France is to enshrine in law the end of so-called “conjugal rights” – the notion that marriage means a duty to have sex.
A bill approved on Wednesday in the National Assembly adds a clause to the country’s civil code to make clear that “community of living” does not create an “obligation for sexual relations”.
The proposed law also makes it impossible to use lack of sexual relations as an argument in fault-based divorce.
Though unlikely to have a major impact in the courts, supporters hope the law will help deter marital rape.
They’re saying it can’t be used as a reason for assigning blame in a divorce. Infidelity is a classic example of when someone can be “at fault” and so assigned blame for the marriage ending.
“No-fault” divorce exists for situations where the relationship is no longer tenable but not because anyone did anything damaging.