On Wednesday 13 January 2016, the National Council of Women of Luxembourg (CNFL) held a conference dedicated to analysing the issue of the prostitution industry in Luxembourg and Europe.
The conference, entitled 'Prostitution and Sex Trade: From Reality to Action', was attended by the country's Minister for Equal Opportunities, Lydia Mutsch who highlighted how international crises and migratory flows as potential factors in creating more trafficking victims. For this reason, the Minister cited it as necessary to raise the issue on the political agenda of all EU Member States.
"Prostitution and the sex trade should challenge the international community to fight against the scourges of pimping, exploitation for sexual purposes and human trafficking," Minister Mutsch declared, before stressing the importance of thoroughly anaylsing prostitution in its Luxembourg context and the underlying causes.
Such a process would involve looking at aspects of prevention and an improved health and psychosocial framework, as well as improving the safety of prostitutes and related sex workers on the ground.
Although prostitution is legal in Luxembourg, pimping and the operation of brothels is not permitted. Lydia Mutsch advocated that Luxembourg develop a model to regulate prostitution and enhance the fight against the trafficking of women, by working in close cooperation with stakeholders, services and institutions. She called for close collaboration with the Department of Justice to develop a national 'Prostitution' action plan which would incorporate legal provisions on the matter.
Photo by MEGA (Lydia Mutsch)
