9.7.12

A different kind of demonstration



Last Saturday I found a large group assembled on Place Pigalle…

The new French government has proposed to introduce similar laws as applied in Sweden since some ten years, followed by a few other countries – trying to ban or diminish prostitution by punishing the clients rather than the prostitutes.

What I saw was a demonstration against this proposition, organized by some “sex workers syndicates”. They claim “rights” rather than repression and penalization. I recognized the (university educated) young lady appearing in front of the “Syndicat du Travail Sexuel” (Sexwork Syndicate) banner from different television interviews lately.


News media were of course present and the demonstrators could express their opinions as well by slogans as by interviews.




After the more or less rainy meeting, the crowd marched (I suppose) in the direction of Place de la République.

12 comments:

Olivier said...

un long débat, en effet ils veulent prendre en exemple sur la Suede, ou il parait que le resultat n'est pas si bon que ca

Thérèse said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Thérèse said...

"...punishing the clients rather than the prostitutes"...
They do that too in the US, they even set up operations to arrest people...
Thks for the news!

Starman said...

I'm not sure how I feel about this. There are so many variables.

claude said...

Moi, je dirais que c'est un sujet qui ne m'interpelle pas de trop. Comme il paraît que c'est le plus vieux métier du monde, je pense qu'il ne disparaîtra pas, même si répression il y a. Comme dit mon Chéri, ils ont qu'à ré-ouvrir les maisons closes pour ne pas dire autre chose.

Cergie said...

Figure toi que j'avais montré une ancienne maison close située près de la gare de Boissy-l'Aillerie, transformée en restaurant. Depuis que j'y suis allée déjeuner (en famille), elle a fermé définitivement pour raison de sécurité car elle penche de + en + pour cause de sol mouvant.

Adam said...

Interesting subject and nice photos. It seems like there were as many members of the press present as demonstrators!

Studio at the Farm said...

Very interesting photos. But why is the government trying to change the legislation?

Anonymous said...

Diminish prostitution?

Ban prostitution?

Are you sure the new French

goverment is terrestrial?

Great post, Peter!

Thanks!
Maria

Owen said...

Surprising that given the ancient history of the profession that such questions weren't resolved long, long ago. Like other subjects, to criminalize simply creates a black market. No easy answers.

Virginia said...

As I was posing my remarks, thankfully Owen answered pour moi! In the U.S., we have much bigger issues, not that we address them.
V

arabesque said...

protests seems to common around there, same here though, but as long as it's not violent...