ECHR: Marital consent does not imply ongoing sexual obligation
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 8:30 AM
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that a French woman’s refusal to have sex with her husband should not be considered a fault in their divorce. This decision overturns a 2019 French court ruling that had deemed her refusal a breach of marital duties. The ECHR emphasized that consent to marriage does not imply consent to future sexual relations, and that any non-consensual sexual act constitutes a form of sexual violence. This landmark ruling underscores the importance of sexual autonomy and consent within marriage.