[By Annie Sugier and Françoise Morvan, French Coordination for the EWL, Paris, 18 July 2013]
On the 3rd of July draft legislation on equality between women and men was presented to the French Council of Ministers by Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, Minister for Women’s Rights. It is the first complex legislative proposal for women’s rights in French history. It is composed of 25 articles that not only propose changes on the legislative level but provides for measures that complement the initiatives already undertaken by the Minister.
In brief, the objectives are:
- Progress in the area of professional equality between women and men
- Fight against women’s precarious economic situations
- Protect women- victims of rape and ensure that they are afforded equal dignity and respect in society
- Ensure the fair representation of women in society
The project includes important measures in the scope of professional equality, guarantees to assure alimony payments, protection of women victims of violence and for the generalisation of parity and equality.
CLEF points out the lack of specific measures undermining the system of prostitution such as the criminalisation of clients as one of the few drawbacks of the project.
More information is available, in French, here.
