France enshrines need for consent into rape law in wake of Gisèle Pelicot case

The debate over the change in legislation gained renewed urgency following the mass rape trial which shocked France last year.

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Previously, rape or sexual abuse in France had been defined as "any form of sexual penetration committed with the use of violence, coercion, threat or surprise".

Now, the law will say that all sexual acts done to another without consent constitute rape.

The change is the result of a cross-party, years-long debate which gained renewed urgency after last year's Pelicot rape trial, in which 50 men were found guilty of sexually assaulting or raping Gisèle Pelicot while she had been drugged unconscious by her husband Dominique.

The defence of many of the accused hinged on the fact they could not be guilty of rape because they were unaware Ms Pelicot was not in a position to give her consent.