Emmanuel Macron wants to ban men from following women and asking for their phone number under new plans to end the ‘macho’ culture in France.
The 39-year-old French President vowed to crackdown on harassment on public transport and in the street when he was on the election trail earlier this year.
A working party set up by, Marlene Schiappa, the under-secretary for gender equality, is now looking to produce legislation making it illegal to harass people in a public place – and this could mean outlawing wolf-whistles.
Emmanuel Macron wants to ban men from following women and asking for their phone number under new plans to end the ‘macho’ culture in France. A working party has been set up by Marlene Schiappa, his 34-year-old under-secretary for gender equality (pictured)
The 39-year-old French President vowed to crackdown on harassment on public transport and in the street when he was on the election trail earlier this year
Five MPs on the committee will examine the legal definition of street harassment before ruling what fines should be imposed, according to The Times.
But critics say the measures will be hard to implement because of the difficulty of proving an offence had taken place.
Schiappa, a blogger and novelist who Macron has appointed to his cabinet, suggested earlier this year that punishments could be in the form of on-the-spot fines – but the exact figure has yet to be determined.
Speaking to the Guardian, she revealed sexual harassment on the street was a ‘huge phenomenon’ in France.
Schiappa, a blogger and novelist who Macron has appointed to his cabinet, suggested earlier this year that punishments could be in the form of on-the-spot fines – but the exact figure has yet to be determined
‘It’s that moment when a man is walking behind a woman, talking to her, and the woman can do nothing, because she’s alone. She doesn’t scream for help, because she thinks, “It’s not that bad, I’ll walk, I’ll escape.”
‘Men feel it’s acceptable: they’re being “the French lover”.’
She said that women are molested so often that many dress to avoid it before using public transport.
The previous government launched a campaign called Stop: That’s Enough as part of a crackdown.
Schiappa added: ‘At the moment, many men are saying, “It’s not a big deal, we’re only having fun.” And we say, “No”‘.