French lawmakers back move to scrap time limits for grave crimes against minors

PARIS: France’s National Assembly has voted in favour of removing the statute of limitations for the most serious crimes committed against minors during debate on a child protection bill.

The amendment was tabled by Green lawmaker Arnaud Bonnet and approved on Thursday by 93 votes to 51. Under the proposal, the principle of imprescriptibility, which French law has so far reserved for crimes against humanity, would be extended to a range of grave offences involving children.

According to the amendment’s explanatory memorandum, the change is intended to respond to the long delays that often mark the reporting of child abuse cases, with trauma, fear, shame and psychological control by perpetrators cited as key reasons victims may come forward much later.

Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin backed the amendment during the parliamentary debate, although he also cautioned that it could face constitutional objections.

Offences covered by the amendment

If enacted, the measure would eliminate time limits for prosecuting several serious crimes against minors, including rape, torture, kidnapping, human trafficking and certain war crimes committed against children.

The amendment also seeks to end France’s existing sliding limitation periods system. Under that mechanism, the time limit for prosecuting some sexual crimes against children could be prolonged only if the same offender committed another offence against a different child before the original limitation period had run out.

Civil claims also addressed

In addition to criminal proceedings, the amendment provides that civil claims for damages arising from offences covered by imprescriptibility would no longer be subject to limitation periods. However, such civil claims would lapse upon the death of the alleged offender.

The measure was adopted as part of the National Assembly’s examination of the child protection bill and will now move forward in the legislative process.