Key facts
- Over 50 women alleging sexual assault and rape in France have united to demand legal reform.
- They are calling for the abolition of France's statute of limitations for sexual assault cases.
- Current French law imposes a 20-year statute of limitations for adult victims and 30 years for minors.
- Survivors' Voices collective stated the time limits make victims feel their cases 'don't matter simply because of the date' they occurred.
- Former BBC producer Lisa Brinkworth is pursuing a case at the European Court of Human Rights after her allegation was dismissed due to the statute of limitations.
A group of over 50 women in France, alleging rape and sexual assault, have collectively called for the abolition of the statute of limitations, arguing that current legal time limits prevent them from seeking justice. The collective, named Survivors' Voices, stated that the restrictions make victims feel their cases are dismissed due to the date of the offense.
"Rape doesn't expire, trauma doesn't expire," said Thysia Husiman, who alleges she was raped at 18 by model agent Jean-Luc Brunel. Brunel died in prison in 2022 while facing charges related to the alleged rape and sexual exploitation of minors.
Former BBC producer Lisa Brinkworth announced her intention to take her case to the European Court of Human Rights. Brinkworth claims she was sexually assaulted by Gerald Marie, former head of Elite Model Management, while working undercover for a BBC documentary in 1998. Her case was dismissed in France because the 20-year statute of limitations had expired. Brinkworth stated that she was advised by BBC personnel not to report the assault at the time, fearing it would disrupt the production of a high-profile documentary. She also alleges that the BBC is withholding crucial evidence from the raw footage of her investigation.
A lawyer for Gerald Marie stated that the allegations were thoroughly investigated in France and closed without further action. A spokesperson for the BBC affirmed their commitment to assisting Ms. Brinkworth, stating they have provided material to French authorities and Ms. Brinkworth directly, and that she is free to speak about her experiences.