Rape in France

In France, rape is illegal, and marital rape is also illegal. In recent years there has been increase of reported rape cases in France.

Studies

Rape has been documented across French history. Georges Vigarello in his 2001 book writes about the history of rape in France, highlighting events from 16th to 20th century. He states that rape has historically been seen as a form of violence, but not punished as such.^[1]

Statistics

In 1971, the rate of declared rapes stood at 2.0 per 100,000 people.^[2] In 1995, it was 12.5.^[3] In 2009, it stood at 16.2.^[4]

According to a 2012 report, about 75,000 rapes take place each year.^[5] In 2012, there were 1,293 reported rapes in a population of 66 million,^[6] and 1,188 rapes in 2013 in a population of 66 million.^[7]

In 2015, rape rate for France was 20.1 cases per 100,000 population. Rape rate of France increased from 15.9 cases per 100,000 population in 2006 to 20.1 cases per 100,000 population in 2015 growing at an average annual rate of 2.72%.^[8]

Gang rape

According to a 2014 report, about 5,000 to 7,000 of the rapes are gang rapes.^[9] Gang-rapes are referred to as tournantes, or "pass-arounds".^[10]^[11] One of the first people to bring public attention to the culture of gang rape was Samira Bellil, who published a book called Dans l'enfer des tournantes ("In Gang Rape Hell").^[10]^[11]

Notable offenders

Gilles de Rais (c. 1405 – 1440) - Convicted of rape, murder and torture, he was executed.^[12]
Pierre Chanal (1946–2003) - French soldier, convicted of rape and kidnapping, he received a ten-year jail sentence.^[13]^{[unreliable source?]}
Émile Louis (1934–2013) - Sentenced to life imprisonment in 2004.^[14]
Michel Fourniret (1942–2021) - Convicted in 1987 for rape, and assault of minors.^[15]
Joseph Vacher (1869–1898) - Convicted of murder, rape. Executed in December 1898.^[16]
Roman Polanski (1933–) - Actor, convicted of raping a 13-year-old.^[17]
Guy Georges (1962–) - Raped and murdered about seven women. Sentenced to life imprisonment in 2001.^[18]

References

^ Inger Skjelsb K; Inger Skjelsbæk (13 February 2012). The Political Psychology of War Rape: Studies from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Routledge. p. 48. ISBN 9781136620928.
^ Veeraraghavan, Vimala (1987). Rape and Victims of Rape: A Socio-psychological Analysis. Northern Book Centre.
^ Simon, Rita James. A Comparative Perspective on Major Social Problems. Lexington Books. pp. 20–21.
^ "Statistics : Crime : Sexual Violence". Unodc.org. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
^ "Light Gang Rape Penalties Provoke Outcry in France". The New York Times. 11 October 2012.
^ "Les chiffres clés de la Justice 2013" (PDF). Justice.gouv.fr. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
^ "Les chiffres-clés de la Justice 2014" (PDF). Justice.gouv.fr. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
^ "France Rape rate, 2003-2020 - knoema.com". Knoema. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
^ "Tournantes: le calvaire de Nina et Stéphanie - L'EXPRESS". Lexpress.fr. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
^ ^a ^b Ireland, Susan (Winter 2007). "Textualizing Trauma in Samira Bellil's Dans l'enfer des tournantes and Fabrice Génestal's La squale". Dalhousie French Studies. 81: 131–141. JSTOR 40837893.
^ ^a ^b Hron, Madelaine (2010). Translating Pain: Immigrant Suffering in Literature and Culture. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-1-4426-9324-1.
^ Dutton, Donald G. (2007). The Psychology of Genocide, Massacres, and Extreme Violence: Why "normal" People Come to Commit Atrocities. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 129.
^ "French Serial Killer Pierre Chanal: The Military Superman - Yahoo Voices". Voices.yahoo.com. 2005-01-26. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
^ Mulholland, Rory (2013-10-21). "French serial killer Emile Louis dies aged 79". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
^ Wendy De Bondt; Nina Peršak; Charlotte Ryckman (2012). The Disqualification Triad: Approximating Legislation, Executing Requests, Ensuring Equivalence. Maklu. p. 84.
^ Stone, Ciana (2012). Redeemed. Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc. p. 38.
^ "Roman Polanski's rape victim unveils controversial memoir cover". Nydailynews.com. 2013-07-25. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
^ Vronsky, Peter (2004). Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters. Penguin. p. 32.

[1] Inger Skjelsb K; Inger Skjelsbæk (13 February 2012). The Political Psychology of War Rape: Studies from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Routledge. p. 48. ISBN 9781136620928.

[2] Veeraraghavan, Vimala (1987). Rape and Victims of Rape: A Socio-psychological Analysis. Northern Book Centre.

[3] Simon, Rita James. A Comparative Perspective on Major Social Problems. Lexington Books. pp. 20–21.

[4] "Statistics : Crime : Sexual Violence". Unodc.org. Retrieved 2013-12-04.

[5] "Light Gang Rape Penalties Provoke Outcry in France". The New York Times. 11 October 2012.

[6] "Les chiffres clés de la Justice 2013" (PDF). Justice.gouv.fr. Retrieved 22 February 2019.

[7] "Les chiffres-clés de la Justice 2014" (PDF). Justice.gouv.fr. Retrieved 22 February 2019.

[8] "France Rape rate, 2003-2020 - knoema.com". Knoema. Retrieved 2021-05-26.

[9] "Tournantes: le calvaire de Nina et Stéphanie - L'EXPRESS". Lexpress.fr. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 2014-04-10.

[Ireland_131–141-10] Ireland, Susan (Winter 2007). "Textualizing Trauma in Samira Bellil's Dans l'enfer des tournantes and Fabrice Génestal's La squale". Dalhousie French Studies. 81: 131–141. JSTOR 40837893.

[Hron_2010-11] Hron, Madelaine (2010). Translating Pain: Immigrant Suffering in Literature and Culture. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-1-4426-9324-1.

[12] Dutton, Donald G. (2007). The Psychology of Genocide, Massacres, and Extreme Violence: Why "normal" People Come to Commit Atrocities. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 129.

[13] "French Serial Killer Pierre Chanal: The Military Superman - Yahoo Voices". Voices.yahoo.com. 2005-01-26. Retrieved 2014-04-10.

[14] Mulholland, Rory (2013-10-21). "French serial killer Emile Louis dies aged 79". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-10.

[15] Wendy De Bondt; Nina Peršak; Charlotte Ryckman (2012). The Disqualification Triad: Approximating Legislation, Executing Requests, Ensuring Equivalence. Maklu. p. 84.

[16] Stone, Ciana (2012). Redeemed. Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc. p. 38.

[17] "Roman Polanski's rape victim unveils controversial memoir cover". Nydailynews.com. 2013-07-25. Retrieved 2014-04-10.

[18] Vronsky, Peter (2004). Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters. Penguin. p. 32.

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