French Law Bans Buying Prostitutes, Offering Help Instead Of Punishment

[steve2470]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/french-law-bans-buying-sex-but-protects-prostitutes_us_57052fd7e4b0b90ac270d6f6

France passed one of the toughest laws in Europe against buying sex on Wednesday, but supporters say it’s one of the most progressive for prostitutes.

The bill puts the onus of prostitution on the client, and decriminalizes the act for prostitutes, making room for sex workers to seek out rehabilitation and alternative ways to make a living, according to France24.

Those who buy sex will be punished with fines and compelled to attend classes to learn about the harmful effects prostitution has on sex workers, according to the Associated Press.

The client will first face a 1,500-euro fine ($1,700). That would climb to 3,750 euros ($4,250) for a second offense.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Cannes/St Tropez/Nice in May

The other issue, dissenters say, is that up to up to 80 percent of sex workers in France are foreigners. Without residency papers or long-term housing, they won’t be able to stop selling sex in order to qualify for the bill’s stipends.

Some are even Americans.


They also accept 'gifts'. That's standard operating procedure - how they get 'paid' - per some women I spoke with at the VIP room in St. Tropez in 2007. They didn't understand women could afford to take themselves there. These were respectively one American and two young women from the UK. Early early 20's.


Google 'Hostesses' and you will catch the gist.

[scioto99]

2. Complicated issue; lots of victims; lots of monsters exploiting them; no easy answers.

[Meldread]

3. Disagree with this law. It's not liberal at all.

First, it doesn't address the underlying reasons why many people turn to prostitution in the first place. Addressing those issues is key to solving the problem. Otherwise, it simply makes things harder for prostitutes to earn a living.

Second, it doesn't legalize and regulate prostitution. The key to solving problems like this is not to moralize them by criminalizing it. That simply shifts things into the black market. The way to solve the problem is to pull it out of the black market, regulate it, that way worker protections can be put into place, and we can fight exploitation directly in the open.

There are some people, both men and women, who willingly choose (and desire) to do sex work for a living. This may be porn or it may be some form of escort service. It is not the liberals role to judge those decisions, but instead to make sure that the government can protect them from being exploited as a result of making them. It should also be the governments job to prevent individuals from being forced into sex work for whatever reason. It should be viewed and treated as a career choice, like being a teacher, doctor, painter, or musician.

[NobodyHere]

4. I'd rather see it taxed and regulated

[Meldread]

5. Ditto. -nt-