Change in French Law

[dave451 6]

The French parliament has passed a law that makes it illegal to pay for sex in France:

 

http://www.thelocal.fr/20160406/all-you-need-to-know-about-frances-new-law-on-prostitution

 

I don't know when this will come into force as there is a 'period of grace' and I don't know how long that will be. The penalty is €1,500 fine plus attendance at a course, presumably in French, that will teach you about the evils of trafficking. This law is another example of the flawed 'Nordic Model' legislation first introduced in Sweden in the 1990s and championed by an unhealthy alliance of fundamental Christians and radical feminists.

 

I hope everyone on here would agree that trafficking and other means of forcing women (and men) into the sex (or other) trades is totally wrong, but I do not see why the criminal law has to be brought to bear on consenting adults having sex in exchange for money. The Nordic Model legislation assumes that this will discourage men from buying sexual services and so reduce demand and so reduce the number of women (the Rad Fems don't concern themselves with men) trafficked into the sex trade. Numerous rigorous academic studies have failed to find any evidence to support this thesis and some have gone further, pointing out that such laws actually make life more difficult and dangerous for sex workers. The response of the abolitionists is to either make up figures to justify their case or to quote highly dubious 'research'. For example one study they often cite is that "80% of prostitutes start by the age of 14". This piece of nonsense came from a 'study' that questioned girls in care, and so aged 17 or younger, who had been participating in prostitution. 

 

Personally, I think the French police have enough to do at the moment without hounding consenting adults and apart from occasional purges, to grab headlines, it will not be widely enforced but we will see.

 

 

 

[PirateHasLanded 9]

 I agree. It's an example of easy politics. It concerns a small number of men (clients who can't reveal themselves), and a even smaller number of women(prostitutes) who have even less power to influence the debate.

So the feminists can make any sort of claim, by distorting facts and reality, to make it seem that all prostitutes are handing over their earnings to criminal gangs. While there are some cases of that happening e.g. Nigerian, Chinese and Romanian street prostitutes, - the majority of the in house middle to high price range prostitutes(escorts) are not controlled by criminal gangs, they are totally independent. This proportion varies from country to country.

Left wing parties in Europe have run out ideas , on what new 'progressive' and 'reformist' laws to introduce, as most important 'progressive' and 'reformist' laws have already been passed (pensions,social security, labour safety, etc).... so they resort to laws which they present as progressive , but in reality changes nothing .This is especially the case with these anti-prostitution laws .

 

What's needed is to hire more policemen , improve laws to fight trafficking of women. But that costs money. So the socialist legislators resort to 'easy' fixes, which changes nothing, - if ever makes the situation worse for prostitutes.

One change that will happen - will be increase of prostitutes on internet, and a dramatic decrease in street prostitution.It's easy for police to chase clients who engage with pros. on the street, far more difficult to do it on internet.In Sweden, this has made the anti-prostitution laws popular. But the overall prostitution has not deceased , judging by vast number of internet escort ads , only in Stockholm.