After more than two years of slow-simmering social drama, the French Parliament passed a bill Wednesday that makes it illegal to pay for sex in France. Prostitution, however, remains legal: The point of the bill is to discourage the practice by penalizing clients instead of prostitutes.
The bill passed 64 to 12 in the National Assembly, France's lower house, with no fewer than - count them - 501 deputies abstaining. It is the latest in a trend of anti-prostitution measures across Europe that seek to avoid stigmatizing sex workers even as officials try to eradicate their industry.
Under the new regulations, fines for those caught buying sexual services could reach 3,750 Euros ($4,265), and, in certain cases, apprehended clients will even be required to attend seminars on the struggles faced by women in the industry, many of whom are victims of international sex trafficking networks.
From the government, at least, reactions were positive. Manuel Valls, the prime minister, declared the vote a "major advance" for women's rights. Laurence Rossignol, president Francois Hollande's Minister of Families, Childhood and Women's Rights, called it a long-overdue recognition of "the violence of the system of prostitution."
To that end, the bill would also allocate funds for a number of France's prostitutes - somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000 in total - to receive training in other industries. At the same time, it would ease immigration restrictions on foreign sex workers, which, at least in theory, could help them find other work.
But not all were as enthused about this new legislation as Valls and Rossingnol. In fact, in the wake of Wednesday's decision, there was a protest against the law outside the National Assembly - a protest by French prostitutes themselves.
Those gathered claimed that the new regulations would merely worsen their situation, pushing their industry further from regulatory safety and worsening their business in the process.
The protest highlighted something subtle but unavoidable: the quiet but permanent awkwardness - some would say hypocrisy - behind the French government's morality crusade against prostitution.
If the current administration would like sex workers to disappear, the inconvenient truth for its members is that they will have to legislate and police the entirety of French cultural history, a terrain in which the courtesan is a celebrated, even vaunted, figure.
In real life, there was Madam du Barry, the mistress of Louis XV ultimately sent to the guillotine in 1793: today, any objet d'art whose provenance can be traced from her private collection immensely increases its value.
In literature, there is, among so many others, Marcel Proust's Odette de Crécy and Émile Zola's Nana, both inimitable characters who have beguiled generations of readers with coquetry but also humanity. In film, there was Catherine Deneuve in Luis Buñuel's "Belle de Jour" (1967), a housewife turned call girl.
Perhaps most of all, in visual art, there are the countless madams of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and the delicate but dirty dancers of Edgar Degas. These figures are so ubiquitous that the Musée d'Orsay, one of the nation's premier museums a few blocks from the National Assembly, just closed in January 2016 "the first major show on the subject of prostitution."
The Musée d'Orsay is a national museum, and thus it would seem that the prostitute is an important piece of French national heritage. Will this new law apply retroactively to Madame du Barry?
The Washington Post
Sun Apr 10 2016
The bill would also allocate funds for France's prostitutes to receive training in other industries.
Who is Prabowo Subianto, incoming president of Indonesia?
A wealthy ex-general with ties to Indonesia's popular outgoing president and its dictatorial past, looks set to be its next leader.
Iran's supreme leader says Hamas leader's death will not halt 'Axis of Resistance'
The "Axis of Resistance", built up with years of Iranian support, includes Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah group, the Houthi movement in Yemen, and various Shi'ite groups in Iraq and Syria.
Putin says Russia willing to seek compromises between Iran and Israel
Russia is ready to help seek compromises between arch-foes Israel and Iran, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, saying these would be difficult but possible.
What proposals will Russia push at the BRICS summit?
The proposal is also to establish a BRICS reinsurance company to allow uninterrupted shipment of goods and key commodities between members.
Indonesia's free meals plan in the spotlight as Prabowo readies for office
Prabowo calls the programme one of the main drivers of economic growth, eventually set to add an estimated 2.5 million jobs.
Astro AWANI's revamped English news website, AWANI International, launches on Oct 21
Astro AWANI's revamped English platform delivers in-depth global news and expert analysis to keep you informed on key developments.
Israeli strikes kill 33 people in Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, medics say
Residents of Jabalia said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp after pushing through suburbs and residential districts.
Liam Payne's ex-partner calls for media restraint after 'painful' death
Cheryl Tweedy used her statement to urge the media to remember they had a seven-year-old son, Bear, who could read the reports.
Analysts: Indonesia's strong MoF leadership team to boost investor confidence
Sri Mulyani Indrawati as head of Indonesia's Ministry of Finance is expected to instil confidence among investors.
Biden offers both a carrot and a stick to Israel as his term nears an end
Israel has frequently resisted US advice and has caused political difficulties for the Biden administration.
Putin says BRICS will generate most of global economic growth
Russian President Vladimir Putin will host a summit of the group in the city of Kazan on Oct. 22-24.
ISIS Malaysia's perspective of Budget 2025
An excellent rakyat-centric budget under the overarching principle of a caring and humane economy.
Budget 2025: Record increase in STR, SARA aid initiatives
The government will provide a significant boost to the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiatives next year.
Budget 2025: EPF contributions to be made mandatory for foreign workers – PM Anwar
The government plans to make it compulsory for all non-citizen workers to contribute to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
What policies to expect from Indonesia's new President Prabowo
Prabowo will be open to foreign investment, his aide has said, such as by offering investors management of airports and sea ports.
Budget 2025: Govt allocates RM470 mil to empower women's participation in PMKS
The Women's Leadership Apprenticeship Program will be intensified as an effort to produce more female corporate personalities.
Israel sends more troops into north Gaza, deepens raid
Residents of Jabalia in northern Gaza said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp, using heavy air and ground fire.
Indonesia ramps up security ahead of Prabowo's inauguration
Prabowo Subianto will be sworn in as Indonesia's president on Sunday with Vice President-elect, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, also taking office.
Immediate allocation of RM150 mil for local authorities, DID to tackle flash floods
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this allocation is intended to address the recent flash floods that hit the capital and several major towns.
Budget 2025: Sabah, Sarawak to continue receiving among highest allocations - PM
Sabah and Sarawak continues to be prioritised under Budget 2025, with allocations of RM6.7 billion and RM5.9 billion respectively.