French senate seeks jail terms over child pageants

The French parliament has voted to ban beauty pageants for children under 16, in an effort to defend youngster’s rights.

Anyone who enters a child into such a contest would face up to two years in prison and €30,000 in fines, according to the measure. The legislation must go to the lower house of parliament for further debate and another vote.

The Senate approved the measure 197-146, as part of a law on women’s rights.