The decision, which prevents French judges from making similar divorce rulings on sexual relations in the future, comes at a time when France is debating the concept of consent to its rape laws.

A woman, who was blamed by French courts for her divorce because she no longer had sex with her husband, has won an appeal in Europe’s top human rights court, the court said on Thursday, reigniting a debate in France over women’s rights.

A French court had ruled that a woman had violated her marital duties by not having sex with her husband. The European Court of Human Rights condemned that decision.