French lawmakers consider decriminalising prostitution under new bill

French lawmakers are set to present a draft bill this week proposing the decriminalisation of sex work.

The initiative comes ten years after the 2016 law aimed at combating prostitution networks, Caliber.Az reports, citing French media.

The proposal has been prepared by sex workers’ associations in cooperation with Senator Anne Souyris and MP Andy Kerbrat.

It calls for the repeal of criminal liability for sex work itself and a revision of the current regulatory framework.

Supporters of the reform, including Amnesty International and several sector-specific associations, argue that the 2016 system has worsened safety conditions and restricted access to healthcare for sex workers, particularly transgender people and migrants.

According to Souyris, the initiative aims to ensure rights and protection from violence rather than to encourage prostitution, as well as to develop a more realistic regulatory approach to the sector.

The bill also includes measures to support vulnerable groups, protect against discrimination, and prevent the exploitation of minors.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov