Prostitution turns over 72 million euros per year

By Humphrey Carter MAJORCA is not only one of Europe's most popular destinations for holidaymakers, but also for Eastern European human traffickers who smuggle scores of women each year on to the island to work as prostitutes. Some 3'000 people are involved in the Balearics' sex industry which turns over an estimated 75 million euros (£50 million) every year according to a study carried out by the Balearic University and the Balearics Women's Institute. The findings of the report are expected to be considered by the Balearic government which is about to start drawing up a plan of action to combat prostitution in the Balearics. The university and the Women's Institute have found a correlation between prostitution and immigration which is going to complicate any action the government decides to take. Experts maintain that the key to finding a positive solution to the problem of prostitution and the illegal mafias involved, is to offer prostitutes, many of whom are immigrants, a viable alternative. Over the past four years mafias trafficking in women from China, Africa and Romania have been uncovered operating in the Balearics, But, the problem is that the human trafficking mafias are not based in the Balearics, the islands are the final destination for their smuggling operations. With regards to the Eastern European women, they are “entrapped” by offers of work and a new life in their own country before being sent here to Majorca. In many of the cases, and for an obvious fee which many women are forced to pay off by working in the sex industry once in the Balearics, the mafias take care of all the paperwork and travel documents. Last year a number of Romanians were arrested in Majorca on the suspicion of being involved with human trafficking and smuggling. Prostitutes questioned by the police have revealed that they were offered guaranteed work and a new start in the Balearics in exchange for 5'000 euros. One of the ideas being discussed is to offer prostitutes who want to quit the industry and start afresh, sheltered housing and training while enforcing the law and inspecting and closing down a greater number of “clubs.” The Balearic government, however, does not believe that prostitution should be legalised. The Balearic Women's Institute maintains that such a move would be tantamount to “legalising slavery.” Calvia, for example, has introduced a bye-law prohibiting street prostitution and this has only served to make Palma's problem even greater. The restrictions in Calvia have merely forced prostitutes to come into Palma where the city authority has been fighting a long and hard battle against prostitution.