Women Demand Abolition of Statute of Limitations in France

Over 50 women in France unite to call for abolishing the statute of limitations on sexual assault and rape claims, seeking justice for their trauma.

A group of women in France, all of whom have alleged sexual assault or rape, is rallying for the abolition of the statute of limitations that they argue has barred them from pursuing justice in criminal cases.

For the first time, more than 50 women have come together to demand a change in French law regarding reporting these serious crimes. The current statute allows for a 20-year reporting limitation for adults, and a 30-year limitation for minors from the date the crime took place.

The collective, named Survivors’ Voices, emphasized that the restriction placed on reporting their assaults made them feel as if their cases “don’t matter simply because of the date” they occurred. Thysia Husiman, one of the women who spoke at a press conference, shared her experience of being raped at 18 in Paris by model agent Jean-Luc Brunel. She stated, “Rape doesn’t expire, trauma doesn’t expire.” Brunel was found hanged in his cell in La Santé prison in 2022, where he was being held on suspicion of the rape of minors and related charges.

Lisa Brinkworth, a former BBC producer, is also fighting against the statute of limitations. She claims she was sexually assaulted while working undercover for a documentary that aimed to expose abuses in the fashion industry, focusing on Gerald Marie, the head of Elite Model Management. Brinkworth took her case to the European Court of Human Rights after it was dismissed due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. She had reported her assault nearly 20 years later, in 2021.

At the press conference, Brinkworth discussed the obstacles she faced during her production. “At the time I was directed not to report the assault by people who worked for the BBC,” she said. She highlighted how reporting the incident could have severely affected the production of a high-profile series, adding that the BBC’s lack of assistance hindered her ability to pursue her case further.

After two appeals, including one to France’s highest court, Brinkworth learned her case could not proceed because it had exceeded the statute of limitations. Despite her struggles, she continues to advocate for the abolition of these legal restrictions, feeling that the system fails survivors by prioritizing time over trauma.

The situation prompted a statement from a lawyer representing Gérald Marie, who claimed that the allegations had already been thoroughly investigated in France, resulting in no further action. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the BBC responded to Brinkworth’s claims, stating that they take such matters seriously and have provided materials to help her pursue her case.