Speaking to his supporters at the end of a three-day congress of the Socialist Party in Valencia, Pedro Sanchez said prostitution “enslaves” women. “And from this congress came a commitment that I will implement. We will make progress by abolishing prostitution, which enslaves women, “Sanchez said according to the website Washington Post (WP) without giving further details.
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At the congress, Sanchez also recalled other steps taken by his government, which he said helped Spain “make progress.” These are, for example, stricter laws on domestic violence or an increase in the minimum wage.
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Spain decriminalized prostitution in 1995. Since then, the industry has been booming, with an estimated 300,000 women working in the sex industry in Spain. According to a 2011 UN study, Spain is the third largest prostitution center in the world, after Thailand and Puerto Rico.
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Although sex work is not considered a regular job, there are large numbers of brothels throughout the country, the website wrote The country. A 2009 survey showed that one in three men paid for sex in the country, according to another report from the same year, it was almost 40 percent. Prostitution is not regulated in Spain and people who pay for sexual services are not penalized if this is not done in public.
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However, arranging contact between a sex worker and a potential client is illegal. According to WP, this created a legal loophole. Businesses can be licensed to run clubs that can act as brothels, but they cannot directly employ sex workers. Sex workers often have to “rent” the premises in which they work. In this case, however, they do not have the legal benefits and protection of other workers.
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Opponents of Sánchez’s call to ban prostitution say legal prostitution benefits women working in the industry and ensures their safety, the Washington Post said. Proponents, on the other hand, argue that legal ambiguities surrounding prostitution support the demand for sexual exploitation.
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In the 1980s, most sex workers in Spain were of Spanish descent. However, since 2000, most of them are migrants from poor European countries, Latin America or Africa. This, according to the Washington Post, makes them vulnerable to exploitation. This problem has become a burning political issue, partly because it is linked to fears of illegal migration.
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The Spanish government did not provide detailed details of the plan to ban prostitution on Sunday. Sanchez committed to outlawing prostitution as early as 2019, in his election program. He described prostitution as “one of the cruelest aspects of the feminization of poverty and one of the worst forms of violence against women.”
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As part of the state of emergency declared in Spain in connection with the covid-19 pandemic, all brothels and similar businesses had to temporarily restrict their operations.
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Prostitution is legal in many European countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Greece. Proponents of decriminalization, according to WP, say it brings huge benefits to women working in the sector and makes their lives safer. However, critics say that in countries that have legalized or decriminalized prostitution, there is often a sharp increase in related crimes.
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Public views on the ban on prostitution are mixed. In November 2018, national protests took place as part of the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Several protesters brought banners at the time calling for a ban on the practice. The Spanish government has also authorized the creation of a trade union for sex workers, the Organizacion de Trabadjaroras Sexuales (OTRAS).
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