MPs unite in vote against sex trade

A RARE vote saw MPs from both right and left of the National Assembly voting together to push for the abolition of prostitution.

Socialist MP Danielle Bousquet and the UMP's Guy Geoffroy won wide-ranging support for their resolution that aimed to "dispel the myth that despite claims prostitution is the oldest profession in the world, it is inevitable".

Prostitution is not illegal in France and 20,000 people are thought to be involved in the sex trade. While advertising for clients and living off prostitutes' earnings is a criminal offence MPs will now work towards a proposal for a law that could also punish clients, with suggestions of penalties ranging from two to six months' jail and from €3,000 to €3,750 in fines.

Geoffroy said he wanted people to be aware of their "responsibilities" and added that many people in the sex trade were victims of human trafficking. Making the client responsible had been shown in other countries to reduce prostitution, whereas enforcement had been shown to be ineffective and even counter-productive.

Anti-sex trade group Fondation Scelles said that "hidden behind the easy sex was a criminal network that exploited women" and where 90% of the prostitutes were foreign. President Yves Charpenel asked if the MPs would follow their vote with solid action and called for six-month prison sentences.

However, sex workers' group Syndicat des Travailleurs du Sexe said MPs should reject the resolution as it would push the trade on to the backstreets.

Prostitution has been in the media spotlight over allegations of a high-class Lille sex ring - that was claimed to include former IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn - and a bid by UMP MP Chantal Brunel to legalise brothels.

The vote reaffirmed principles adopted in France in 1960 and the MPs said it was an "important symbolic step" in the fight against prostitution.