The French Cesar Awards, which is considered France’s equivalent to the Academy Awards, has barred anyone facing charges of sexual misconduct from attending its ceremony next month, the organisers mentioned in a statement.

The decision came in the wake of a major reorganisation of the Cesar Academy following demonstrations against Roman Polanski winning the Best Director Award in 2020 even after being convicted of raping a child in the 1970s.

“Out of respect for the victims (even presumed in the event of indictment or non-final conviction), it was decided not to highlight people who would be implicated by justice for acts of violence,” a statement from Cesar Awards reads.

Any person, either convicted in or accused of sexual misconduct, “cannot be invited to the ceremony, nor to any of the events associated with it”, the statement further reads.

The 2023 Cesars Awards will take place on February 24.