French move to ban prostitution by punishing clients

[Gerald]

French anti-prostitution campaigners have become increasingly vocal.

France's parliament is to debate abolishing prostitution through a crackdown which would criminalise payment for sex.

The National Assembly will vote on a symbolic resolution drafted by a cross-party commission which, if successful, will be followed by a bill in January.The resolution urges abolition at a time when "prostitution seems to be becoming routine in Europe".Some campaigners reject the bill, advocating prostitutes' rights instead.Around 20,000 people are believed to be working as prostitutes in France.France has been committed to abolishing the practice in principle since 1960 but the MPs behind the resolution want this stance to be "proclaimed loud and strong".The criminalisation of clients is "the best way to see prostitution reduced in France, given that all the countries that have regulated this activity have seen an increase", the commission has argued.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16047284


Note: 6 December 2011 Last updated at 11:07 GMT