{"id":593,"date":"2013-12-02T19:42:34","date_gmt":"2013-12-02T19:42:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cornellilj.org\/?p=593"},"modified":"2013-12-02T19:42:34","modified_gmt":"2013-12-02T19:42:34","slug":"france-sex-sells-but-you-cant-buy-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publications.lawschool.cornell.edu\/cilj\/2013\/12\/02\/france-sex-sells-but-you-cant-buy-it\/","title":{"rendered":"France: Sex Sells, But You Can't Buy It, Vol. 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CC Image Courtesy of Tom Coates<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sex Sells, But You Can\u2019t Buy It: French Lawmakers to Penalize Prostitution Clients<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

by Yujin Chun*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prostitution has been described as \u201cthe world\u2019s oldest profession.\u201d[1] And for as long as it has been around, the occupation has also seen an array of attitudes, both societal and legal. In France, prostitution is legal in a quite limited manner: an adult man or woman may seek or offer compensation for sexual services but cannot advertise even through passive solicitation or being present with revealing clothes at locations known for prostitution.[2] The French Penal Code also includes sections that prohibit assisting, protecting, or profiting from the prostitution of others, the goal being to limit the industry to prostitutes working independently and their direct clients.[3]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early on November 30, 2013, the French parliament backed a reform of the French prostitution law that will impose a 1,500-euro fine on anyone paying for sex.[4] Under the new bill, which would give France some of the toughest legislation on prostitution in Europe, clients of prostitutes will become offenders while soliciting itself will no longer be a criminal offence.[5] This means that while selling sexual services will in a way become more legal, buying them will come at the cost of a criminal fine. Spearheaded by Minister of Women\u2019s Rights Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the bill repeals the penalty for passive solicitation and includes help for undocumented immigrant prostitutes trying to change jobs and establish legal residency.[6] Supporters, including feminist groups and associations representing former prostitutes, say that the bill would make the law more coherent and correctly regard clients as sexual offenders and prostitutes as victims.[7]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the bill does not have universal support. Organizations representing sex workers claim it would push prostitution further underground, thereby subjecting prostitutes to greater risk.[8] A Paris prostitute and spokeswoman for the STRASS sex workers union said the bill would \u201cdo exactly the opposite of what it is designed to achieve,\u201d arguing that \u201c[p]rostitutes will have to work more clandestinely to protect their clients, putting them at greater danger of violence and further away from sexual health services.\u201d[9] She also added that the bill would result in a drop in the number of clients, putting those remaining clients in a stronger position to pressure prostitutes into doing things they do not want to do.[10]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three hundred forty-three men signed a \u201cManifesto of the 343 bastards\u201d against the laws, using \u201cHands off my whore\u201d (\u201cTouche pas \u00e0 ma pute\u201d) as the movement\u2019s slogan.[11] It echoes the slogan of a 1971 campaign by 343 women supporting legalized abortion. The men\u2019s petition reads that the movement does not defend prostitution, but that it defends freedom.[12] \u201cAnd when parliament gets involved in adopting rules on sexuality, everyone\u2019s freedom is threatened.\u201d[13] The text continues, \u201cWe consider that everyone has the right to freely sell their charms\u2014and even to enjoy doing so. All together, we declare: Hands off my whore!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The campaign has received much criticism, especially regarding its slogan \u201cHands off my whore.\u201d Vallaud-Belkacem said that while the 1971 abortion manifesto had been signed by women who demanded to be able to freely decide what to do with their bodies, \u201c[t]he 343 bastards demand the right to decide what to do with the bodies of others.\u201d[14]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

French celebrities have also stepped up to publicly protest against the bill. Sixty French celebrities, including iconic actress Catherine Deneuve who played a prostitute in cult film \u201cBelle de jour,\u201d have signed a petition, arguing as STRASS and other groups have, that the legislation will only serve to push the sex trade further underground.[15] Antoine, a veteran French singer, said there was \u201cno link\u201d between the celebrities\u2019 petition and the \u201cHands off my whore\u201d manifesto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A survey this year also reveals that the bill does not appear to be in sync with public sentiment. While 73% of those surveyed agreed that the government should come down on clients more forcefully, only 22% supported fining the offenders.[16] The majority preferred an educational approach, such as using ad campaigns to dissuade clients.[17] Another study by the Institut Fran\u00e7ais d’Opinion Publique (<\/em>IFOP), commissioned by popular feminist monthly Causette, found that only 32% of those surveyed supported punitive measures against clients.[18] More interestingly, the study also found that 73% of people actually favored reopening of brothels, which have been banned in France for decades, as a way to limit and control prostitution.[19]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the government\u2019s objective is to act in the best interests of prostitutes, French policy makers should listen to groups such as STRASS. Understanding that legislation is unlikely to ever completely eradicate prostitution is pivotal. Driving the industry further underground would only make it more difficult to control and put the workers in further danger and a weaker position to negotiate. Thierry, a former client of prostitution who joined sex workers in a public masked demonstration outside the French parliament, called prostitution \u201ca safety valve\u201d that \u201ccan prevent rape, murders, sexual assaults, and  . . . divorce.\u201d[20] Prostitution, in that sense, may be a \u201cnecessary evil.\u201d[21] Recognizing it as such, rather than criminalizing it\u2014for prostitutes or <\/em>for clients\u2014should be the first step in drafting legislation for the containment and control of the \u201cworld\u2019s oldest profession.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a PDF of this article in formal, law-journal format, click here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citation:<\/strong> Yujin Chun, Sex Sells, But You Can\u2019t Buy It: French Lawmakers to Penalize Prostitution Clients<\/em>, 1 Cornell Int\u2019l L.J. Online 90 (2013).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

* Yujin Chun is a J.D. candidate at Cornell Law School, where she is the Cornell International Law Journal<\/em>\u2019s Associate on European Affairs and the Career Chair of the Briggs Society of International Law. She holds a B.A. in English from Duke University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[1] See<\/em>, e.g<\/em>., Dan Bilefsky, World\u2019s Oldest Profession, Too, Feels Crisis<\/em>, N.Y. Times (Dec. 8, 2008), http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2008\/12\/08\/world\/europe\/08iht-sex.4.18500177.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[2] Code P\u00e9nal [C. P\u00e9n.] art. 225-10-1 (Fr.). Publicly soliciting another person by any means, including passive conduct, with a view to inciting them to engage in sexual relations in exchange for remuneration or a promise of remuneration is punished by two months’ imprisonment and by a fine of \u20ac3,750.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[3] Code P\u00e9nal [C. P\u00e9n.] art. 225-5 (Fr.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[4] French Parliament Backs Reform of Law on Prostitution<\/em>, Reuters (Nov. 30, 2013), http:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/2013\/11\/30\/us-france-prostitution-idUSBRE9AT04E20131130.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[5] Id.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[6] Joseph Bamat, French MPs Wary of New Prostitution Law<\/em>, France 24 (Nov. 27, 2013), http:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/20131127-france-prostitution-debate-prompts-malaise-lawmakers-parliament-socialist-ump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[7] John Lichfield, France\u2019s Compromising Position: Why a New Law to Criminalise Punters Rather Than Prostitutes Is Inflaming French Passions<\/em>, Independent, (Nov. 28, 2013), http:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/world\/europe\/frances-compromising-position-why-a-new-law-to-criminalise-punters-rather-than-prostitutes-is-inflaming-french-passions-8967593.html.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[8] Tony Todd, French Bill Would Criminalise Paying for Sex<\/em>, France 24, (Sept. 18, 2013), http:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/20130918-france-prostitution-law-sex-trade-criminalise-paying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[9] Id.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[10] Id. See also <\/em>Benjamin Conery, Prostitution: The Role of Trafficking and the Swedish Model<\/em>, 1 Cornell Int\u2019l L. J. Online 5, 7 (2013).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[11] Tony Todd, \u2018Hands Off My Whore\u2019 Campaign Outrages France<\/em>, France 24, (Nov. 17, 2013), http:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/20131031-france-prostitution-343-bastards-hands-off-my-whore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[12] Id.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[13] Id.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[14] Id.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[15] French Stars Petition Against Criminalising Prostitution<\/em>, France 24 (Nov. 17, 2013), http:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/20131117-french-star-deneuve-petition-against-prostitution-law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[16] Bamat, supra<\/em> note 6. See also<\/em> Prostitution: 73 % des Fran\u00e7ais pour la Responsabilisation des Clients<\/em>, Le Monde (Oct. 30, 2013), http:\/\/www.lemonde.fr\/societe\/article\/2013\/10\/30\/prostitution-73-des-francais-pour-la-responsabilisation-des-clients_3505701_3224.html.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[17] Bamat, supra<\/em> note 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[18] Id.<\/em> See also<\/em> Les Fran\u00e7ais et la Prostitution<\/em>, IFOP, http:\/\/www.ifop.com\/?option=com_publication&type=poll&id=2180 (last visited Dec. 2, 2013).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[19] Id.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[20] Sex Workers and Prostitutes Protest Outside French Parliament While Sex Bill Is Debated Outside<\/em>, Euronews (Nov. 29, 2013), http:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2013\/11\/29\/sex-workers-and-prostitutes-protest-outside-french-parliament-while-sex-bill-is\/.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[21] Id.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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