Prostitution flourished with economic crisis says Codacons

(ANSA) - Rome, December 3 - Prostitution is the one business that has flourished in Italy in spite of - or perhaps because of - the economic crisis, Codacons consumer group said in a survey Wednesday.
    In 2007-2014,turnover in the sex trade has risen 25.8%, the number of people working as prostitutes grew by 28.5% and clients increased by 20%, according to the study to be presented officially on Thursday before the Committee for the Civil Rights of Prostitutes.
    Economic hardship and lack of job security has driven many to sell their bodies for money, Codacons said.
    As well, the survey showed a decline in the number of streetwalkers, which currently make up 60% of total sex workers in Italy. The remaining 40% work at home or other enclosed settings, Codacons said.
    Of all the prostitutes working in Italy, 10% is underage and 55% are foreigners, according to the survey.
    However increased business has not translated into better or safer working conditions, the Committee Committee for the Civil Rights of Prostitutes pointed out.
    Policies are still mostly repressive, while society still stigmatizes sex work. Criminalization and social ostracism means sex workers have no rights while generating wealth on the black market, the activists said.