In an article published in ‘Le Monde’, celebrities such as Isabelle Adjani, Emmanuelle Béart and Juliette Binoche stress the need to ‘clarify the terms rape and consent’ and ‘include a definition of incest’ in the legislation

‘Who is really paying attention to us? Seven years after the launch of the #Metoo movement, around a hundred celebrities, including many actresses, call for a comprehensive law against sexual violence in an opinion piece published in Le Monde on Tuesday 14 May. ‘There are 100 of us, but in reality we represent hundreds of thousands’, say the signatories. ‘Our #MeToo testimonies have revealed a reality deeply rooted in denial: sexist and sexual violence is systemic, far from being isolated cases. Despite this, each new case seems to relegate the previous one; who is really paying attention to us?’

The signatories include actresses Isabelle Adjani, Charlotte Arnould, Emmanuelle Béart, Juliette Binoche, Emma de Caunes, Judith Godrèche, Isild Le Besco and Muriel Robin, as well as authors Leïla Slimani, Christine Angot and Vanessa Springora, and actor Philippe Torreton.

‘We’re not just statistics: women and men from all walks of life are joining forces to call for a comprehensive law against sexual and gender-based violence, one that is ambitious and backed up by resources. Despite the courage of the victims, impunity continues to flourish.’

In particular, the signatories denounce as ‘unacceptable’ the fact that the rate of complaints of sexual violence ‘has reached the alarming figure of 94% in 2022’, and warn that they will no longer tolerate ‘empty promises’. ‘Simply adding the word “consent” to the law will not be enough to make up for France’s considerable backwardness in this area’, say the signatories, referring to the commitment made in March by Emmanuel Macron.

They are all calling for ‘a comprehensive law that will, in particular, clarify the definition of rape and consent, introduce the definition of incest, put serial rapists on trial for all known assaults, extend protection orders to rape victims, make it easier to gather evidence, create specialised units and prohibit investigations into victims’ sexual histories’. This law must also guarantee ‘immediate and free access to psycho-traumatological care, and finally provide the necessary financial resources for this public policy and the associations that implement it’, they add.