French sex workers and allies, including Act Up and STRASS have demonstrated in both Lyon and Paris this weekend against French minister for women's rights Najat Vallaud-Belkacem's plans for the 'elimination of prostitution' and call for measures to be introduced to criminalise clients.
"Before making public statements, she (Vallaud-Belkacem) needs to do her homework, to find out about the reality of prostitution," said Morgane Mertreuil, head of the Strass sex workers' union.
"The struggle against forced labour is not incompatible with the idea of giving rights to people who do this job with consent."
See more coverage and images from the demonstrations at Reuters UK, Demotix, Trust.org, and EuroNews.
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