France’s National Assembly passed a cross-party bill on sexist and sexual violence by 503 votes to none on 13 October 2026. Two days later, Interior Ministry figures showed 111 women were killed by a partner or former partner in 2025, up 4% on the year before.
Content note: this article discusses domestic violence and the killing of women.
On 13 October 2026, France’s National Assembly voted 503 to none for a comprehensive bill on sexist and sexual violence. The 67 deputies of La France insoumise abstained. Socialist deputy Céline Thiébault-Martinez was the lead rapporteur.
Laurent Panifous, minister for relations with Parliament, said the Senate will examine the bill in January. Deputies and senators will then try to agree a joint text, with final adoption planned by the end of February 2027, LCP reports.
Specialised courts and a school check
The bill sets a minimum investigation standard so complaints are not closed too quickly. It creates specialised police units and specialised courts. It also introduces a compulsory school check for signs of violence, to become annual from 2032, and a care pathway for child victims.
111 women killed in 2025
Two days after the vote, Euronews reported the Interior Ministry’s annual study of violent deaths within couples. Police and gendarmes recorded 111 women killed by a partner or former partner in 2025, up 4% from 107 in 2024. Women made up 82% of the 136 people killed by a partner or ex-partner, and the study recorded 445 attempted killings.
Of the women killed, 37% had already suffered violence from their partner. Of those, 61% had reported it to police or gendarmes, and 88% of that group had filed a formal complaint. Only one woman had a “grave danger” emergency phone, and another had an alarm button.
In 2025, 106 minors lost a father, mother or both parents to violence within a couple. Nine children were killed in the context of conflict between their parents.
Partner killings in Europe and worldwide
Around 83,000 women and girls were killed intentionally worldwide in 2024, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime found. About 60% of them, nearly 50,000, were killed by an intimate partner or family member. For men, the share was 11%.
Africa had the highest rate of these killings, at 3 per 100,000 women and girls. Europe recorded 0.5 per 100,000. The World Health Organization estimates that about 31.6% of women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner, or sexual violence from someone else, in their lifetime. WHO says laws against violence must be enforced and backed with resources for prevention and response.
Protection orders, alarm phones and the 3919 line
French law already provides several protections, set out on the government’s Service-Public.fr guide. A woman can ask a family court judge for a protection order even if she has not filed a complaint. A hearing must take place within six days of the date set. In imminent danger, the judge must decide on a provisional order within 24 hours. Orders can ban a partner from contacting her or coming to her home or workplace.
A grave danger phone lets a woman alert police through a geolocated device. A public prosecutor can grant it, with her consent, for six renewable months. She must no longer live with the violent partner, and a court must have banned contact or there must be a real threat of attack. An anti-approach bracelet can also be ordered, which alerts police when the wearer comes too close.
The 3919 Violences Femmes Info line is free, anonymous and open 24 hours a day, including for witnesses. It does not handle emergencies. In an emergency, call 17, or send a free text to 114 if speaking aloud is unsafe.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, Find A Helpline lists free, confidential support services by country.
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