- Title: GREECE: Prostitutes demand legal brothels in Athens
- Date: 20th January 2010
- Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JANUARY 20 2010) (REUTERS) PROSTITUTES GATHERED IN FRONT OF INTERIOR MINISTRY VARIOUS OF PROSTITUTES WITH THEIR FACES COVERED (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) PROSTITUTES' LAWYER DIMITRIS MORAITIS SAYING; "We want the law changed in relation to the distance, because it is their right to have legal licences." POLICE GUARDING ENTRANCE TO MINISTRY VARIOUS OF PROSTITUTES AT DEMONSTRATION PROSTITUTE SHOUTING IN MEGAPHONE, "WE DEMAND TO BE HEARD NOW" PROSTITUTES AT DEMONSTRATION (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) PROSTITUTE DIMITRA KANELOPOULOU SAYING; "It's ridiculous, we can't keep living in the Middle Ages. They can't keep shutting down our homes and dragging us away in handcuffs. They must decide about the licence issue. We want an end to this, we want to live our lives and to carry out our profession with dignity." MORE OF COVERED PROSTITUTES IN FRONT OF MINISTRY PROSTITUTE IN HOODED COAT
- Embargoed: 4th February 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece
- Country: Greece
- Reuters ID: LVAC847UHUSM2UJ0FBLEHU9YDDLF
- Story Text: Prostitutes demanding changes to the rules governing legal brothels in Athens stage a demonstration outside the Interior Ministry offices.
Dozens of prostitutes - many wearing sunglasses, hats and headscarves to conceal their identities - demanded changes to the law covering the legalisation of brothels at a demonstration outside government offices in Athens on Wednesday (January 20).
A lawyer acting for the women, Dimitris Moraitis, said there were more than 520 brothels in the greater Athens region and only one has been issued a legal licence.
Although prostitution is legal, a 1999 government law specifies that brothels must be located 200 metres away from churches, schools, daycares and community squares to be granted a licence.
The prostitutes want the distance reduced as they say it is impossible to avoid these areas inside the densely packed Greek capital.
"We want the law changed in relation to the distance, because it is their right to have legal licenses," said Moraitis.
The brothels can only operate with the state permits, and police often conduct searches, shutting them down and arresting the women workers.
"It's ridiculous, we can't keep living in the Middle Ages," said prostitute Dimitra Kanelopoulou.
"They can't keep shutting down our homes and dragging us away in handcuffs. They must decide about the licence issue. We want an end to this, and we want to live our lives and to carry out our profession with dignity."
Prostitutes say some 2,000 of them work in brothels in greater Athens, and not legalizing the institutions only feeds the sex trafficking industry and sends prostitutes out on the streets.
The women later put their case to an Interior Ministry official. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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