(ANSAmed) - MADRID, DECEMBER 15 - Despite the ongoing
economic crisis and low unemployment rates, prostitution is on
the rise in Spain and both the average age of clients and prices
are falling.
Associations that help or work to rescue prostitutes have
calculated an increase of between 5 and 10 percent for
''streetwalkers''. Both the associations and the police say that
there are at least 37,000 prostitutes in Spain (a figure that
does not take into account escorts or women and students who
sell sex on a non-regular basis). Of them, 12,000 have said that
they had been forced to do it, while the others say that it was
their own decision.
Spaniards are a minority within the whole and account for
only 12%. Most of the prostitutes are from Latin American (42%,
mostly Brazilians), from Eastern Europe (28%), Africa (15%) and
Asia (5%). The Asian figure is steadily rising and accounts for
most of the youngest prostitutes.
The crisis has had an effect on the prices. The
associations say that sexual services performed for between 30
and 50 euros over the past few years are now regularly had for
between 15 and 20 euros. There are over 1,200 prostitutes in the
capital, and two years ago the Madrid city council brought in
heavy fines for prostitutes trying to get clients. The measures
has not had an effect, however, as it is difficult to catch them
in the act. (ANSAmed).
