The Local France

The woman behind France's #MeToo in court accused of slander

Wed, 29 May 2019 16:03:19 +0200

The woman behind France's answer to the #MeToo campaign exposing abusive behaviour by men was to appear in court on Wednesday accused of slandering a media executive who she said had made lewd remarks.

France hands out first street harassment fine to Frenchman who slapped woman's buttocks

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 10:57:32 +0200

A French court has fined a man for insulting a woman during an assault on a bus, the first conviction under a new law that punishes sexual harassment in public spaces, judicial sources said Tuesday.

Women in Paris tell their stories of being groped, pestered and sexually harassed

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 16:21:21 +0200

The video of a woman being slapped hard in the face by a man who verbally harassed her has got France talking about sexual harassment on the streets once again. Here's what Parisian women told The Local about their own experiences of being groped and pestered in the French capital.

France to make 'upskirting' illegal in street harassment crackdown

Mon, 23 Jul 2018 12:14:21 +0200

The French government is set to make the increasingly prevalent act of "upskirting" illegal as part of a bill that aims to tackle street harassment in France.

Cat callers in France face €90 fines as Paris targets sex pests with animal campaign

Tue, 06 Mar 2018 14:47:32 +0100

Sexual harassment in public places will be punished by a new on-the-spot fine of €90, the government has announced. The new law comes just as a wild animal-themed campaign to raise awareness of the scourge is launched on the Paris Metro.

Fashion photographer Demarchelier accused of harassment

Sat, 17 Feb 2018 04:46:38 +0100

The Boston Globe published a bombshell expose on Friday accusing more than two dozen professionals in the fashion industry, among them legendary photographer Patrick Demarchelier, of sexual misconduct.

'Hundreds of thousands of women' in France molested on public transport

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 12:23:17 +0100

At least 267,000 people, mostly women, were sexually abused on public transport over a two-year period in France, a new study has revealed, highlighting just how serious the problem has become.

Names of lecherous French MPs included on 'blacklist' for women to avoid

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 19:43:03 +0200

A former parliamentary assistant has revealed that there is a "blacklist" of lecherous male French MPs that women working in the National Assembly know to avoid.

French lawmaker in Macron's ruling party accused of sexual assault

Sat, 21 Oct 2017 13:05:17 +0200

A lawmaker in French President Emmanuel Macron's ruling party is facing an inquiry into claims of sexual assault and harassment by his former parliamentary assistant, Franceinfo radio reported Friday.

Over half of French women victims of sexual harassment as public accusations fly

Fri, 20 Oct 2017 11:53:51 +0200

A new survey reveals that more than one in two French women have been victims of sexual harassment and/or sexual assault. The study comes as a flurry of women are stepping forward to reveal their high profile aggressors including ex-government ministers.

Sexual harassment in France: 'When someone wolf-whistles you... you can give him a slap'

Thu, 19 Oct 2017 11:02:54 +0200

It's not the cat-callers who are the problem, it's the abuse by powerful men, says ex-French Minister.

Men in France to face on the spot fines for sexually harassing women

Mon, 16 Oct 2017 16:36:07 +0200

UPDATED: A new law will impose on-the-spot fines for harassment of women in the streets of France, a minister said Monday, as the sex scandal engulfing Hollywood honcho Harvey Weinstein encouraged French women to tell their stories.

'Half of French women' alter clothes to avoid harassment

Wed, 15 Jun 2016 13:55:34 +0200

Women in France are choosing trousers over skirts when they take public transport to avoid being the victims of sexual harassment.

Minister denies 'twanging French journalist's knickers'

Fri, 22 Apr 2016 18:33:06 +0200

France's Finance Minister Michel Sapin was forced on Friday to deny that he ever "twanged the knickers" of a female journalist, after the claim was made in a book and led to calls for him to step down.

American art student sexually assaulted on Paris Metro

Fri, 04 Mar 2016 10:49:03 +0100

A 19-year-old American student was the victim of a shocking daytime sex attack as she passed through a Paris Metro station.

Woman held after 'mailing erotic pics' to French minister

Fri, 26 Feb 2016 11:47:37 +0100

A 29-year-old woman has been placed in police custody for allegedly sending "malicious messages" and "erotic photos" to France's Minister for Economy, Emmanuel Macron.

France fights sexual harassment on transport

Mon, 09 Nov 2015 12:50:05 +0100

France has vowed to put a "stop" to the scourge of sexual harassment on public transport by launching a new campaign. It comes not long after a survey on the subject revealed shocking responses from Parisian women.

France unveils plan to tackle sexual harassment

Thu, 09 Jul 2015 11:50:47 +0200

The French public are to be reminded through an advertising campaign that sexual harassment is illegal, as the government tries to crack down on the scourge of sex pests on public transport.

Bahrain envoy hits back over maid sex claims

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 10:58:00 +0200

Bahrain's ambassador to France on Wednesday denied "unfounded allegations" he had groped a former domestic worker in his exclusive Paris residence.

Ambassador faces probe over maid sex claims

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:00:00 +0200

French prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation Tuesday after a former domestic worker for Bahrain's ambassador in France complained of sexual harassment, a judicial source said.