PARLIAMENT is looking at ways to crack down on rampant prostitution in Cyprus in the wake of a damning report on the problem from the Ombudswoman this week.
The hefty report on prostitution in Cyprus has left the House Legal Affairs Committee stunned by its conclusions. The deputy chairman of the committee, DISY’s Ionas Nicolaou, on Thursday said measures had to be taken to crack down on prostitution, as the problem was spiralling out of control.
Nicolaou yesterday told the Cyprus Mail that the main venues for prostitution were cabarets and some massage parlours.
“To crack down on prostitution at massage parlours we believe that masseurs should only operate at physiotherapists’ and not alone. Anyone can open a massage parlour and we do have reports of prostitution at these places,” said Nicolaou.
“As for the cabarets, the employers hire girls who are over 18, have nice bodies and can dance. These are the only requirements,” said Nicolaou.
He said the Committee on Legal Affairs would meet next Thursday to discuss the increasing problem of prostitution.
“We must wait to hear the government’s proposals before any measures can be taken. What we need is a different policy on the issuing of work permits to these foreign women artistes. It is also imperative that we change the operation of the cabarets,” said Nicolaou.
“Only the government can implement these changes, but drastic measures must be taken. We hope to pass some laws at our meeting at the House of Representatives. Until then nothing can be done,” said Nicolaou.
Nicolaou has also called for a law to be passed that would distinguishes pornography from the illegal and violent treatment of women. And he insisted that not only women soliciting sex should face the force of the law, but also their employers as well as their customers.
He also argued for stricter punishment for prostitution, to bring Cyprus into line with European norms.
Nicolaou echoed the Ombudswoman’s calls on the authorities to exercise stricter control over who enters the country and called on Immigration not to issue work permits to foreign women coming in as cabaret artistes. He added it should be illegal for foreign women’s employers to confiscate their passports.
And he expressed his support for calls for a shelter to be created for the victims of prostitution, adding police must re-evaluate their methods of dealing with the problem. He said this could be solved by appointing a special police unit to deal with sex-related crimes.
