Here are the main points. Fining clients The stand-out measure from the bill and the one that has caused the most controversy is the law that will see clients fined if they are caught paying for sex.
It brings France into line with Sweden, which has had the same law in place since Some claim it has helped cut prostitution by half in the Nordic country, whereas critics claim it has simply pushed it out of sight of authorities, which is also the fear among sex workers unions in France. A period of grace will also be introduced so clients will not immediately be fined, but they will be expected to take heed of the new law.
The aim is to make the clients more aware in the hope it dissuades them from paying for sex. This law had been brought in back in under ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy which saw prostitutes being fined if guilty of soliciting for sex. This had the impact of pushing prostitutes into out of town areas and forced them to dress a little more discreetly to avoid detection.
Repealing this law is aimed at reinforcing the notion that sex workers are victims and not criminals. It also allows prostitutes to act as witnesses in certain crimes without fear of being charged with an offense. This measure has been largely welcomed by all sides. Help offered The new bill will make it a right for all victims of prostitution to be able to benefit from protection and assistance. Residence permits for foreigners France want to tackle the issue of the number of foreign prostitutes Up to 80 percent of the 40, estimated sex workers working in the country โ most of whom are either from eastern Europe or Africa.
Strass, the main sex workers union in France has blasted the measure as "blackmail".
