Sexual harassment reports rise by 30% in France after Weinstein scandal

Sexual violence, assault, rape and harassment reports have jumped by almost a third in France, following the international scandal surrounding the Hollywood allegations.

The rise, described as “exceptional” is believed to have been prompted by victims feeling empowered to come forward after the #MeToo and #BalanceTonPorc (squeal on the pig) campaigns on social media.

The increase in reports, from October, which shot up from 1,213 (in the same period last year) to 1,577 (a rise of 30%), was revealed by an official source to Agence France-Presse.

Nicole Belloubet, justice minister of France said that the legal system was certainly equipped to deal with the extra workload, however she was examining the possibility of allowing people to register their reports online.

“The victim is at home; she might be able to lodge a “pre-complaint” online without going to the police station … that will then be followed up,” said Belloubet.

Investigations into the alleged behaviour of movie-mogul Harvey Weinstein, as well as others, have been launched and just last week, director general of the gendarmerie national, called for a “general mobilisation”, to prevent violence against women.

“I’m counting on each of you to do your utmost to combat violence against women with determination and efficiency,” wrote Richard Lizurey.

He said gendarmes – part of the military – should be aware of even the slightest evidence of violence, which, he added, “should systematically result in a prosecution and pay particular attention in rooting out the growing problem of “cyber violence … [and] where victims express their distress on the internet”.

The report came as the French parliament prepares urgent legislation to set a legal age below which a child cannot be considered to have consented to sex, which a minister has suggested could be as young as 13 years. 

Demand for a new law, expected to be presented to the Assemblée nationale early next year, has been sparked by two shocking recent cases in which adult males have been cleared of raping pre-adolescent girls. 

Last week, a man was acquitted of rape after a court found no evidence he had forced an 11-year-old girl to have sex. The man, aged 22 at the time, accused the girl, who later became pregnant, of saying she was 14, nearly 15. The age of consent in France is 15. 

Under French law, for the rape of a child to be considered a crime it has to be proven there was “constraint threats, violence or surprise”.

Victims’ organisations point out a child should not be presumed to have consented in any situation and is often panic stricken, terrified and unable to react.

The country’s supreme council has suggested 13 years as an age under which consent cannot be presumed in any instance. Parliamentarians prefer 15 years.

“We have to look at the median age of emotional maturity in Europe. It’s somewhere between 13 and 15,” said Marlène Schiappa, the gender equality minister.

 “We have to allow the judge to take individual situations into account,” she added. Belloubet is also looking at extending the time limit for child rape cases to be prosecuted from 20 to 30 years. 

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, is expected to address sexual violence on 25 November, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.