SANE WAYS OTHER COUNTRIES DEAL WITH PROSTITUTION

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BBC - Prostitution in the Netherlands involving Dutch or other EU
citizens is a legal occupation, and a recent report by the foreign
ministry shows that most work in brothels or sex clubs. They can openly
advertise their services in newspapers and on the internet.

However, a small number of legal prostitutes still solicit on the
streets, government statistics show. In response, a number of cities
have created official "street walking zones" which feature special car
parks for prostitutes and their clients. These car parks have privacy
screens - "a bit like stalls", says Ms Timmermans - between which
prostitutes can conduct their business in their clients' cars. Security
cameras monitor the car parks and social services provide advice,
medical information and condoms. . . According to the foreign ministry,
"the introduction of these zones has significantly increased the safety
of street walkers".

PROSTITUTION IN EU STATES

Netherlands: prostitutes treated as self-employed persons; street
prostitution in managed zones; brothels legal but subject to licensing

Germany: similar rights for prostitutes to those of the Dutch though
prostitution subject to VAT; legal brothels and recognised red light
zones

France: prostitution legal - soliciting and procuring are not

Sweden: prostitution legal but buying sex is not, so clients risk
prosecution

UK: prostitution not officially illegal but soliciting, procuring and
brothel-keeping are

AND SOME NOT SO SANE WAYS

[From comments to the above BBC article]

- Here in Mexico the situation terrible. Prostitution is illegal, but it
is practiced everywhere for men and women. The authorities like to
protect them for money not for the government, but for themselves. And
if you want to have their services is probably that cops will try to
take as much money as you can give for buying someone. - Enrique, Mexico
City

- Prostitution is a crime in Nigeria but it is widely practised and
patronised by all and sundry. Many of the street walkers are every day
exposed to the risk of being killed for ritual purposes etc, but many
families' livelihood depends on it. I wish the Dutch approach would be
adopted in Nigeria. Prostitutes or not, they are human beings, our
family members, brothers, sisters, mothers, etc. Society needs them and
we need them alive! Let's stop the hypocrisy. We should not expect our
personal norms to be normative for society. Let's respect their choice.
- Martin Manasseh Esq, Abuja, Nigeria

- I am from a country where just talking about prostitution is a sin.
There is prostitution in the Arab world and it has been there for ages
but everyone is trying to neglect it. Prostitution and violence are in
Egypt as well as drug addiction and child abuse, but everyone doesn't
want to face the reality or criticise the situation. We have also street
mothers - a homeless woman who has been raped and left with her child.
In general human rights are not protected in Egypt, imagine if somebody
tried to argue about a prostitute's right. . . Yes prostitution is a
fact and something we cannot prevent and they have the right to have a
normal safe life since they have chosen that by themselves. I hope that
hypocrites and contradicted people in my country will wake up and try to
face their problems as the West is doing. - Nahla, Egypt

- The issue of prostitution in Liberia is a crime, it has reduced sex
workers to a point were they are constantly molested, beaten at night
and disgraced at daylight. . . . And the government do nothing about
this prevailing issue in Liberia. The human right organizations in
Liberia do not advocate [for] these voiceless sex workers. - Madison
Cammue, Monrovia, Liberia

- With what I saw and actually touched here in Iran, I could say the
situation is far more terrible in my country probably than any other
country in the world! Lots & lots of prostitutes, especially in the
capital, Tehran, and a total ban to all the activities around the
subject and one logical result, absolute lack of human rights for these
poor women... they could easily be hurt or even murdered without anybody
finding out. - Dr Shahab, Tehran, Iran

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6178793.stm

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