Prostitution ban ‘needed’ to shut down brothels
Bordellos ‘do not exist on paper’ says regional president
VALENCIA president Ximo Puig has said a change in the law is necessary to shut brothels after minister for equality Irene Montero wrote to regional governments calling on them to close down these businesses in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Sr Puig reminded that brothels ‘do not exist on paper’ because they use hotel or bar licences to operate. He said some of these ‘clubs’ are even listed as student residences. Therefore prostitution is something which ‘goes beyond the pandemic’ and ‘needs to be addressed’.
Sr Puig noted that prostitution is not against the law but ‘pimping’ women is a criminal offence.
He said he is in favour of abolishing prostitution due to the ‘condition of slavery’ which it engenders.
However, he added that the Valencia government does not have the powers to legislate in this matter.
At the same time he noted that the security forces are paying ‘particular attention’ to establishments which they know are operating as brothels.
In addition to the actions being carried out by the Guardia Civil and the National Police, the regional police force will be carrying out inspections at any establishments where they believe the rules to prevent the spread of Covid-19 are being contravened.
Brothel shut
An outbreak of coronavirus forced owners to shut down a brothel in Cox earlier this month.
PCR tests were carried out on all the employees and their close contacts to establish the full reach of the contagion.