Prostitution, procuring, sex tourism

Verified 13 March 2020 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice

French law prohibits the use of the services of a prostitute. It is also prohibited to induce a person to engage in prostitution or to profit from the prostitution of a third party. These acts are punishable by criminal law and may give rise to legal proceedings in France, even if they were committed abroad (sex tourism case). The penalties are more severe when the prostitute is a minor.

Major prostitute

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Customer

The following shall be prohibited:

  • Soliciting sexual relations from a prostitute in return for remuneration, a promise of remuneration, a benefit in kind or the promise of such a benefit
  • Accepting sex from a prostitute in exchange for payment, promise of payment, benefit in kind or promise of such benefit
  • Obtaining sexual relations from a prostitute in return for remuneration, a promise of remuneration, a benefit in kind or the promise of such a benefit.

Attempting to commit one of these acts is also punishable, even if the attempt has been unsuccessful.

A Frenchman or a foreigner who lives in France can be prosecuted by the French courts as a client of a prostitute.

It doesn't matter if the prostitute is French or foreigners.

Pimping

The law punishes the fact for the pimp:

  • to assist, assist or protect a person's prostitution, even without profit
  • to profit from a person's prostitution
  • to hire a person for prostitution, or to put pressure on them to engage in prostitution or to continue to engage in prostitution
  • acting as an intermediary between a prostitute and his clients
  • assist a pimp in obtaining proof of fictitious resources
  • to live with a prostitute and be unable to justify the resources of his lifestyle
  • to hinder the prevention, control, assistance or rehabilitation activities, company by agencies qualified to assist prostitutes

A Frenchman or a foreigner who lives in France can be prosecuted by the French courts as a client of a prostitute.

It doesn't matter if the prostitute is French or foreigners.

He can be prosecuted even if the acts were committed abroad, including in a country where the acts are legal.

In addition, a travel agency manager or tourist service provider based in France who promotes their clients' access to prostitutes abroad can be prosecuted in France.

Stewardship of a place of prostitution

The law punishes the fact that the pimp or any other person owns, exploits or finances an establishment or premises used for prostitution.

A Frenchman or a foreigner who lives in France can be prosecuted by the French courts as a client of a prostitute.

It doesn't matter if the prostitute is French or foreigners.

He can be prosecuted even if the acts were committed abroad, including in a country where the acts are legal.

In addition, a travel agency manager or tourist service provider based in France who promotes their clients' access to prostitutes abroad can be prosecuted in France.

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Client of a prostitute

The use of the services of a prostitute is punishable by a fine of €1500.

In the event of a repeat offense, the fine may be up to €3750.

Pimp

Pimping is punishable by up to 7 years' imprisonment and €150,000 of fine.

Owner of a place of prostitution

A person who owns, exploits or finances a place of prostitution shall be punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment and €750,000 of fine.

Underage prostitute

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Customer

The following shall be prohibited:

  • Soliciting sexual relations from a prostitute in return for remuneration, a promise of remuneration, a benefit in kind or the promise of such a benefit
  • Accepting sex from a prostitute in exchange for payment, promise of payment, benefit in kind or promise of such benefit
  • Obtaining sexual relations from a prostitute in return for remuneration, a promise of remuneration, a benefit in kind or the promise of such a benefit

Attempting to commit one of these acts is also punishable, even if the attempt has been unsuccessful.

Pimp

The law punishes the pimp with:

  • Assist, assist or protect the prostitution of one or more minors, even without profit
  • Taking advantage of the prostitution of one or more minors
  • Hire, train, or divert one or more minors for prostitution, or exert pressure on them to engage in or continue to engage in prostitution
  • Acting as an intermediary between a minor prostitute and his clients
  • Facilitating the justification of fictitious resources for a pimp of underage prostitutes
  • Living with a minor prostitute and not being able to justify the resources of their lifestyle
  • Impede prevention, control, assistance, or rehabilitation, company by agencies qualified to assist underage prostitutes

Stewardship of a place of prostitution

The law punishes the fact that the pimp or any other person owns, exploits or finances an establishment or premises used for prostitution.

A Frenchman or a foreigner who lives in France can be prosecuted by the French courts as a client of a prostitute.

It doesn't matter if the prostitute is French or foreigners.

He can be prosecuted even if the acts were committed abroad, including in a country where the acts are legal.

In addition, a travel agency manager or tourist service provider based in France who promotes their clients' access to prostitutes abroad can be prosecuted in France.

Anyone who has knowledge of a child prostitution case must report it to the authorities, even without filing a complaint, and regardless of his connection with the victim: teacher, relative, hospital staff...

If not, a person who does not report such a case could face a penalty of up to 3 years in prison and €45,000 of fine.

The report can be made to the president of the departmental council.

Who shall I contact

119 can also be called.

Who shall I contact

  • Children in danger - 119

    A phone number for any child or adolescent victim of violence or anyone concerned about a child's situation that is in danger or at risk of being in danger.

    By telephone

     119 (free and confidential call)

    24/7

    119 does not appear on phone records.

    By foreigner phone

    01 53 06 38 94

    On www.allo119.gouv.fr

One handrail may be dropped off at a police station or gendarmerie brigade.

Who shall I contact
Who shall I contact

In the case of prostitution of a minor via the Internet, it is possible to use Internet-reporting.

Report illegal internet content (internet-reporting: Pharos)

Furthermore, a public official (teacher, hospital staff, etc.) who has had knowledge of this offense in the course of his duties may refer the matter to the public prosecutor.

Who shall I contact

Following the report, and without waiting for any judicial investigation, the juvenile judge may take the necessary measures to protect the victim.

The judge may be seised by the minor himself, his or her guardian (father, mother or guardian) or the public prosecutor

Who shall I contact

The judge shall immediately take the necessary emergency measures. He often decides to place the minorThat is to say, to entrust it to the child welfare service.

Several persons can file a complaint in the case of prostitution of a minor:

However, the child victim may not form himself or herself a civil party, only his or her legal representatives (parents or guardian) or a ad hoc administrator appointed by the court may do so and claim damages on its behalf.

On the spot

You must go to a police station or a gendarme brigade of your choice.

Who shall I contact

You may not be refused the receipt of the complaint.

The complaint is then forwarded to the public prosecutor by the police or gendarmerie.

By mail

You can file a complaint with the public prosecutor.

We need to send a free-form letter the court of law of the place of the offense or of the domicile of the offender.

Who shall I contact

The letter should specify the following:

  • Your marital status and full contact information (address and telephone number)
  • Detailed account of the facts, date and place of the offense
  • Name of the alleged perpetrator if known (otherwise, the complaint will be filed against X)
  • Names and addresses of any witnesses to the offense
  • Description and provisional or definitive estimate of the damage
  • Evidence: medical certificates, work stoppages, miscellaneous invoices, findings ...
  • Willingness to take civil action

File a complaint with the public prosecutor

Who shall I contact

You can send your complaint by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, by simple letter or by letter followed.

You can also file your complaint directly at the courthouse.

In any case, a receipt is given to you as soon as the Public Prosecutor's Office has registered your complaint.

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Client of a minor prostitute

The penalties for these acts are:

  • 3 years of imprisonment
  • And €45,000 fine

These penalties shall be increased to 5 years of imprisonment and €75,000 of fines, where:

  • The offense is committed habitually or in respect of several minors,
  • The minor was brought into contact with the perpetrator via the Internet
  • The facts are committed by a person who abuses the authority conferred on him by his duties

If the minor is under 15 years of age, the penalties may be increased to 7 years of imprisonment and €100,000 of fine.

Additional penalties (including prohibition of civil, civil and family rights, residence and contact with minors) are also provided for.

A Frenchman or a foreigner who lives in France can be prosecuted by the French courts as a client of a prostitute.

It doesn't matter if the prostitute is French or foreigners.

He can be prosecuted even if the acts were committed abroad, including in a country where the acts are legal.

In addition, a travel agency manager or tourist service provider based in France who promotes their clients' access to prostitutes abroad can be prosecuted in France.

Pimp

Pimping a minor prostitute is punishable by penalties of up to:

  • 10 years imprisonment and €1.5 million fine, if the minor is 16 or 17 years old
  • 15 years and €3 million fine if the minor is under 15 years of age
  • 20 years and €3 million of fines if the acts are committed in an organized group
  • Perpetuity and €4.5 million fines for acts of torture or barbarism

A Frenchman or a foreigner who lives in France can be prosecuted by the French courts as a client of a prostitute.

It doesn't matter if the prostitute is French or foreigners.

He can be prosecuted even if the acts were committed abroad, including in a country where the acts are legal.

In addition, a travel agency manager or tourist service provider based in France who promotes their clients' access to prostitutes abroad can be prosecuted in France.

Owner of a place of prostitution

A person who owns, operates or finances an establishment or premises used for prostitution shall be punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment and €750,000 of fine.

A Frenchman or a foreigner who lives in France can be prosecuted by the French courts as a client of a prostitute.

It doesn't matter if the prostitute is French or foreigners.

He can be prosecuted even if the acts were committed abroad, including in a country where the acts are legal.

In addition, a travel agency manager or tourist service provider based in France who promotes their clients' access to prostitutes abroad can be prosecuted in France.

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