As Paris prepares for the 2024 Olympics, concerns are mounting among undocumented sex workers regarding heightened police presence impacting their livelihoods. One affected worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed her fears to ECNETNews, stating, “I really feel under pressure, I’m constantly scared. Every day, there are police checks.”
Government and charity estimates indicate that approximately 40,000 individuals, primarily women, are involved in the sex trade in France. Under French law, while selling sex is legal, exploitation and payment for sex are not, placing the responsibility on pimps and clients. However, undocumented workers face unique challenges.
A Chinese worker, who moved to France seeking work as a domestic cleaner and has since been diagnosed with breast cancer, stated, “I’m so scared that I’ll be arrested that I won’t work in the street during the Olympics.” She fears being sent back to China without medical care.
In Paris, another sex worker raised concerns about new security measures affecting pedestrian and traffic flow, noting, “Our regulars won’t be able to make it with all the restrictions in place.”
Amid preparations for the Olympic opening ceremony along the River Seine, many sex workers have notably vanished from their usual locations. The shift toward online transactions has led authorities to adapt their strategies against sexual exploitation. Police have observed that clients can now easily arrange encounters through websites much like ordering food.
The charity Medecins du Monde reported over 46,000 ads on one site in a single evening and has made efforts to support sex workers through online outreach. Their Jasmine project has seen many sex workers report dangerous clients to warn others.
Recently issued by the European Court of Human Rights, a ruling affirming France’s stance on criminalizing clients of sex workers has sparked debate. Critics argue that such policies increase stigma and the risk of violence against sex workers. Human Rights Watch has cautioned that criminalization can lead to heightened physical attacks and police abuse.
Authorities anticipate an influx of individuals involved in trafficking during the Games and express concerns over the potential rise in high-end prostitution, particularly due to the influx of wealthy visitors. Alarmingly, around 20,000 minors are estimated to be sexually exploited in France, with recent incidents highlighting the growing risk to vulnerable youth.
ECNETNews will continue to monitor this unfolding situation and its implications as the Olympic Games approach.
