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France
Trafficking in Human Beings
There is no legislation addressing trafficking in human beings specifically, and victims of trafficking are not granted any legal status and it is on a case-by-case basis, relying on various pieces of legislation, that victims are protected. Major improvements would be made possible if a bill, which has been given a first reading in the National Assembly on 24 January 2002, were enacted (see below full-text version of the draft in French).The Bill follows on from last year's Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry into "modern slavery" and focuses on presenting a new definition of the offence of human trafficking, which is made punishable by seven years' imprisonment and a fine of Euro 150.000. The definition does not require a person to have been subjected to force, coercion or deception, but should there be use of force, coercion or deception, the sentence would be increased from seven to ten years' imprisonment (and a fine of Euro 1.500.000). Other aggravating circumstances are, among others, crimes involving several victims, a minor or a particularly vulnerable person.