The Senate debates, Thursday, January 21, a bill to create a new sex crime to protect minors under 13.
Two and a half years after the entry into force of the Schiappa law against sexual and gender-based violence, the issue is in the spotlight after the revelation of the Olivier Duhamel case, accused by his stepdaughter Camille Kouchner of 'raping her twin brother when they were teenagers in the 1980s.
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For the author of the bill, Annick Billon, centrist president of the delegation for women's rights, it is a question of laying down in the law "a new prohibition: that of any sexual relationship with a minor of 13 years", without questioning the question of consent.
The new offense would be constituted in the event of sexual penetration, of whatever nature, as soon as the perpetrator knew or could not ignore the age of the victim.
"This text was not produced in reaction to the political and media explosion caused by Camille Kouchner's book 'La Familia Grande', but this book echoes the bill and offers the legislator the opportunity to position himself clearly, ”said Annick Billon.
The Law Commission also ruled Wednesday in favor of an amendment by Senator PS Marie-Pierre de La Gontrie aimed at strengthening the sanction incurred for incestuous sexual assault on a minor, which would be punished by "10 years and 150,000 euros fine ".
Sunday, it is the first lady, Brigitte Macron who called for a judicial reform to fight against incest.
Debate on non-consent
The bill examined Thursday plans to strengthen the protection of young people from 13 to 15 years old, but the age threshold at 13 years for the establishment of non-consent is considered insufficient by the associations for the protection of children who push that this limit be set at 15 years.
Age is also debated among senators.
The question of prescription is another delicate point.
The text aligns the statute of limitations for sexual crimes against minors of 13 years with that of rape, that is to say thirty years from the majority of the victim.
Annick Billon proposes to extend it to forty years.
To fight against "omerta", the senators will also examine an amendment by rapporteur Marie Mercier (LR) which extends the limitation period for the offense of not reporting ill-treatment, assault or sexual abuse inflicted on a minor.
From six years today, this period would be increased to ten years, counting from the majority of the victim, in the event of a misdemeanor and to 20 years in the event of a crime.
With AFP
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