French President Emmanuel Macron wants to ban gender-based insults
Gender-based insults are set to be illegal in France.
Wolf whistling and other sexist abuse will also soon be outlawed, according to President Emmanuel Macron.
In an effort to reduce violence against women which has seen 123 women killed only by their partners and ex-partners last year, Macron unveiled a raft of new measures.
Speaking at the Elysee Palace on the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women, he vowed to help eradicate patriarchal language.
“Gender-based insults will be punishable by law.
“And many harassers practise wolf whistling and other types of verbal stigmatisation”.
The President said that he would “on-demand” evening bus stops to help women to get home safely.
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He also promised he would launch an online service for victims of sexual discrimination and harassment.
Macron said that “for a long time, people reacted with indifference” to sexism.
“This is unacceptable.
“Women must feel comfortable in public spaces. Women in the republic must not be afraid to use public spaces.
“This must be one of the priorities of the police.”
Unfortunately, France still has some way to go in terms of legally recognising non-binary people.
The country’s top court of appeals upheld a ruling in May which forbids a person from being officially seen as gender-neutral.
Other French people also suffer from anti-LGBT discrimination – such as the President.
Earlier this year, he called rumours that he was secretly gay “odious misogynistic and homophobic”.