Paris – June 9, 2026: During nationwide protests held on Monday, thousands of French citizens demonstrated against the judiciary’s role in the Lyhanna case. Following this, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that the statute of limitations for crimes committed against minors would be reassessed. The protests focused on the perceived insufficient handling of sexual abuse cases involving minors by the judicial system.
According to French criminal law, the current statute of limitations for serious crimes against minors is 20 years, and for particularly severe crimes such as murder or rape, it is 30 years. Lesser offenses usually have a limitation period of ten years. These limitation periods start counting from the victim’s 18th birthday, meaning the time between the offense and the victim reaching adulthood is not included. Therefore, victims generally have only a very limited time window to take legal action.
Discussions about possibly extending the statute of limitations are not new. As early as 2017, proposals were made to extend the limitation period for major crimes to 20 years and for minor crimes to 6 years. The goal was to give victims of violent crimes, especially sexual abuse, more time to report incidents, thus increasing the likelihood of judicial proceedings. At the same time, these proposals reflect the growing social awareness of the long-term psychological effects of such crimes.
Supporters of extending the limitation period argue that many victims need years or even decades before they find the courage to report incidents. The current statutes of limitations may cause many cases to expire before judicial accountability can be pursued. On the other hand, opponents fear this might undermine the principle of the rule of law. Excessively long limitation periods could lead to evidence deterioration over time, affecting the rights of the accused. Moreover, this might increase the burden on the judiciary.
Prime Minister Lecornu plans to initiate discussions in the coming weeks with judicial experts, victim protection organizations, and social representatives, aiming to find a compromise that safeguards the rights of victims while upholding the rule of law. During this process, awareness of the long-term psychological impact of violence on minors will also play an important role.
The current debate highlights the complexity of the issue regarding the statute of limitations for crimes against minors. The planned consultations may lead to significant reforms of French criminal law, strengthening victims’ rights. Whether and to what extent the statute of limitations will be extended will be deliberated within political institutions in the coming months.
Sources
- Public Service
- Le Monde