French lawmakers are to debate a resolution outlawing prostitution, in a test of the country's long history of liberal attitudes toward sex.
The move comes as France is gripped by coverage of a prostitution scandal involving former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who has been linked with a pimping ring operating out of luxury hotels in the northern city of Lille.
The lower house National Assembly is to vote on a resolution drafted by a cross-party commission that if passed would then be followed by a bill, most likely next year.
The resolution says it aims to "demolish the idea that, under the pretext that prostitution is the 'oldest profession in the world', it is inevitable."
The resolution says criminalisation "is the best path to reducing prostitution in France, as countries that have regulated this activity saw it increase".
Guy Geoffroy of the ruling UMP party, a member of the commission, said passing the resolution would be "an important, symbolic and solemn step" in fighting prostitution.
"Nine prostitutes out of 10 are victims of human trafficking," he said.
Earlier this year, the commission recommended imposing sentences of up to six months in prison and a 3,000 euro ($4,000) fine on clients of prostitutes.
Prostitution is not illegal in France though several linked activities are, including soliciting, procuring and operating a brothel, while paying for sex with someone under the age of 18 is banned.
"There is no consensus yet on this subject," said Yves Charpenel, the head of the Fondation Scelles, a group that fights human trafficking and is among those demanding criminalisation.
"More than ever, it is necessary to clarify the French position" on prostitution, he said.
Sex workers' groups have denounced the proposal as an attack on their rights and protested against the resolution near the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Several dozen prostitutes and supporters rallied carrying signs reading "Sex Work is Work" and "Prostitution -- No Repression -- No Punishment -- Rights!"
Punishing clients will "deprive prostitutes of work that provides them with a living, give clients more power over them and push prostitutes to turn to intermediaries to be able to work," said Sarah-Marie Maffesoli, a lawyer for sex workers' group Strass.
In a letter to lawmakers, the group called for the resolution to be voted down, saying it threatens sex workers' "health, security and livelihoods".
An estimated 20,000 people work as prostitutes in France.
Prostitution has been thrown into the spotlight in France in recent weeks as media devoted widespread coverage to the case of eight leading members of Lille society charged with operating a ring that provided sex workers to clients including, allegedly, Strauss-Kahn.
The one-time top contender for the French presidency resigned as IMF chief in May after he was accused of attempting to rape a New York hotel maid, though the charges against him were later dropped. He denies any criminal wrongdoing.