France outlaws sexual harassment on the streets

SEE - August 2nd: France voted yesterday to outlaw sexual harassment on the streets, leaving cat-callers and aggressively lecherous inpiduals facing potential on-the-spot fines of up to 750 euros as part of tougher legislation to fight sexual violence, Reuters reported.

Lawmakers approved the law in a second reading late on Wednesday, days after outrage erupted in France after a man attacked a young woman, Marie Laguerre, when she responded to lewd noises he made at her outside a Paris cafe.

"Harassment in the street has previously not been punished. From now on, it will be," Marlene Schiappa, gender equality minister and architect of the new legislation, told Europe 1 radio on Thursday.

The legislation will also give underage victims of rape an extra ten years to file complaints, extending the deadline to 30 years from when they turn 18.

Laguerre has received praise from the French public and abroad for her courage in standing up to her aggressor. She has created a website 'Nous Toutes Harcelement' (We are all harassed) for other victims of sexual harassment to recount their stories.