VOA慢速英语2018 法国欲用罚款打击性骚扰

France Uses Fines to Fight Sexual Harassment¹

The government of France announced new measures against sexual wrongdoing Wednesday, including fines for sexual harassment. It also extended the time limit for rape² accusations³.

President Emmanuel Macron has said the bill is designed to make sure “women are not afraid to be outside.”

Last year, a series of sexual abuse accusations made against powerful men led to an online movement against sexual wrongdoing.

In the proposed French legislation, adult rape victims can take legal action anytime within 30 years of the wrongdoing. If the victim is under age 18, they can start legal action until they are 48 years old.

The limit currently is 30 years for those aged⁴ 20 and above.

The measure would also set 15 as the age of consent to have sex with someone 18 years or older.

The punishment of fines for public sexual harassment is one of the proposal’s more unusual ideas.

Marlène Schiappa said police could order offenders⁵ to immediate⁶ payment of fines. The fines would extend from about $110 up to around $920. Fines could go as high as $3,700 for repeat offenders.

Schiappa told reporters that it was important French laws make clear that sexual harassment and threatening behavior will not be accepted. She added that there are no “lawless” areas in France.

An opinion study released Wednesday showed that about 90 percent of the French public support the proposed fines. Around the same amount support the extension of time limits for legal action. The study was done by the international market research group, IFOP.

However the new laws have critics, including one of the country’s most famous actors, Catherine Deneuve. Many argue the laws will destroy the search for love and sexual relationships.

Schiappa dismissed the criticism. When speaking last year to Reuter’s news agency, she said, “Some say we will kill the culture of the ‘French lover’ if we punish street harassment. But it’s the opposite.”

She said the law will make it clear that when someone says ‘no,’ the answer is final.

The bill also calls for stronger action against online harassment, Schiappa said.

I’m Susan Shand.

Words in This Story

harassment – n. to annoy or bother (someone) in a constant or repeated way

consent – n. permission for something to happen or be done

1 harassment   

n.骚扰，扰乱，烦恼，烦乱

参考例句：

• She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
• The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。

2 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

3 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

4 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

5 offenders   

n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物）

参考例句：

• Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
• Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。

6 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。