The new text on prostitution penalizes French customers. Gynecologists criticize ineffective devices and the sums allocated for these precarious women.
The new law on prostitution was published in Official newspaper April 14 after a parliamentary marathon. It officially marks the entry into force of the penalization of clients using the services of a prostitute.
Concretely, the purchase of sexual acts is now sanctioned by a fine of 1,500 euros (up to 3,500 euros in the event of a repeat offense). The text also eliminates the crime of soliciting, reintroduced by the right in 2003, and includes a series of measures aimed at improving the protection and reintegration of prostitutes by facilitating their access to a residence permit, to a financial and housing support.
New provisions that do not please everyone since the National Union of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of France (Syngof) evokes “inoperative devices and insufficient financial aid to fight against the precariousness of prostitutes”.
160 euros per person per year
Indeed, the announced budget is currently 4.8 million euros. Following the example of OCRTEH (1), if we estimate the number of sex workers in France at 30,000, the budget allocated to exiting prostitution would then be 160 € per person per year. To live up to the stated objective of changing activity for these people, the associations were counting on a budget of 547 million euros (2) per year. Far from it …
Half of prostitutes suffer from anxiety, depression
For this reason, in a joint press release with the Sexual Work Union (STRASS), these doctors denounce the precarious health of sex workers “because of the clandestinity that necessarily involves the application of the new law to fight against the prostitution system”.
The union and these practitioners warn in particular about “the perverse effects of a law which keeps prostitutes away from preventive and curative care structures as well as from associations which support them”. He therefore warns the public authorities of the risks they make these people run: “increase in physical assault, rape, risk of sexually transmitted infections, and consequently of psychological distress, etc.” -mix.
Morgane Merteuil, STRASS spokesperson: ” There are already plenty of women who were followed by health associations and who have since been lost to follow-up.… “
This situation is all the more damaging since a study conducted by the InVS showed in 2013 that a third of prostitutes declared living with a chronic disease, such as AIDS, hepatitis or diabetes. In addition, feelings of anxiety, “depression” and suicidal thoughts (occasionally) are reported by 49% and 65% of these women, respectively.
(1) Central Office for the Suppression of Trafficking in Human Beings
(2) Coverage estimated at around € 1,520 per month / person. The duration of support is estimated at 18 months according to the STRASS.
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