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French prostitutes oppose reopening brothels

By Mildrade Cherfils - GlobalPost
Published: May 12, 2010 06:33 ET

PARIS, France — A French lawmaker wants to reopen brothels, outlawed in France since 1946, in order to protect prostitutes from predatory pimps and exploitation. But the sex workers say no thanks.

“All of the prostitutes are against the reopening of the brothels,” said Janine Mossuz-Lavau, a sociologist and expert on sexuality and prostitution.

A 2003 law introduced by then-Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, which made passive public solicitation a punishable crime, is partly to blame for the impasse. Criminalizing activities around prostitution, which itself is legal for anyone over 18, sent workers underground to massage parlors and bars, but also away from the city centers, to peripheral areas, the woods and the internet. It “rendered exercising this profession much more dangerous” since workers found themselves isolated, Mossuz-Lavau said.

Almost seven years to the day that parliament adopted that law in March 2003, Chantal Brunel, a member of Sarkozy’s UMP party who had voted for it, announced she wants to change the government’s response to prostitution. She envisions reopening the brothels as spaces where workers would be safe from human trafficking and violence, treated with dignity and would even receive medical care. An estimated 59 percent of French citizens support the idea, according to a poll released last month.

But the sex workers’ union, which represents more than 250 prostitutes in France, is adamantly opposed to government meddling in its business and would rather maintain as much independence over its members' livelihoods as possible.

Reached by phone, Tiphaine Besnard, a union spokeswoman, said it had been a while since she heard any news from government officials one way or another about how the matter was progressing. In any case, the workers rarely participate in political discussions or decisions involving them.

“Our elected officials … are doomed to repeat the same failures if they do not consult the people who live prostitution daily and know all the consequences of their policies,” the union said in a March press release. “We alone possess the expertise on our lives.”

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folks, in France no prostitute ever went in jail for being such, same for the customers, no one ever been "reprimanded" for soliciting as long as the age over 18 is here. Prostitutes BORN and working in developing countries in Europe haven't been  pushed to the ancient profession by survival necessity or "sold" by parents as is the case in many poor countries around the world including Asia and Africa, but most likely by greed and easy money. Most of them are "professionals" working in the open and don't hide their affiliation to the "profession". They know where to find their customers, mostly on the internet or "special events" parties. They don't need a pimp "to take care" of them.
The reason behind the French government wants to "legalize" the brothels has nothing to do with the one they say but is purely materialistic and it goes within an effort to curb the unreported gains from the underground economy that ravages the French economy. Simply put, control them for better tax them. And to this they (Prostitutes) replied: Thanks, but no, thanks! No pimps in our wallet!!!.... We mean it!

Evan In France

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You started the topic in English, you reply in Visayan. I am sorry to disturb the audience lol!! I didn't know this forum is reserved to locals only.I am going back to read only mode..

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No, this forum isn't reserved to "locals" only. And please, you're not disturbing anyone at all, if you ask me. We simply shift from English to Binisaya as a matter of habit, and we do it as naturally as a seasoned streetwalker would approach a potential customer. We have some Tagalog, too, and Waray and Ilonggo, and a smattering of foreign languages every now and then.

And yes, I can only agree with you that in most likelihood, the French government simply wants to cash in on this lucrative industry.

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i remember when i was studying in Cebu and  my boarding house was in Jungquera st. at nightime passing those shanties the prostitute will call me and ask if i liked a f*ck pangpalit lang nila ug gas needed for thier lamp. .

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Naa pa baya daghan sa Cebu moingon sa daplin sa karsada, "Maski pangape lang, noy!" 

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KInsa kaha ang dili ma tintal niining mga bayhana.. ;DI love everything that is french,french fries,french perfume,french panty lace,french designer clothes and most of all a long french kiss

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Sa laing thread nakanumdom ko dihay niingon ang PROSTIT kuno is good for the PROSTIT? Bwahahaha!!!! 

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Kinsa may imong pilion aning duha gwaps?   
louy pod ang usa kay sa kanubo nija, nasalipdan sa Pajong....

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pagdali diha kay maunhan ka  bwhahaha

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Pads if im not wrong ur place is a mixed of american and french creole culture so i bet you have lots of mes amies there..

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Makawala jud ug self control Glace kay number one ra  ba kana cla sab sa muscle control..

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