amendment as a “necessary and indispensable step” in the fight against sexual abuse.

Legal challenges remain, particularly regarding the compatibility of the non-statute of limitations with established legal principles and the precise design of criminal proceedings. The upcoming parliamentary debate will address these questions thoroughly. At the same time, the protection package includes other measures such as prevention, educational programs, and improved support systems for those affected.

The ministry is making clear with this initiative its intent to eliminate structural weaknesses in child protection and to sustainably strengthen the rights of minors. In the coming weeks, parliament and the public will closely follow the development of the law. With this legislative initiative, France is joining the European discussion, where similar reforms to improve victims’ rights and the prosecution of sexualized violence against children are being debated.

Whether and how the new regulations will work in practice remains to be seen. However, the initiative marks a clear political will to adapt the legal system to the needs of those affected and to significantly improve their protection.