French MPs on Tuesday approved a new law that proponents say will protect sex workers by shifting the burden of the offense onto clients, but some prostitutes are crying foul. The French union of sex workers (Strass, its acronym in France) called on members and supporters to protest the “repressive” bill outside the National Assembly, where lawmakers adopted the reform into law. The legislation outlaws paying for sex, imposes fines for clients and overturns the existing ban on solicitation. In an unprecedented move, the bill also makes available €4.8 million per year to help sex workers quit the trade. The comprehensive approach, which envisions an eventual eradication of prostitution, has earned support among other French organisations that assist and defend sex workers. The law comes after more than two years of political wrangling, spurring heated debates - even among prostitutes - on the controversial topic. 'Change mentalities’ The bill was authored by Socialist MP Maud Olivier – who represents the Essone department near Paris – who has made the fight against prostitution her personal crusade. "Prostitution is violence", the lawmaker states on her website, adding: "This poorly-understood violence is alone in not being recognised as such in law". Olivier says the law will help authorities tackle pimping and human trafficking, protect victims and help them escape the sex trade. It will also help better educate young people and clients of the harm caused by prostitution. "The goal is to diminish [prostitution], protect prostitutes who want to quit, and change mentalities" she told France’s Le Monde newspaper on Tuesday. Underfunded Strass and other French advocacy groups disagree. This week the sex workers union accused Olivier and other lawmakers of upholding an "essentially repressive" reform. The new law does nothing to help sex workers - of whom there are around 30,000 in France, according to official estimates - and even makes them more vulnerable, according to Strass. Around a dozen organisations, which included Strass, but also Doctors of the World and France's leading AIDS advocacy group, further argued that the measures to help sex workers transition to a new life was misguided and underfunded. The law stipulates people have to stop prostituting themselves in order to qualify for cash stipends and other aid. "How can someone stop sex work without residency papers [which allows someone to legally live in France], long- term housing, or sufficient cash allocations?" the group asked in a statement, highlighting the fact that up to 80% of prostitutes in France are foreigners. 'Real alternatives' The law nevertheless represents a historic leap forward, according to other rights groups. Le Mouvement du Nid (Movement of the Nest), a group that advocates for the abolition of prostitution, but also helps sex workers access medical attention, legal counsel and defends them from harassment, has mounted a detailed and impassioned defence of the legislation. It has hailed France for joining other European countries that have shifted the criminal burden from prostitutes to clients. "Sweden, Norway and Iceland have already ended this historic injustice, which consists of punishing the victims of the system, while defending the impunity of those who impose sex through economic power", le Mouvement du Nid said in a statement. The group said the law was unprecedented in its "ambition to offer real alternatives to people who are looking to leave prostitution behind". Free to work the street The only thing supporters and detractors seem to agree on is that the law could fundamentally impact the way prostitutes work. The change will come at a time when traditional prostitutes are already struggling to adapt to the new Internet-based business models, and facing new forms of exploitation. As the industry moves onto the Internet, a growing number of people are offering to work as intermediaries between prostitutes and clients on the web, according to observers. Critics of the law say it will push prostitution further toward the Internet business model, making it harder to police. "Prostitution on the street is already starting to disappear because of the Internet", Mylene Juste, a Paris prostitute lamented in a recent interview with FRANCE 24. She is among the sex workers who have rallied in the French capital in recent months to protest the new law. "This is the way I want to live my life. I want to be free to work as a prostitute, even on the street. I don't want to be on the Internet", she said.

Crabshit everywhere.

Rubbish everywhere

Shut of words

if Buhari pass this kind law for Nigeria, he would be the greatest leader this country has ever produced

TANTUMERGO007:
if Buhari pass this kind law for Nigeria, he would be the greatest leader this country has ever produced

how na

kingsman66:
French MPs on Tuesday approved a new law
that proponents say will protect sex workers by
shifting the burden of the offense onto clients,
but some prostitutes are crying foul.
The French union of sex workers (Strass, its
acronym in France) called on members and
supporters to protest the “repressive” bill
outside the National Assembly, where
lawmakers adopted the reform into law.
The legislation outlaws paying for sex, imposes
fines for clients and overturns the existing ban
on solicitation. In an unprecedented move, the
bill also makes available €4.8 million per year
to help sex workers quit the trade.
The comprehensive approach, which envisions
an eventual eradication of prostitution, has
earned support among other French
organisations that assist and defend sex
workers.
The law comes after more than two years of
political wrangling, spurring heated debates -
even among prostitutes - on the controversial
topic.
'Change mentalities’
The bill was authored by Socialist MP Maud
Olivier – who represents the Essone department
near Paris – who has made the fight against
prostitution her personal crusade.
"Prostitution is violence", the lawmaker states
on her website, adding: "This poorly-understood
violence is alone in not being recognised as
such in law".
Olivier says the law will help authorities tackle
pimping and human trafficking, protect victims
and help them escape the sex trade. It will also
help better educate young people and clients of
the harm caused by prostitution.
"The goal is to diminish [prostitution], protect
prostitutes who want to quit, and change
mentalities" she told France’s Le Monde
newspaper on Tuesday.
Underfunded
Strass and other French advocacy groups
disagree. This week the sex workers union
accused Olivier and other lawmakers of
upholding an "essentially repressive" reform.
The new law does nothing to help sex workers -
of whom there are around 30,000 in France,
according to official estimates - and even makes
them more vulnerable, according to Strass.
Around a dozen organisations, which included
Strass, but also Doctors of the World and
France's leading AIDS advocacy group, further
argued that the measures to help sex workers
transition to a new life was misguided and
underfunded.
The law stipulates people have to stop
prostituting themselves in order to qualify for
cash stipends and other aid. "How can someone
stop sex work without residency papers [which
allows someone to legally live in France], long-
term housing, or sufficient cash allocations?"
the group asked in a statement, highlighting the
fact that up to 80% of prostitutes in France are
foreigners.
'Real alternatives'
The law nevertheless represents a historic leap
forward, according to other rights groups.
Le Mouvement du Nid (Movement of the Nest),
a group that advocates for the abolition of
prostitution, but also helps sex workers access
medical attention, legal counsel and defends
them from harassment, has mounted a detailed
and impassioned defence of the legislation.
It has hailed France for joining other European
countries that have shifted the criminal burden
from prostitutes to clients.
"Sweden, Norway and Iceland have already
ended this historic injustice, which consists of
punishing the victims of the system, while
defending the impunity of those who impose
sex through economic power", le Mouvement du
Nid said in a statement.
The group said the law was unprecedented in
its "ambition to offer real alternatives to people
who are looking to leave prostitution behind".
Free to work the street
The only thing supporters and detractors seem
to agree on is that the law could fundamentally
impact the way prostitutes work.
The change will come at a time when traditional
prostitutes are already struggling to adapt to
the new Internet-based business models, and
facing new forms of exploitation.
As the industry moves onto the Internet, a
growing number of people are offering to work
as intermediaries between prostitutes and
clients on the web, according to observers.
Critics of the law say it will push prostitution
further toward the Internet business model,
making it harder to police.
"Prostitution on the street is already starting to
disappear because of the Internet", Mylene
Juste, a Paris prostitute lamented in a recent
interview with FRANCE 24.
She is among the sex workers who have rallied
in the French capital in recent months to
protest the new law. "This is the way I want to
live my life. I want to be free to work as a
prostitute, even on the street. I don't want to be
on the Internet", she said.

I'm surprised there wasn't a law against it in the first place however France culturally are not conservative when it comes to sexuality and romance so I guess it makes sense

TANTUMERGO007:
if Buhari pass this kind law for Nigeria, he would be the greatest leader this country has ever produced

you are very funny. Is prostitution the reason why there is no road, lght and water in Nigerian?

An adult male that is not married, does not have a girl friend and he is Hot- suffering from "conji" how will he cool his "dickson" . We are now having increasing insidence of father raping their daughter, men raping 2years old girls. If u band prostitution don't u know things will go out of hand.