'Prostitution is not work' claim 3,00 petitioners

More than 3,000 people have signed a public petition that today was presented to parliament, arguing that "prostitution is not work."

The petitions agree that prostitution is, "a form of exploitation that subverts the social status and rights of all women," and that, "prostitution is a form of violence against prostituted persons, particularly against women and children."

"The Democratic Movement for Women, the 'O Ninho' Association and the Portuguese Platform for Women's Rights launched the petition following the announcement and confirmation that Lisbon City Council is promoting the creation of a 'local platform for intervention in the area of ​​sex work.'

The petition demands that the Municipal Assembly of Lisbon, should "not accept the institutionalisation of this form of violence, especially against women, reject the creation of such a platform, propose as an alternative to the creation of a municipal intervention platform in the area of ​​prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation and combating trafficking in persons and decide to eliminate the use of the term 'sex work' by municipal bodies, municipal services and companies."

The petition also calls for the promotion and implementation of policies that support and protect victims, by investing in exit programs, social reintegration, access to housing, education and vocational training , health and social protection."

Comments  

0 #6 dw 2018-10-17 18:14

Many other kinds of work can also be a form of exploitation that subverts social status and rights: Amazon workers, Uber drivers etc.

0 #5 JohnTP 2018-10-17 12:36

Quoting Chip:

I agree with Peter Booker's view.

But the purpose of this post is to express shock at Ed's in depth knowledge of the "profession".

It again is clear that Ed's intrepid quest for the truth takes him beneath the veneer of the 'Sunny Algarve' as promoted by those involved in tourism.

I expect nothing less than his clear description of the 'Brothels of Olhao' - surely there's a market for a guide book of that title....?

+2 #4 Chip 2018-10-17 11:56

I agree with Peter Booker's view.

But the purpose of this post is to express shock at Ed's in depth knowledge of the "profession".

+1 #3 Ed 2018-10-17 09:35

Quoting Peter Booker:

I don´t know where Elsa lives, but in the twenty years that I have lived in Portugal, I have neither seen nor heard of brothels. I am aware that women from Brazil and Eastern Europe are prostituted on roadsides near Vilamoura; and that our 70 year old neighbour was aware of her husband´s activities with a prostitute ("but at least he leaves me alone," she said). I know of the out-of-town "clubes" in Spain, but not of any equivalent in Portugal.

As far as the "work" is concerned, I personally have no problem in classifying prostitution as work, along with taxing it and providing health care for the workers.

The petition reported above seems to wish out of existence the world´s oldest profession, and its originators are whistling in the wind.

Olhao ("Porta sim porta não!") carries on with its various port-side traditions including some pretty obvious brothels. If ever you're in town, there's one down the side of Novo Banco, also on the left as you turn down the road by Credit Agricola. I sense a pattern developing...

+3 #2 Peter Booker 2018-10-17 07:58

I don´t know where Elsa lives, but in the twenty years that I have lived in Portugal, I have neither seen nor heard of brothels. I am aware that women from Brazil and Eastern Europe are prostituted on roadsides near Vilamoura; and that our 70 year old neighbour was aware of her husband´s activities with a prostitute ("but at least he leaves me alone," she said). I know of the out-of-town "clubes" in Spain, but not of any equivalent in Portugal.

As far as the "work" is concerned, I personally have no problem in classifying prostitution as work, along with taxing it and providing health care for the workers.

The petition reported above seems to wish out of existence the world´s oldest profession, and its originators are whistling in the wind.

-1 #1 Elsa 2018-10-16 20:08

It is an eyeopener for someone from 'protestant' northern Europe where brothels and prostitution are out of sight; seen as a seedy side of life that most of us have nothing to do with; to come to 'catholic' Portugal and be told openly of the brothels. That, almost all municipal towns have them and most teenage boys get their first experiences there. Dating back from the days when most marriages were more about dowry's than love and divorce was stigmatised, it had long been a way of saving a marriage.

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