Sex work during the World Cup in Germany

Abstract

The World Report by Samuel Loewenberg (July 8, p 105)1Loewenberg S Fears of world cup sex trafficking boom unfounded.Lancet. 2006; 368: 105-107Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (18) Google Scholar summarises the facts about prostitution during the 2006 soccer World Cup but leaves out some very important legal issues.Although legalisation is strongly supported by human rights advocates, important issues of occupational medicine and health are usually forgotten. Whereas there are German and European Council directives and regulations on minimum health and safety regulations for many work areas (eg, those involving asbestos) there is still no regulation for the protection of sex workers' health. Although the German law made prostitution a bona fide profession (giving women access to health insurance, unemployment benefits, job training, and a pension), the issue of occupational health was not addressed properly. In this respect, many occupational hazards need to be taken into account including violence, harassment, infections, bladder problems, stress, depression, alcohol or drug addiction, latex allergy, and death. Occupational health and safety regulations are extremely important harm-reduction strategies.2Rekart ML Sex-work harm reduction.Lancet. 2005; 366: 2123-2134Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (356) Google Scholar, 3Cwikel J Ilan K Chudakov B Women brothel workers and occupational health risks.J Epidemiol Community Health. 2003; 57: 809-815Crossref PubMed Scopus (48) Google ScholarSince the law requires the presence of safety regulations for every field of work, an innovative regulation for sex work similar to the existing regulations for other areas of occupation is urgently needed to protect the health of sex workers. This regulation needs to incorporate issues of exposure and hazard control, diagnosis of injuries and diseases, employers' duties, and workers' rights, as proposed in Australia.4Scarlet Alliance with the Australian Federation of AIDS OrganizationsA guide to best practice: occupational health and safety in the Australian sex industry.http://www.scarletalliance.org.au/pub/Google Scholar, 5Workcover New South Wales. Health and safety guidelines for brothels.http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.auGoogle ScholarWe declare that we have no conflict of interest. The World Report by Samuel Loewenberg (July 8, p 105)1Loewenberg S Fears of world cup sex trafficking boom unfounded.Lancet. 2006; 368: 105-107Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (18) Google Scholar summarises the facts about prostitution during the 2006 soccer World Cup but leaves out some very important legal issues. Although legalisation is strongly supported by human rights advocates, important issues of occupational medicine and health are usually forgotten. Whereas there are German and European Council directives and regulations on minimum health and safety regulations for many work areas (eg, those involving asbestos) there is still no regulation for the protection of sex workers' health. Although the German law made prostitution a bona fide profession (giving women access to health insurance, unemployment benefits, job training, and a pension), the issue of occupational health was not addressed properly. In this respect, many occupational hazards need to be taken into account including violence, harassment, infections, bladder problems, stress, depression, alcohol or drug addiction, latex allergy, and death. Occupational health and safety regulations are extremely important harm-reduction strategies.2Rekart ML Sex-work harm reduction.Lancet. 2005; 366: 2123-2134Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (356) Google Scholar, 3Cwikel J Ilan K Chudakov B Women brothel workers and occupational health risks.J Epidemiol Community Health. 2003; 57: 809-815Crossref PubMed Scopus (48) Google Scholar Since the law requires the presence of safety regulations for every field of work, an innovative regulation for sex work similar to the existing regulations for other areas of occupation is urgently needed to protect the health of sex workers. This regulation needs to incorporate issues of exposure and hazard control, diagnosis of injuries and diseases, employers' duties, and workers' rights, as proposed in Australia.4Scarlet Alliance with the Australian Federation of AIDS OrganizationsA guide to best practice: occupational health and safety in the Australian sex industry.http://www.scarletalliance.org.au/pub/Google Scholar, 5Workcover New South Wales. Health and safety guidelines for brothels.http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.auGoogle Scholar We declare that we have no conflict of interest.