On 25 might, 2017, NSWP users Red Umbrella Athens (Greece) and Hellenic Association of men and women coping with HIV “Positive Voice” organised a seminar on policy dilemmas regarding intercourse work in Greece. It had been really successful. It had been the first occasion this subject ended up being talked about by representatives through the government, governmental parties, civil culture, intercourse employees while the systematic community.
In line with the Greek intercourse work legislation adopted in 1999, intercourse work is appropriate but greatly controlled. Just intercourse work occurring in state-licensed brothels is appropriate. Street-based intercourse work and intercourse work that develops in resort hotels is unlawful. Municipalities are permitted to figure out the true quantity of licensed brothels. Brothels are not permitted within 200 meters of general public structures, i.e. schools, churches, kindergartens, playgrounds, wellness clinics, hospitals, sport facilities, libraries, squares and nursing facilities. What this means is it’s impractical to have state-licensed brothel in just about any Greek town.
In line with the Criminal Code Law 2734/1999, intercourse employees aren’t allowed to be married. They have to be solitary, divorced or even a widow. Sex employees are just permitted to benefit three years and need an amount of appropriate and medical papers to work legally. As an example, they need to offer their appropriate identity, passport, residence licenses, HIV test outcomes, and an upper body X-Ray towards the government. The legislation demands mandatory medical screening for STIs every 15 times, which can be among the strictest laws in European Union. Moreover, the statutory legislation forbids intercourse employees from working together.
The employment of a flat for intercourse work calls for the permission of the many residents and also the owners of all of those other apartments. Finally, in line with the intercourse work legislation, the assistant staff of brothels ought to be more than 50 and really should have mandatory testing that is medical.
Most of the speakers decided on the requirement to improve the existing framework that is legal violates the legal rights of intercourse workers as outlined within the NSWP Consensus Statement.
It really is noteworthy that the meeting had been organised utilizing the support that is official of Greek Ministry of Interior while the Minister. Panos Skourletis, aided by the governmental celebration “Coalition associated with the Radical Left,” spoke of this must examine other legislative models on intercourse work.
Anna, agent of Red Umbrella Athens, described the solutions plus the experiences of this drop-in time center and stressed that the definition of “prostitution” is abusive and so it will never be found in any dialogue that is public. Additionally, she shared her very own experience that is personal an intercourse worker, emphasising the ukrainian mail order bride necessity to recognise intercourse work as any kind of occupation.
“Unfortunately, nevertheless right right here a lot of stakeholders see intercourse act as trafficking and they also support the model that is nordic” stated Maria from Red Umbrella Greece.
Thierry Schaffauser through the “International Committee from the Rights of Sex employees in European countries (ICRSE)” spoke concerning the different policy models implemented in France, Sweden, Holland, and brand brand New Zealand. He spoke on how criminalisation is just a breach of intercourse employees rights that are human. He earnestly took part in the seminar and talked out against statements arguing that intercourse workers are merely women and victims of trafficking and therefore there’s no necessity to generally share their liberties.
Trajche Janushev, the chairperson of SWAN’s Management Committee, centered on recommendations therefore the successes of SWAN. Ms Duif, the Secretary for the Board and appropriate consultant for PROUD (Dutch Sex Workers Union), and Ms Luhrs, the seat individual associated with Board and press officer for PROUD, offered the Dutch model on intercourse work policy. They highlighted the significance of meaningfully sex that is including in the growth of legislation and policies about intercourse work.
Finally, of particular interest had been the discussion associated with the six users and representatives regarding the parliamentary events whom were current. They unanimously supported the necessity to modernise the appropriate framework. The ‘SYRIZA’ person in parlimeant and former Minister of Justice Nikos Paraskevopoulos, argued that their state should respect just the right of sex employees to self-determination.
“One of y our priorities is to continue increasing the stress for alterations in legislation in support of sex employees,” concluded Maria.