A number of Milan politicians have come out in favour of creating a red light district in the city this week. Politicians from across the political spectrum, including the ruling Democratic Party PD , Forza Italia, right-wing Northern League and the Left Ecology Freedom party, have voiced their approval of the plans in Italy's financial heart.
Prostitution is currently legal in Italy, but unregulated. However it is illegal to own a brothel, pimp, or live on the earnings of a woman in prostitution. Carlo Monguzzi from the ruling Democratic Party PD , wrote on his Facebook page that a red light district is the "only solution" to tackle the violence and exploitation which sex workes currently face due to the lack of regulation. There is exploitation and very bad hygienic conditions. This idea would prevent sex workers from being trafficked, which is a very bad probelm in Italy because of intense traffic from eastern Europe and North Africa.
The district must not become a ghetto and there must be psychologists and medical support to help sex workers. This cross-party support follows a decision made in Rome last week to introduce a red light district zone in the Eur business area south of the city, from April.
Maria Spilabotte, a Democratic Party senator who presented a bill last May aimed at regulating the sex trade in the country, has argued that workers should be given rights and pay taxes. She believes this will also help combat human trafficking.
However, Elena Perlino, an Italian photographer who embarked on a long-term project focusing on sex trafficking from Nigeria to Italy, is dubious about these schemes. Many eastern European, African and Asiatic women we meet on the street are just sexual slaves, victims of a well organized criminal network. She continued: "The debt women need to pay back to their exploiters to be in Europe can reach thousand of euros.
