France Considers Fines for Catcalls as Women Speak Out on Harassment
By DAN BILEFSKY and ELIAN PELTIEROCT. 17, 2017
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Proposals are under discussion to fine men for aggressive catcalling or lecherous behavior toward women in public, to extend the statute of limitations in cases of sexual assault involving minors, and to create a new age ceiling under which minors cannot legally consent to a sexual relationship.
Marlène Schiappa, a feminist and writer who is France’s junior minister for gender equality, said on Monday that the government was considering precisely how to define street harassment and how much to fine. The government would consult legal professionals on its proposals and hold workshops for citizens across the country, she said, aiming to put measures before Parliament next year.
Speaking to RTL radio, Ms. Schiappa said she had been deeply struck by the response to the #BalanceTonPorc hashtag.
“We all have stories of harassment and assault,” she said, adding: “One of my best friends said something with this hashtag that she had never told our group of friends. This hashtag, with the barrier created by a screen, can help people speak out, and I think that it is truly beneficial.”
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https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/17/world/europe/france-harassment-twitter-weinstein.html
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