PROSTITUTION is on the rise in Cyprus, with the island becoming a major attraction to foreign women who obtain working permits as so called artistes, a detailed report by the Ombudswoman has warned.
According to the report, over 1,000 foreign women arrive on the island every six months and are coerced by their employers into soliciting sex.
For the past 20 years, there has been a steady increase in foreign women working as prostitutes, with the number of cabarets in the country more than doubling since 1982 to reach 108.
The report said many of these women came to Cyprus from poorer countries hoping for a better life. However, more often than not, they ended up forced by their employers into prostitution and, as a result, suffer physical and metal abuse.
During 2002, there were 15 cases of abuse reported by foreign women working as prostitutes and there have been six reports of bodily harm so far this year. This led the Ombudswoman to launch an investigation into the matter six months ago.
The report was completed this week and submitted to the Interior, Justice, Labour and Health Ministries. The government denies having any knowledge about foreign women working as prostitutes and is now studying the Ombudswoman’s report.
In her report, Eliana Nicolaou expressed her disappointment at the Immigration Authority, which is responsible for issuing work permits to artistes, when they are well aware of what entertainment they will be providing.
The report also reveals that no action is being taken by authorities to crack down on prostitution, nor is there a support programme available to the women. There are also no funds given by the state to monitor the problem.
To solve the problem, the Ombudswoman suggested that the Immigration Authorities stop issuing work permits to the foreign women claiming to artistes.
The report also called on the government to work together with non-governmental organisations that specialise in human rights issues, women’s rights and the protection of foreigners, and insisted on the need to set up a shelter for victims of abuse.
The Ombudswoman added the police should take measures to fight the solicitation of sex and called fro a special unit to be created with staff trained to handle matters of violence against women and prostitution.
The report said each cabaret employed 11-21 dancers, whose passports were confiscated so they could not change employer. If they decide they want to, they must first apply to the Immigration Department and only if the department accepts can they change employer.
Upon entering Cyprus, artistes must undergo a series of medical tests including an AIDS test. The women must have a medical certificate stating they do not have AIDS or any other sexually-transmitted disease. The authorities forbid the women to work before they have completed these tests and received their results. However, they do not check that the women follow their instructions. The women’s employers are obliged to pay for the tests.
Between January and June 2003 six foreign women working as prostitutes were found to have contracted the AIDS virus, 96 had syphilis and 30 were reported with hepatitis.
The Ombudswoman has asked the Immigration Authorities, the government and non-government organisations to view this matter with the utmost urgency, as immediate changes must be made to deal with the increasing problem of exploitation of human rights.
