[Tresor]

Quote:

France repeals 'vague' law against sexual harassment

France repealed a law Friday defining sexual harassment as "the act of harassing others with the goal of obtaining sexual favours" for being too vague. The move dismisses all ongoing harassment cases and halts prosecutions until a new law is passed.

REUTERS - France repealed a sexual harassment law on Friday on the grounds that the definition of the crime was too vague, sparking renewed debate of an issue put into the spotlight by the arrest of one-time presidential hopeful Dominique Strauss-Kahn last year.

Some women's groups said the decision, by France's highest constitutional body, would leave victims without legal protection until a new law is penned, while others argued an improved law could lead to more convictions.

Former International Monetary Fund chief Strauss-Kahn was arrested last May, accused of sexual assault by a hotel maid. The charges were later dropped but the ensuing scandal cast a harsh light on a practice in France of hushing up or shrugging off sexual advances by powerful figures. Feminists demanded a change of attitude.

Strauss-Kahn had already been rapped over a sexual relationship with a subordinate in 2008, who said she felt pressured to sleep with him, and French writer Tristane Banon filed a complaint after the New York case alleging he tried to assault her in 2003.

Junior civil service minister Georges Tron was forced to resign in June after two women who had worked for him filed sexual harassment complaints. One said the debate sparked by the Strauss-Kahn scandal had prompted her to break her silence.

Friday's repeal of the law should eventually lead to clearer guidelines for judges. But the fact the measure goes into effect immediately means that all ongoing sexual harassment cases not yet ruled on in court will be thrown out.

http://www.france24.com/en/20120504-fran...-kahn-tron

The members of the constitutional council still know what they're doing here

Feminists have been demonstrating in front of the council's hall in Paris today.

They have called the next government to prepare a new law when it comes into power though, and given how much of a pussy is Hollande I'm afraid things are only going to get worse.