Gender and sexual violence: 503 votes in favour, none against, and a "full" text still under discussion

The National Assembly adopted on Tuesday 13 October 2026, at first reading, the bill providing a "full" response to sexual and gender-based violence against women and children. The official ballot established 503 votes in favour, none against and 67 abstentions. The Telegram, RFI, Nice-Matin and Europe 1 report the same vote, not separate legislative stages. The text must now continue in the Senate. [S1] [S2] [S3] [S5] [S8]

A unanimous vote, not all Members

The result reflects an absence of a vote against, but not an endorsement by all participants in the voting. LFI MPs abstained, denouncing in particular the abolition of protections for foreign women. There is still a discrepancy in the release article: its hat announces 507 favourable votes, while its body of text indicates 503. The official analysis of the vote is in favour of the latter and confirms the 67 abstentions. [S2] [S4] [S8]

The proposal was carried out by eight political groups, from communists to the Republican right. His inscription in the agenda came after the emotion caused by the murder of Lyhanna. The ambition is to deal with the entire path of victims, from tracing violence to redress, rather than just intervening on criminal sanctions. According to RFI, the text has increased from 69 to over 110 articles over the course of the debate. [S1] [S2] [S3]

Investigations, justice and prevention: an expanded response

A first set of measures concerns the handling of complaints. RFI and franceinfo describe a minimum survey base designed to avoid their too rapid removal. Franceinfo states that it includes hearings and the search for other potential victims. It also includes specialized investigation units and a judicial organization specializing in sexual and domestic violence. These provisions are, at this stage, covered by a text adopted at first reading, not by rules already in force. [S2] [S6] [S7]

On the criminal side, the MPs retained an autonomous offence of incest, the definition of which would be extended to the first cousins. The law also provides for an offence of unacceptably sending images of a sexual nature, punishable by one year's imprisonment and a fine of EUR 15 000, with a further increase when the victim is a minor. Another offence is the repeated digital geolocation of a person without his consent. [S6]

Another focus is prevention and care. A school interview to detect violence would become annual and compulsory from 2032, from kindergarten to senior school; four interviews would be distributed over school by then. The scheme also includes a course of care for minors who have been victims and the removal of advances for costs, leftovers and overpayments for care following sexual violence. [S2] [S6]

Revised provisions until the last day

The chronology of the proceedings explains some differences between the proceedings. Franceinfo describes the rejection of specific leave for victims and the weakening of the use of specialized brigades in previous debates. Release reports, however, that second deliberations on Tuesday afternoon allowed for the adoption of ten-day paid leave and the restoration, within three years, of the obligation to use specialized units. These last minute developments must be distinguished from the previous state of the text. [S4] [S6]

The disagreement over foreign women remains central. Franceinfo mentions in particular the rejection of the prohibition to impose an obligation to leave French territory against a foreign victim who has lodged a complaint. Socialist rapporteur Céline Thiébault-Martinez deplores these abolitions while defending the overall progress. On the contrary, LFI considers the response insufficient and too repressive. The environmental group has chosen to support the text despite its reservations, in particular its budget. [S2] [S4] [S6]

The Senate and the financial means remain decisive

The proponents of the proposal want final adoption before the presidential election, but this goal is not an agreed timetable. The passage to the Senate may further amend the provisions voted. Libération also underlines the importance of future budgetary arbitration. The stage reached in the Assembly is therefore important, without yet guaranteeing the final content of the law or the means of its implementation. [S2] [S4]