France bids to make harassment an offence

The French government has proposed a bill focusing on sexual harassment and sexual violence against minors, aiming to make harassment against women in French streets an offence.

Gender equality minister Marlene Schiappa said she had been setting up workshops across France to discuss the bill, which also aims to extend the statute of limitations for sexual assaults in cases involving minors.

“At the moment, one can’t file a lawsuit for street harassment,” Ms Schiappa said on French radio RTL. “When someone breaks into your vital space, talks to you within 10 or 20 centimetres of your face, follows you for three, four, five or six streets, or ask for your telephone number about 17 times.” Ms Schiappa said the proposed fine amount had not been set.