Prostitutes charged, punters left untouched

[alexpolismum]

In Greece over the last few days there have been a number of arrests of HIV positive prostitutes, they have now been charged with intent to cause serious bodily harm, a grave offence in Greece.

No punters have even been considered for arrest, there has been no consideration of who might have infected them, no thought has been given to how else these women are supposed to live, especially given the current economic climate in Greece and the serious lack of even unskilled employment available. Their names and faces have been published, as though it is simply an attempt to stigmatise them.

Can't say I'm surprised.

Is there any campaign to get the Johns who infected them in the first place?

read about it here

In the Greek news article it says a further 100 or so arrests are planned

no, and a number of men have contacted authorities claiming to be customers and poor vitriol on the women

that should be pour, obviously

This has made me so cross. No recognition whatsoever of the victimhood of the women.

Those poor women.

What makes me angry about this is that the Greek situation is no doubt to some degree a result of legal prostitution.

Prostitution is legal in Greece, with regular health checks for sex workers required. But authorities say only a fraction of brothels are operating with a license.

Where you have legal prostitution, illegal prostitution flourishes too.

a rise in cases of customers having sex without a condom for an additional fee.

Where you have legal prostitution you also have an underground market for stuff that isn't legal/condoned; sex without protection, sex with virgins, etc...

Greece is the busiest transit point for illegal immigration in the European Union ? and for human traffickers bringing women from Eastern European countries.

Where you have legal prostitution you also have trafficking (a situation no doubt not helped by Greek's geographical position).

?This is an exploded bomb,? he said. ?It is a problem that should have been limited but it now involves Greek society. It?s a problem that we cannot erase but only try to contain.?

No shit sherlock. See Amsterdam, Germany, Nevada and Victoria for similar stories of unwanted consequences of legal prostitution.

This was discussed on the Greek media this morning. This is what one commentator said that I liked: (my own translation)

"So they've charged some prostitutes. Well clap clap. What a great achievement. Have they tackled the poverty that drives these women into prostitution? No? Oh, I see the men are all regarded as victims. Of course, I am sure that as they took advantage of these women's services they were screaming and begging as they were forced to have the unprotected sex that they had paid for and demanded."

"And what happens now? These women were screened for HIV and subsequently arrested. So they have found a handful of women. How many more women now will simply hide away and avoid seeking medical attention for fear of arrest?"

Good points, I felt.

I like that commentator Alexis!

Good commentary.

the elections have pushed this news item off the agenda, but I did hear that one Athens clinic has now been inundated with men wanting to be screened for HIV, plus some very angry women who will no doubt be making the divorce lawyers richer come Monday morning!

The commentator I mentioned in my previous post is great, always has something to say that makes you think a bit. Today she said (bearing in mind the general elections today) "Interesting to see the ratio of men to women on the ballot papers. Of course, women make up a tiny minority of the population, so it's only natural that their representation on the ballot paper is in proportion." It did make me laugh for a moment - better to laugh than cry!