The French Parliament has agreed to set up a commission of inquiry to investigate sexual and gender-based violence in cinema and other cultural sectors following several recent allegations.
The National Assembly (the lower house of parliament), unanimously agreed to set up the commission, which was demanded by actor Judith Godréche in her speech to the Senate (upper house), in February, reports AFP.
Godréche has become a key figure in France's MeToo movement after accusing directors Benoit Jacquot and Jacques Doyon of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager. Both deny the accusations.
All 52 lawmakers present at the vote approved the creation of the committee, overseen by Godréche, who was present in the public gallery of the chamber.
"It's time to stop rolling out the red carpet for rapists," said Green MP Francesca Pasquini.
Based on Godréche's proposal, the parliamentary culture committee decided to broaden the scope of the investigation to include other cultural sectors.
The vote in parliament comes a day after 41-year-old actress Isild Le Besco said in her autobiography that she was also "raped" by Jacquot during a relationship that began when she was 16 but was not ready to press charges.
Godréche, on the contrary, has filed a legal complaint against the famous arthouse director for alleged abuse committed during a relationship that began when she was 14 and he was 25 years older than her.
She also formally accused Doyon of abusing her as a 15-year-old actress in a film he directed. / BGNES
