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Movement of Greek Prostitutes stage protests
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Associated Press
ATHENS, Greece -- Athens' prostitutes have marched in the streets, slept on sidewalks in protest and even sued local authorities.
But it seems no amount of opposition will stop Athens from cracking down on the sex trade before the 2004 Olympics.
The city's municipal council is pushing to enforce a widely ignored 1999 law that sharply regulates prostitution, which is legal in Greece only in government-approved brothels.
Brothels must be inspected regularly and are banned from operating within 660 feet of churches, schools and youth centers and other civic institutions.
Proponents insist the measures are needed to improve Athens' image and block a proliferation of bordellos before the games.
"A city has to have regulations and these regulations come from the laws and the laws must be implemented. That is what we are doing,'' said Dora Bakoyianni, Athens' first female mayor.
Critics, led by some advocates for the legal prostitutes, claim the rules will drive prostitution onto the streets and help feed the massive illegal sex trade in Greece dominated by Eastern European immigrants.
"The law ... only foresees the disappearance of the legal prostitution and increasing illegal prostitution,'' said Dimitra Kanellopoulou, head of the Movement of Greek Prostitutes.
Kanellopoulou and dozens of women have protested outside the Interior Ministry, sleeping on the sidewalk and asking to speak to the minister. Some claimed their brothels had been closed down after the municipal decision to enforce the 4-year-old law.
"If the law has weaknesses then the state must examine it, but as a municipality we cannot close our eyes to a situation that is unacceptable,'' Ira Valsamaki, the deputy mayor.
In June, Athens officials began closing brothels and said they would limit the number of establishments to 230.
But some groups have urged Athens to fully ban prostitution.
Greece's Orthodox church called the plans to continue legal prostitution "degrading (for) the face of mankind.'' Nordic and Baltic ministers for gender equality expressed their "abhorrence'' at keeping the brothels.
Kanellopoulou's group has filed a legal action with the Council of State, the country's highest administrative court, asking that the municipal decision be deemed unconstitutional.
The decision is expected later this year. They say they will take the issue to European Union courts if necessary.
"They will not decide for us, without us. We have decided to take this to the limits,'' Kanellopoulou said.
Movement of Greek Prostitutes stage protests
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press
ATHENS, Greece -- Athens' prostitutes have marched in the streets, slept on sidewalks in protest and even sued local authorities.
But it seems no amount of opposition will stop Athens from cracking down on the sex trade before the 2004 Olympics.
The city's municipal council is pushing to enforce a widely ignored 1999 law that sharply regulates prostitution, which is legal in Greece only in government-approved brothels.
Brothels must be inspected regularly and are banned from operating within 660 feet of churches, schools and youth centers and other civic institutions.
Proponents insist the measures are needed to improve Athens' image and block a proliferation of bordellos before the games.
"A city has to have regulations and these regulations come from the laws and the laws must be implemented. That is what we are doing,'' said Dora Bakoyianni, Athens' first female mayor.
Critics, led by some advocates for the legal prostitutes, claim the rules will drive prostitution onto the streets and help feed the massive illegal sex trade in Greece dominated by Eastern European immigrants.
"The law ... only foresees the disappearance of the legal prostitution and increasing illegal prostitution,'' said Dimitra Kanellopoulou, head of the Movement of Greek Prostitutes.
Kanellopoulou and dozens of women have protested outside the Interior Ministry, sleeping on the sidewalk and asking to speak to the minister. Some claimed their brothels had been closed down after the municipal decision to enforce the 4-year-old law.
"If the law has weaknesses then the state must examine it, but as a municipality we cannot close our eyes to a situation that is unacceptable,'' Ira Valsamaki, the deputy mayor.
In June, Athens officials began closing brothels and said they would limit the number of establishments to 230.
But some groups have urged Athens to fully ban prostitution.
Greece's Orthodox church called the plans to continue legal prostitution "degrading (for) the face of mankind.'' Nordic and Baltic ministers for gender equality expressed their "abhorrence'' at keeping the brothels.
Kanellopoulou's group has filed a legal action with the Council of State, the country's highest administrative court, asking that the municipal decision be deemed unconstitutional.
The decision is expected later this year. They say they will take the issue to European Union courts if necessary.
"They will not decide for us, without us. We have decided to take this to the limits,'' Kanellopoulou said.
