On Thursday, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in favor of the 69-year-old, holding that a refusal to have sex should not be used as a reason for divorce.
After nearly ten years of litigation, the unanimous ruling concluded that France had infringed her right to respect for her private and family life under European human rights law.
The French woman, who went by Ms. H.W., praised the ruling as a positive step toward eradicating “rape culture” and encouraging marital consent.
The case has spurred a discussion about French beliefs on women’s rights and marital consent. H.W.’s attorney, Lilia Mhissen, stated that the ruling invalidated the antiquated notion of “marital duty” and demanded that French courts follow suit.
