- Title: German sex workers demand brothels be allowed to reopen
- Date: 27th August 2020
- Summary: DUESSELDORF, GERMANY (AUGUST 27, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CLOTHED PROTESTERS MIMICKING SEXUAL INTERCOURSE ON BED VARIOUS OF SEX WORKER NADINE KOPP AKA BIBI DRALL LYING ON BED WITH ANOTHER PROTESTER (SOUNDBITE) (German) SEX WORKER, NADINE KOPP AKA BIBI DRALL, SAYING: "We are simply demanding that the regional government listens to us, that's why we're here, so that they see that we're just normal people. We have set up a completely normal business and now we are afraid for our existence and our identity. Article 12 enshrines the right to free choice of occupation. And this is the right we are exercising and demanding." WOMAN IN LOW-CUT LATEX DRESS WITH VIOLIN BUMPING HIPS WITH ANOTHER WOMAN (SOUNDBITE) (German) SEX WORKER, NADINE KOPP AKA BIBI DRALL, SAYING: "At the moment I am getting unemployment benefit and I have some savings. Sometimes we get donations but apart from that, nothing, zero. For migrants it's even worse because they're not registered here, but they still pay taxes and they're not getting anything at all. It's not right to treat people like that." WOMAN PUTTING UP BANNER READING (German) "OPEN THE BROTHELS NOW!" (SOUNDBITE) (German) SEX WORKER, NADINE KOPP AKA BIBI DRALL, SAYING: "It's just like before: you have sex and so on with a face mask on, you wear gloves, you don't do certain positions to avoid being face-to-face, and maybe omit oral sex." WOMAN HOLDING PLACARD READING (German) "THE DOMINATRIXES WANT TO WORK FINALLY" (SOUNDBITE) (German) CEO OF NOT-FOR-PROFIT FOUNDATION FOR SEXUALITY AND HEALTH (GS:SG), HARRIET LANGANKE, SAYING: "Where people are particularly in need grey areas will appear. We must assume that sex work or sexual encounters in exchange for money are still taking place even when it's banned. And then it's very difficult to make sure that people are wearing masks, keeping their distance, disinfecting equipment and so on. When it's legal it's much easier to regulate. That's why we are calling for it to be possible legally." MAN SPEAKING TO WOMAN IN CARAVAN WITH PROTEST BANNER
- Embargoed: 10th September 2020 13:00
- Keywords: brothels coronavirus prostitution restrictions sex work sex workers
- Location: DUESSELDORF, GERMANY
- City: DUESSELDORF, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001CT0WMYV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS PROFANITY IN SHOT 14
Sex workers in the German city of Duesseldorf staged a protest in front of North Rhine-Westphalia's state parliament on Thursday (August 27) to demand that brothels be allowed to reopen.
Prostitution is legal in Germany but brothels have been closed for months to curb the spread of coronavirus. They have not been allowed to reopen as lockdown measures have been eased.
Sex worker Nadine Kopp told Reuters that she and others were struggling and relying on unemployment benefit, but that migrant sex workers were in an even more dire situation as they were not entitled to benefits.
She said that precautions could be taken to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus, including wearing face mask and gloves and avoiding certain positions and sex acts.
The head of a local NGO promoting sexual health said that sex work was being driven underground by the ban, where it was harder to regulate.
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