Sex workers are protesting because the mayor of Amsterdam would abolish the red-light district and erotic jobs

Sex workers protest against plans to move Amsterdam's red-light district

Dutch sexworkers have protested in Amsterdam as the city government plans to move the red-light district from the city center to a new "erotic center" on the outskirts of the city, the Guardian reported.

Dozens of people gathered outside the town hall in support of erotic jobs, many wearing masks to cover their faces.

On their banners were inscriptions such as:

If sex workers are not guilty, why are they punished?

The mayor, Femke Halsema, is trying to rid Amsterdam of its "sin city" image and reduce the rate of downtown tourism and crime.

The mayor wants to create an erotic center on the outskirts of the city

Halsema has long opposed the century-old red-light district known as De Wallen, where sex workers stand in windows waiting for guests.

The city council has identified three potential sites where a 100-room facility would be available for sexy jobs.

Lucie, who does adult work in the red-light district, dismissed the idea as "a big gentrification project". She said:

This is primarily about fighting the De Wallen mobs, but it's not the fault of the sex workers, so I don't see why we should be punished for it.

The mayor's plan is opposed not only by sex workers but also by suburbanites who do not want to see an erotic center near their home.

The European Medicines Agency also got dragged into the controversy after it was revealed that one of the possible sites for the erotic center was located near its main building.

The agency expressed outrage, saying it could affect the safety of people working late in the office.

The red-light district has constantly been the object of new laws, officials are constantly trying for new ways to control erotic jobs:



However, the question can be asked here: isn't there a more effective way to make the red-light district safer?

Also, if security issues arise because of the red-light district, why doesn't the city management do something to make the residents who do adultworks safer?

A petition has also been launched for the cause, which has already been signed by 20.000 people.

In the petition, they demand that they not move from their usual sexjob spot, but instead increase public safety with a greater police presence, especially at night.

So, the answers and solutions to the above questions were also outlined in the petition.

The tug-of-war involving sex workers has been going on for 16 years

Mariska Majoor, a former prostitute who now stands up for their rights, said that the protests against the relocation of the district have been going on for 16 years, and the city hall has only modified the goals all the time.

Already in 2007, the authorities had a plan to reduce some of the brothels. Then because of the fight against human trafficking and abuse, and now because of the fight against mass tourism.

Relocating the red light district is Amsterdam's latest effort to transform the image of the city, not to focus on prostitutes.

Thursday's demonstration also attracted out-of-towners who, according to the plans, should live next to the new erotic center.

Cynthia Cournuejouls, 42, who lives in the south of the city, said:

We don't want Europe's biggest brothel in our neighborhood. We just don't want it. We want to keep it here.