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Sex pest MP demands harassment law change

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
Sex pest MP demands harassment law change

A former MP convicted of sexually harassing three colleagues has criticised French sexual harassment laws, claiming they are against the French constitution.

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A former MP convicted of sexually harassing three colleagues has criticised French sexual harassment laws, claiming they are against the French constitution.

Gérard Ducray, 70, went before the Constitutional Council yesterday to complain that the current law is not “sufficiently precise” and can lead to false convictions, with a view to it being removed from French law.

The text of the current law, which was voted in over 20 years ago, defines sexual harassment as “harassing another with the aim of obtaining favours of a sexual nature.”

Mr Ducray’s lawyer, Claire Waquet, said to French daily paper, Le Parisien: “With this definition, one cannot know what one can or cannot do, which is one of the fundamental principles of the constitution.”

Mr Ducray, the Secretary of State for Tourism from 1974 to 1976, was himself convicted of sexually harassing three city council employees in March 2011. He has always denied the conviction and has lodged an appeal.

Associations supporting victims of sexual harassment deny the law needs to be removed completely, but agree it is against the constitution and needs to be reviewed.

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