Sex pest bill ‘is unsuitable’
Opponents say a new law on sexual harassment is overcomplicated and leaves too many loopholes
A NEW sexual harassment bill presented today has already been attacked as unsuitable.
An association opposed to violence against women, AVFT, which was consulted by ministers behind the law, has described it as ineffective and overcomplicated, while legal expert and member of equal rights watchdog Observatoire de la Parité Michel Miné said it was “pointlessly complex and still not in conformity with European law”.
Opponents hope the law will be amended as it makes its way through parliament.
The law was hastily put together in order to close a legal gap after the Conseil Constitutionnel struck out France’s previous sexual harassment law on grounds it was too vague.
The old law said “the fact of harassing someone with the aim of obtaining sexual favours is punished by a year of prison and a e15,000 fine”.
Justice Minister Christine Taubira and Women’s Rights Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem promised a new law that would be “much more protective to guarantee that no case of sexual harassment goes unpunished.”
The new text allows for two kinds of harassment.
The first, with the same punishments as under the old law, consists of “imposing on someone repeatedly gestures, words or other acts, with a sexual connotation, which harm the victim’s dignity because they are degrading or humiliating or create a hostile, intimidating or offensive environment.”
The other version, with doubled punishments, is similar but in addition the behaviour is accompanied by “orders, threats, obligations or other kinds of pressure aimed, in fact, or seemingly, at obtaining sex.” This kind is punishable even if it is not done repeatedly.
AVFT says that even the most serious offence is still not punished severely enough, and opponents also fear some acts will fall between the two charges – such as one-off harassment at a job interview but where there is no pressure to have sex.
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