Sexual offenses against minors

The law punishes the following acts of a sexual nature:

• Sexual proposal, whatever its content, made by an adult to a minor under the age of 15 years, via internet (on a cat, a social network,...)
• Minor bribery, where an adult imposes on a minor (possibly via the Internet) comments, acts, scenes or images that may lead him or her to adopt a degrading sexual attitude or behavior (e.g. having sexual relations in front of a minor)
• Sexual assault, which is a non-penetrative sexual act, committed by violence, coercion (against one's will), threats, or surprise (touching)
• Sexual assault, which refers to any conduct related to sexual activity (with or without penetration) adopted by a major against a minor under the age of 15 without violence, coercion, threats or surprise
• Rape (act of sexual or oral penetration committed by violence, coercion, threat or surprise)
• Sextortion, which involves inciting a minor to transmit or disseminate images or videos in which he or she carries out pornographic acts
• Use of a minor prostitute

Moral coercion (pressure on a person's will) and surprise (taking a person unprepared) are presumed, i.e., automatically retained.

Since April 21, 2021, sexual assault or rape committed by a parent or family member, but also by a parent's partner (spouse, Civil partnership partner, cohabiting partner), is considered incestuous. It is no longer necessary to check whether the minor had given his consent.

Alert the police and gendarmerie by phone

In case of emergency, and only in this situation, it is possible to alert the police or gendarmerie by telephone call, or by SMS, if you are unable to speak.

Alert transit agents

If you are a victim or witness to an assault on public transportation, you can contact an officer 24 hours a day, call 3117 or text 31177. You can also download the 3117 app.

Thus, the victim is located more quickly and the triggering of the intervention of the agents is facilitated.

Preserving clues and evidence

It is important to go to the police station or gendarmerie as soon as possible after the assault to allow investigators to make any useful findings. It is important to preserve all clues (fingerprints, DNA traces, etc.) that could be used to identify the perpetrator and to have him convicted in court. Keep clothes worn at the time of the assault and avoid washing.

It may be useful to retrieve the names and contact details of those who may have witnessed the attack.

An instant messenger (chat) allows you to chat with a police officer or a member of the gendarmerie. Chat history can be deleted from your computer, mobile phone or tablet at any time.

Report rape or sexual assault

The minor may to lodge a complaint himself.

His parents or his representatives (guardian, curator, etc.) may also act on his behalf.

Limitation periods

The law provides for longer limitation periods for sexual offenses against minors: the victim who is a minor has a longer period than the normal period for lodging a complaint.

Thus, the victim can file a complaint up to 30 years after the age of majority in the most serious cases:

• Rape
• Procuring of minors (i.e. profiting financially from the prostitution of a minor)

Complaints can be filed up to 20 years after the victim's majority in the following cases:

• Sexual assault
• Sexual assault with aggravating circumstance (aggression by several perpetrators, threat with weapon,...)

Complaints can be filed up to 10 years after the victim’s majority in other sexual offenses:

• Sexual proposition
• Bribery of minors
• Use of child prostitution

Since April 21, 2021, the limitation period has been extended in cases of non-reporting of sexual assault on minors. It is increased to 10 years for sexual assault and 20 years for rape. In addition, there is a slippery limit: where the perpetrator of the assault subsequently committed further assaults of a character on one or more other minors, the period begins to run from the last offense committed.

Constitution of a civil party

A minor cannot to be a civil party himself, but his parents can do it on his behalf.

One ad hoc administrator may also be designated for this purpose by the courts, when the interests of the minor are threatened by the attitude or failure of his parents or guardians.

The minor may have a lawyer appointed ex officio by the judge.

Recording of the hearing

In order to avoid the trauma associated with the multiplication of hearings, the audio or audiovisual recording of the hearing of a minor victim of a sexual offense is mandatory.

A copy of the record shall be made. It may be viewed or heard only by the parties to the trial, lawyers or experts in the presence of the investigating judge or a registrar.

Presence of a third party at the hearing

The hearing of the minor may be conducted in the presence of a psychologist, a doctor specializing in children, a family member, the ad hoc administrator or any other person entrusted with a mandate from the juvenile judge.

Reporting obligation for third parties

A dedicated online service allows you to report any pedophile content on the Internet (website, video...):

Report illegal internet content (internet-reporting: Pharos)

Appointment of administrator

The public prosecutor (or the investigating judge) may appoint a ad hoc administrator to protect the minor. This is particularly the case when the parents appear to be perpetrators or accomplices in the sexual abuse.

The administrator is appointed from among the child's relatives or from a list of personalities.

He may exercise, on behalf of the minor, the rights granted to the civil party.

Educational assistance

The children's judge takes the necessary measures to ensure the moral, material and emotional security of the minor.

Medical and psychological assistance

A minor who has been the victim of a sexual offense may be the subject of a medical and psychological examination. It is used to assess the extent of the harm suffered and to determine whether appropriate care is needed.

The medical treatment and care required by the abuse suffered are fully covered by the Health Insurance.

Victim assistance

Several structures can provide you with support as a victim of a sexual offense.

The site Victims' Journey guides you through each step.

You can also hire a lawyer if you want to take legal action.

Trial in camera

In the event of a trial, the court may decide that the trial will be held in camera, i.e. not open to the public.

Sentences for sexual offering

Sending sexual proposals to a minor under 15 years via internet (via a cat, a social network...) is punishable by 2 years' imprisonment and €30,000 of fine.

These sentences are increased to 5 years' imprisonment and €75,000 a fine where the proposals have been followed by a meeting.

Penalties for corruption of minors

The minor bribery shall be punished by 5 years' imprisonment and €75,000 of fine.

Corruption of minors carried out via the internet, in a school, or on the premises of the administration shall be punished by 10 years in prison and €100,000 fine if the victim is under 15 years of age.

The minor bribery via internet is punished with 10 years in prison and €1 000 000 fine if the following 2 conditions are met:

• It is carried out in an organized band
• The victim is under 15

Sentences for Sexual Assault

Sexual assaults other than rape, committed against a minor under 15 years of age, are punishable by 10 years in prison and €150,000 of fine.

The penalties are more severe, particularly in the following cases:

• Sexual offense committed by a ascendant (incest) means a person having de jure or de facto authority over the victim or abusing the authority conferred on him by his duties
• Use of a weapon
• Offense committed by several persons

In case ofsexual assault following contact between the perpetrator and the victim via the internet, the penalty is 10 years in prison and €150,000 of fine.

In addition, a sexual offense against a minor committed abroad by a Frenchman or a person habitually living in France is punishable by French law.

Sentences for sexual assault

Sexual assault on a child victim under 15 years of age is punishable by 7 years in prison and €100,000 of fine.

Sentences are higher (10 years in prison and €150,000 of fines) in the following cases:

• Sexual assault is committed by a ascendant (incest) or by a person having de jure or de facto authority over the victim, or abusing the authority conferred on him by his duties
• The sexual assault is committed by several persons (guilty or complicit)
• Sexual assault is committed by a person who is clearly intoxicated or under the clear influence of narcotics
• The victim was brought into contact with the aggressor through the use of an electronic communication network for the dissemination of messages to an unspecified audience

L'sexual assault after the author and the victim have been brought into contact via the internet, is punished by 20 years in prison.

In addition, a sexual offense against a minor committed abroad by a Frenchman or a person habitually living in France is punishable by French law.

Penalties for sextortion

Sextorision is punishable by 10 years' imprisonment and €150,000 of fine. The fine is increased to EUR 1 million where the offense was committed in an organized group.

Penalties for rape

Rape of a minor under 15 is punishable by 20 years in prison.

The penalty is also higher where there are aggravating circumstances, such as:

• Sexual offense committed by a ascendant (incest) means a person having de jure or de facto authority over the victim or abusing the authority conferred on him by his duties
• Use of a weapon
• Offense committed by several persons

In case of rape with online contact between the perpetrator and the victim, the penalty is 20 years in prison, regardless of the victim's age.

People who are victims of sexual violence may be compensated by the Victims Guarantee Fund.