Save the Children NGO urged
Italian police on Thursday to launch a plan to tackle child
prostitution following the arrest of 11 people on charges of
paying for sex with minors.
Those arrested on Thursday in the northern Italian regions
of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna include an HIV sufferer, a
priest, a football coach and a municipal policeman.
The NGO pointed to a Rome public prosecution office warning
of a rise in all types of crimes involving minors as the main
victims.
"We cannot get used to the repetition of these serious
forms of violence that leave lasting signs on the minors
involved," said Save the Children, calling for a national
anti-trafficking programme to be put in place immediately,
including specific measures to tackle child prostitution.
In total, over 20 people are implicated in the latest
probe. The suspects are accused of paying for regular sex with
four minors, including in parked cars, leisure centres and
private homes.
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