France reports high sexual violence in 2017

Figures released by the French interior ministry on Thursday showed that sexual violence including rape and harassment had increased last year.

In 2017, 16,400 rapes were reported, up 12 percent from in 2016. Sexual assaults totaled 24,000 last year, up by 10 percent from a year ago.

"There has been a 'Weinstein affair's effect. The end of 2017 is marked by a sharp rise in complaints of sexual violence," Gerard Collomb, Interior Minister said, referring to the movie producer Harvey Weinstein who has been accused by many women of having sexually harassed or assaulted them.

"I welcome this phenomenon of liberation of speech and the fact that today more generally, one hesitates less to complain (about sexual abuse)," he added.

In the wake of Weinstein affair which emerged on Oct. 2017, France was mulling a law to fight sexual harassment on the streets as well as extend the statute of limitation for rape of minors.

Collomb said an online platform on reporting sexual violence would be launched within weeks. It aimed at helping victims of sexual assaults.