Spanish parliament rejects legalization of prostitution

Europe News

Sep 23, 2009, 12:55 GMT

Madrid - A women's group on Wednesday welcomed a decision by Spain's parliament to reject a move that would have made prostitution legal. Parliament on Tuesday voted 329-5 against a proposal to recognize prostitution as a profession. The Federation of Progressive Women welcomed the vote, describing prostitution as a form of violence and slavery which was being 'supported and promoted by many people.' The Catalan republican party ERC, which tabled the proposal, said it would prefer prostitution not to exist, but that it was better to grant prostitutes legal rights than to leave them at the mercy of pimps. Others, however, argued that neither bans nor legalization had solved the problems created by prostitution in other countries. Parliament also rejected calls for a ban on newspaper ads on prostitution, saying it was preferable for the media voluntarily to stop advertising the sex trade. The influx of immigrants has led to a growth of prostitution in Spain, where up to 300,000 women are estimated to be selling sex in flats, hostels, streets, parks or 'clubs' functioning as brothels. The government says the overwhelming majority of prostitutes are immigrants who were coerced into the skin trade.

Europe

Spanish parliament rejects legalization of prostitution

Europe News

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