As Paris hosts the 2024 Olympics, undocumented Chinese sex worker Hua says increased police patrols are threatening her livelihood. “I really feel under pressure, I’m constantly scared. Every day, there are police checks,” the 55-year-old said, using a different name so as not to be recognised. “So I go out less and less to work.” Around 40 000 people – the overwhelming majority women – sell or are exploited for sex in France, according to government and charity estimates. Under French law, selling sex is allowed, but it is illegal to exploit someone or pay for sex, placing the criminal responsibility on pimps and clients. It is more complicated however if the sex worker is undocumented.