Málaga Council is considering a clampdown on prostitution, following in the footsteps of Sevilla, Barcelona and Bilbao. Prostitution in Málaga is mainly confined to industrial estates, the Poligono del Guadalhorce in particular causing much concern to the authorities.
Various options are being studied, such as the approach taken in Sevilla and Barcelona where the clients are fined heavily. In Sevilla, it is a €1,500 fine for soliciting the services of one of these ladies and €3,000 for those who have sex on a public highway.
The number of prostitutes on the Poligono del Guadalhorce has been growing steadily and the Council has decided it is about time to act. There are several ‘help’ organisations who have, or who are planning to have, small offices in the area in order to help, counsel and if necessary assist them in leaving their (often un)chosen profession. The Council itself already maintains an agreement with a local institution for the care and welfare of women who decide to leave the profession, many of whom need to remain hidden from the local mafia.
Attitudes towards prostitution vary quite considerably. In Holland and Germany, for example, prostitution is considered a legal economic activity and those practicing ‘the oldest profession’ pay their taxes like everyone else and receive social benefits. In Sweden, on the other hand, generally renowned as liberal, the penalty for soliciting the services of a prostitute is a jail sentence of up to eight years.