News from the World of Prostitution: Boarding Houses, Control Operations, and Court Cases

The world of prostitution has seen some recent developments, with news coming in from Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, and Stuttgart.

The Dona Carmen association has urged the Frankfurt city government to establish a boarding house for sex workers to address precarious housing situations. In Gelsenkirchen, authorities conducted a control operation to ensure compliance with the Prostitution Protection Act and protect sex workers from exploitation and abuse. Meanwhile, in Stuttgart, a brothel owner won a court case against the city, allowing existing businesses to operate until a final decision is made on their permit application.

Continue reading to find out more about these topics.

Dona Carmen Association urges Frankfurt city government to establish boarding house for sex workers

The Dona Carmen association is calling on the Frankfurt city government to establish a boarding house for sex workers in municipal ownership to address the issue of precarious housing situations for prostitutes. Gerhard Walentowitz, a member of the association’s board, has explained that the pandemic has made the issue of women’s housing situation visible.

During the pandemic, Dona Carmen provided counselling to around 200 sex workers, some of whom applied for unemployment benefits due to prolonged brothel closures. Despite the high number of applications, only 19 of the 118 applicants received assistance with their accommodation costs.

The Dona Carmen Association has urged the Frankfurt city government to establish a boarding house for sex workers with at least 50 places. The facility should not be a place for sexual services but could serve as a registered address and provide space for counselling. Sex workers and brothels could also contribute financially.

Read the news article here: Boarding house for prostitutes opens in Frankfurt

Authorities in Gelsenkirchen conduct control operation aimed at regulating sex work

Authorities in Gelsenkirchen carried out a control operation aimed at ensuring compliance with the Prostitution Protection Act, inspecting a sauna club and four apartments and checking 21 sex workers and two others.

The inspection revealed that five sex workers did not have the required residence permit, and three others did not have necessary registration under the law. The operation was carried out in response to complaints from residents about the presence of sex workers in the city, and is part of ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with the law and protect sex workers from exploitation and abuse.

Read the whole story here: Gelsenkirchen authorities carry out control operation targeting sex workers

Stuttgart brothel owner wins court case over Prostitution Protection Act

A Stuttgart brothel owner has won a court case against the city after claiming that the requirements of the Prostitution Protection Act do not have to be met until a final decision is made on their permit application. The case centered around a permit application made by the plaintiff in December 2017, which has yet to be decided upon by the city.

The court ruled that existing businesses should be allowed to operate until it becomes clear whether they will be granted a permit, according to relevant provisions and transitional regulations. The Prostitution Protection Act requires businesses offering sex for money to meet certain requirements, including separate living areas and emergency call systems.

Read the news article here: Brothel owner wins court case against city of Stuttgart