Five years ago, France introduced new legislation, known as the abolitionist model that made it illegal for for anyone to pay for prostitution.
The 2016 legislation ensured France joined a growing list of countries (Sweden, Norway, Canada, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Israel) where it is illegal to buy sex, shifting the criminal responsibility to the buyer, who is fined if caught.
The European Court of Human Right will be determining if France’s 2016 law on prostitution is constitutional or whether they contravene the “human rights” of prostitutes reports the Guardian.
The claimants – 250 individuals involved in prostitution, supported by 19 French NGOs – are now taking the case to the European Centre of Human Rights.
The applicants claim that the law contravenes three articles in the European convention on human rights: the right to life; prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment; right to a private life.
According to the Guardian, the so-called “human right” of women to sell sex is being used as a smokescreen to protect the men and their right to sexual access to the most vulnerable women.
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