France is pursuing a new ‘abolitionism’ focused on removing prostitution from society without criminalising victims of the sex trade

European prostitution policies have traditionally ranged from acceptance and regulation, to outright abolition. Emily St.Denny writes on the evolution of French prostitution policy, noting that while France has articulated an abolitionist stance since the end of the Second World War, conceptions of what ‘abolition’ entails have varied significantly. She identifies a ‘neo-abolitionism’ that is now coming to shape French policies, focused on the eradication of prostitution from society without re-victimising individuals who provide sexual services.