Published
Update
Video length: 11 min
Sexual violence: “We must introduce this notion of non-consent”, assures a former minister responsible for equality between women and men
While many complaints of rape and sexual violence are dismissed, Isabelle Lovins-Rome, former minister responsible for equality between women and men, is a guest on 12/13 info, Thursday April 4.
(franceinfo)
While many complaints of rape and sexual violence are dismissed, the magistrate and former minister was a guest on 12/13 info, Thursday April 4.
According to a study published Thursday April 4, 86% of complaints of sexual violence are dismissed. “What is difficult to prove is not necessarily the violence, it is not necessarily the traces of blows (…) But when there are no traces of blows, when we cannot establish a particular constraint , there is dismissal of proceedings, or dismissal of proceedings or acquittal”explains Isabelle Lonvis-Rome, former Minister Delegate in charge of Equality between Women and Men, guest of 12/13 info.
“Making a complaint has a cost”
“I think we need to introduce this notion of non-consent,” she assures. She suggests that “the four elements currently constituting rape, violence, coercion, threat or surprise”, form the presumption of non-consent. “The presumption of innocence remains a founding principle of our rule of law”, recalls Isabelle Lonvis-Rome, who draws on her experience as a magistrate. But “if we want justice to make it possible to repair all the suffering which today has not been repaired, we must broaden the scope of the definition of rape”, she insists. “For a long time, the victims were silent (…) What I have observed for years (…) is that it has a cost to file a complaint, it has a moral cost”she specifies.
