**Article:**
On Wednesday, French lawmakers unanimously approved legislation that eliminates the concept of “marital duty,” which previously implied that spouses were obligated to engage in sexual relations. The bill, supported by over 120 members of parliament, emphasizes that living together does not grant automatic consent to sexual activity within marriage.
The measure aims to address concerns raised by women’s rights organizations, which argued that the old legal notion blurred the lines of consent and could be used to justify marital rape. Following its passage in the National Assembly, the bill will now be reviewed by the Senate before becoming law.
**Why this matters:**
This legislative change reinforces the principle that consent must be freely given in all sexual relationships, including marriage. By removing the outdated idea of “marital duty,” the law seeks to better protect individuals from sexual violence within their own homes and aligns France’s legal framework with modern understandings of consent and personal autonomy.
Source: NewsData