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'Seal of quality' for better brothels?
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-07-07 09:05 The Dutch Government was
backing plans for "seals of quality" for well-run brothels and standard
contracts for prostitutes, as well as more support for those who want to leave
the world's oldest profession.
The Dutch Cabinet said it supported the initiative from the prostitution
industry to further improve supervision four years after the Netherlands lifted
a ban on brothels to improve regulating the business and fight trafficking in
women.
"The sector has said it wants to develop a seal of quality to improve its
image," the Cabinet said in a statement." This seal could be given to
prostitution firms, which ... comply with criteria in areas such as safety,
health and integrity.
The Netherlands, which defined prostitution as a legal profession since 1988,
has some of the world' most liberal rules. There are about 30,000 prostitutes
and some 2,000 brothels operating openly in the country' infamous "Red Light"
districts.
The center-right government urged local authorities, which are responsible
for regulating brothels in their regions, to work with the industry to develop
policies.
It said abuses had declined since the ban was lifted on brothels but called
on the police to do more to inform the victims of trafficking about the
possibility of temporary or permanent residence in the Netherlands.
A large number of prostitutes in the Netherlands are illegal immigrants, some
of whom are working against their will.
The Cabinet backed programs to help prostitutes leave the profession and it
would introduce a central register for license holders in the business and a
code of conduct for the media.
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