Cabinet backs new minimum age for prostitutes
The cabinet has endorsed a proposal by parliament to raise the legal age of prostitution from 16 to 18.
The motion urges the government to sign the Council of Europe accord to protect children under 18 from sexual exploitation and abuse.
The motion was filed by a representative of the Christian Democratic Party. It argues that allowing prostitution at 16 can result in young women – immigrants in particular – being taken unfair advantage of.
Prostitution is legal in Switzerland but prostitutes have to register with city and health authorities as well as get regular health checks.
On May 1 a new prostitution law, with an article banning prostitutes under 18, came into effect in Geneva; St Gallen’s cantonal parliament passed a similar vote last April.
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