Aurore Bergé Unveils New Measures to Combat Illegal Massage Salons Exploiting Women

Aurore Bergé, the Minister for Gender Equality, has announced the launch of a new “interministerial circular” aimed at tackling illegal massage salons that serve as fronts for prostitution. The directive, set to be implemented in the coming days, will allow authorities to target and shut down businesses exploiting women for sexual services.

The Minister referred to the disturbing findings of the Zéro Macho association, which identified 426 such establishments in Paris alone offering paid sexual services. “It is unacceptable that in the heart of our cities, we witness sexual solicitation featuring children’s faces under the guise of massages,” Bergé emphasized, citing an ad from one of these salons that featured an underage girl in underwear.

Targeting Exploitation and Human Trafficking

Bergé further condemned the practice, calling it a form of human trafficking. The government’s objective is clear: to close all fake massage salons that enable prostitution and sexual exploitation across France. The circular will use multiple enforcement tools, including tackling tax evasion, illegal employment, and inhumane working and living conditions.

Support for the Victims

In addition to cracking down on these establishments, the minister stressed that the women working in these salons would be treated as victims. “We will offer them financial support and direct them to specialized associations that can help them reintegrate into society,” she assured. This announcement follows the earlier strategy unveiled by the government of Gabriel Attal to combat prostitution, which includes a focus on shutting down these so-called “massage parlors” that facilitate exploitation.

A National Strategy in the Making

This initiative is part of a broader national effort to fight prostitution, ensuring that no tolerance will be given to these businesses operating under the cover of legitimate services.