Oct. 30 (UPI) -- France changed its rape and sexual assault laws to include a lack of consent, ending a battle women's rights activists have fought for years.
In the past, rape or sexual abuse in France was defined as "any form of sexual penetration committed with the use of violence, coercion, threat or surprise." Now the law will add that sexual acts done to another without consent constitute rape.
The new law will say that if the sexual act is committed through violence, constraint, threat or surprise, then there is no consent. Consent must be "free and informed, specific, prior and revocable," and that it is determined "in light of the circumstances."
The momentum for the change came in light of the case of Gisele Pelicot, whose husband was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging her, raping her and inviting other men to rape her while she was unconscious. There were 50 men found guilty in the case, and authorities believe there were likely about 70 of them involved.
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