Survivors' Voices Demand End to Statute of Limitations for Sexual Crimes in France

Key Details

• A group of over 50 women, calling themselves Survivors' Voices, are demanding the abolition of the statute of limitations for sexual assault and rape in France.
• The current law sets a 20-year limit for adults and a 30-year limit for victims who were minors to report such crimes.
• The women allege assaults by men including Jeffrey Epstein, Jean-Luc Brunel, and Mohammed Al Fayed, and say the time limit has prevented them from seeking justice.

Statements from Survivors

"Rape doesn't expire, trauma doesn't expire."

At a press conference, Thysia Husiman stated this powerful message. She alleges she was raped at age 18 by Jean-Luc Brunel, who died in custody in 2022.

Former BBC producer Lisa Brinkworth, who alleges sexual assault by Gerald Marie, reported her case to French police in 2021, but it was dismissed due to the statute of limitations. She is now taking her case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Brinkworth said she was initially directed not to report the assault during a BBC documentary project, and that evidence from that time was withheld from her.

Background Context

Jean-Luc Brunel was found dead in his prison cell in February 2022 while awaiting trial for charges of rape and trafficking of minors.

Lisa Brinkworth's allegations date back to 1998 when she was working undercover for a BBC documentary on the fashion industry.