France prostitution: MPs outlaw paying for sex

French MPs have passed a law that makes it illegal to pay for sex and imposes fines of up to 3,750 euro(3,027 dollar, $4,274) for those buying sexual acts.

近来，法国议会通过了一项草案，将嫖娼列为违法，对于嫖娼行为，强制罚款最高可达3750欧元（人民币约26517元）。

Those convicted would also have to attend classes to learn about the conditions faced by prostitutes.

犯了嫖娼罪的人还需要接受教育，了解性工作者们所处的环境。

It has taken more than two years to pass the controversial legislation because of differences between the two houses of parliament over the issue.

之前，由于两院之间的争议，法国议会就是否通过这一有争议的议题已经讨论了两年多。

Some sex workers protested against the law during the final debate.

在本次国会议员的最后一次辩论期间，一些性工作者提出抗议。

The demonstrators outside parliament in Paris, numbering about 60, carried banners and placards one of which read: "Don’t liberate me, I’ll take care of myself", the AFP news agency reports.

巴黎国会外的示威者约有60人，打着横幅和标语，其中一条写着：“不要解放我，我会照顾好自己”，据法新社报道。

Members of the Strass sex workers’ union say it will affect the livelihoods of prostitutes, estimated to number between 30,000 and 40,000.

史特劳斯性工作者工会的成员说，这将影响到妓女的生计问题，预计影响人数为3万至4万。

But supporters of the law have said it will help fight trafficking networks.

但是该法案支持者说，这将有助于打击人口贩运网络。

It will also make it easier for foreign prostitutes to get a temporary residence permit in France if they agree to find jobs outside prostitution.

但是，这也会使得外国妓女更容易获得法国的临时居住证，如果本国的性工作者同意不再从事老本行。

"The most important aspect of this law is to accompany prostitutes, give them identity papers because we know that 85% of prostitutes here are victims of trafficking," Socialist MP Maud Olivier, who sponsored the legislation, told the Associated Press news agency.

“该法案最重要的方面是要为了保护妓女的权益，给他们提供身份证件，因为我们知道，法国85％的妓女都是人口贩卖的受害者，” 莫德奥利弗告诉美联社，他是社会主义党的国会议员，也是该法案的发起人。

The law was passed in the final vote on the bill in the lower house of parliament by 64 to 12 with 11 abstentions, France’s Le Monde newspaper reports.

法国世界报报道，在最后一轮投票中，在议会下院该法案最终以赞成票64票，反对票12票，弃权票11票的结果通过。

It supersedes one from 2003 that penalised sex workers for soliciting.

这一法案取代了2003年法案，当年法案主要是惩罚性工作者的拉客行为。

Correspondents say the predominately right-wing Senate has been opposed to the ban - and parliamentary debates have often ended in deadlock.

记者说，主要是右翼参议员一直反对该禁令，以至于议会辩论总是陷入僵局。

Those found guilty for paying for sex will have to pay a first time fine of 1,500 euros, which will more than double for a repeat offence.

根据最新法案，嫖娼者首次被抓需交罚金1500欧元，再犯罚金翻倍。

Sweden was the first country to criminalise those who pay for sex rather than the prostitutes.

瑞典是对嫖娼者而非妓女处以惩罚的首个国家。

Swedish authorities say the number of women on the streets in the prostitution area in Stockholm has fallen since the legislation was introduced.

瑞典当局说，自从法案实施以来，在斯德哥尔摩卖淫区的妇女数量已经下降。

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来源:BBC 官网爱语吧作者:文凤