France's Senate has voted to abolish the statute of limitations for sexual crimes committed against children, a move hailed as a landmark victory by a former BBC producer who was sexually assaulted in the country.
Lisa Brinkworth, 58, alleged she was attacked in 1998 by Gérald Marie, then head of Elite Models' European operations, while she was working undercover for a BBC documentary investigating abuse in the fashion industry. She reported the assault to French police in 2020 but was informed that the 20-year statute of limitations had expired.
Brinkworth, along with 15 other women who accused Marie of sexual assault or rape, then launched a six-year campaign to have the legislation changed. The Senate's vote to abolish the statute of limitations for sexual crimes against minors, with 252 votes in favor and 80 against, marks a significant achievement for their advocacy.
"I am absolutely delighted by this landmark vote for justice and common sense," Brinkworth told the Daily Mail. "As a result, future generations will be protected, and perpetrators will no longer be shielded by the outdated statute of limitations which should never be applied to rape and sexual assault."
While the new law will not apply to Brinkworth and the other adult survivors, she expressed hope that it will pave the way for further reforms. She noted the contrast with the UK, where there is no statute of limitations for rape and sexual assault. "Had the offence taken place on British soil or by a British national, I and other British victims in this case would have had justice by now," she stated.
Under the previous French laws, adults had 20 years to report sexual assault or rape, and 30 years from the date of the crime if the victim was a minor. Marie was accused by 15 women of sexual assault and rape, with alleged victims as young as 14.
Brinkworth's documentary, which aired in November 1999, led to Elite Models suing the BBC. She has also publicly criticized the BBC, claiming they refused to provide crucial evidence for her case and directed her not to report the assault, which she said was subsequently covered by a legal settlement. The BBC has stated they take Brinkworth's complaints seriously and have provided material to French authorities.
Brinkworth co-founded the survivors' group Victorious Angels in 2020, which advocates for legal reform and supports victims pursuing justice in French courts. Brinkworth also alleged in legal papers that Marie had hired the Russian Mafia to murder her, a claim that emerged in connection with a French court hearing about a potential hitman error in the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando. Marie's lawyer has stated that such allegations were fabricated to push for the removal of the statute of limitations.