Wolf whistling could soon become illegal in France

If Emmanuel Macron has his way, wolf whistling could soon become a criminal offence in France.

The 39-year-old president vowed to crack down on his country’s “macho” culture during his election campaign.

Now a working party, led by under-secretary for gender equality Marlène Schiappa, is drawing up legislation to outlaw the harassment of women on the streets and on public transport.

Watch: Sexual harassment is more common in Australian than you might realise.

The committee, comprised of five MPs, has been directed to create a legal definition of street harassment and determine appropriate punishments.

If passed, this law could see men prosecuted for wolf whistling, following, or repeatedly asking women for their phone numbers in public.

Earlier this year, Schiappa told The Guardian street harassment was “a huge phenomenon” in France that she hoped to address in her role.

Following women or repeatedly asking for their numbers in public could soon be outlawed. (Getty Images)

“It’s that moment when a man is walking behind a woman, talking to her, and the woman can do nothing, because she’s alone,” she explained. 

“She doesn’t scream for help, because she thinks, ‘It’s not that bad, I’ll walk, I’ll escape.’

"Men feel it’s acceptable: they’re being ‘the French lover’.” 

France's under-secretary for gender equality Marlène Schiappa proposes on-the-spot fines for street harassment. (Image: AAP)

At the time, Schiappa said that her solution to the issue would be on-the-spot fines of up to $AU7000.

France wouldn’t be the first European country to specifically target the public harassment of women through legislation.

Belgium banned sexist comments directed at individuals in 2014, while Portugal made verbal sexual abuse a crime in 2016.