French Public Health Code
In forceI.-Family information, consultation or counselling establishments carry out the following tasks:
1° To provide information about rights relating to emotional, relational and sexual life and to educate people about these rights, as well as to help build self-esteem and respect for others in their emotional, relational and sexual life.
This mission includes in particular
a) Providing information and helping people to understand their rights in terms of sexual health and sexuality, particularly in relation to contraception, voluntary termination of pregnancy and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections;
b) Conducting interviews prior to the voluntary termination of pregnancy as provided for in article L. 2212-4 and, more generally, providing support for women who are considering having or have had recourse to a voluntary termination of pregnancy;
c) The provision of education in emotional, relational and sexual life using a comprehensive, neutral and caring approach;
d) Promoting equality between girls and boys and between women and men;
e) Promoting respect for sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex people;
f) Promoting respect for the privacy of the elderly, people with disabilities and all vulnerable people;
g) Preventing violence, particularly violence against women, and sexual violence;
2° Supporting people in their emotional, relational and sexual lives.
This mission includes in particular
a) Support in situations of marital and family crisis ;
b) Helping people to decide whether or not they want to have children, to complete or terminate pregnancies, to complete or terminate adoption plans or medically assisted procreation procedures;
c) Assisting families in fragile situations;
d) Support, guidance and counselling for individuals and families faced with situations of sectarian or radical aberration and mental control.
II - Establishments providing information, consultation or family counselling services do not call upon the services of any person who has been convicted of a criminal offence or disciplinary action for acts contrary to honour, probity or morality or for an offence under Title II of Book II of this Part and Chapter IV of Title III of Book IV of Part V of the present Code, for their management, supervisory or technical staff.
To carry out their duties, family information, counselling and advice establishments call on the services of persons trained in education in emotional, relational and sexual life or in marital and family counselling in matters of emotional, relational and sexual life. These people listen, inform and encourage people to speak out, helping them to make their own choices.
A decree issued by the ministers for the family and health specifies the content and conditions of delivery of these training courses.
