Coronavirus: Sex workers in Austria want to resume business

Audio 1:20

Text by: Isaure Hiace Follow

Prostitution is legal in Austria but the many brothels have been closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus crisis. A crisis that has made some of them precarious, so they hope to be able to return to work as soon as possible.

Publicity

From our correspondent in Vienn e,

It has been 3 months since Shiva Prugger, a sex worker in Vienna, can no longer practice her profession. According to her, there is an urgency today to authorize this activity again because the coronavirus crisis has made many of her colleagues precarious.

“  The problem with the coronavirus crisis is that many women did not receive financial assistance, so they were forced to work when it was prohibited. They then had no medical exams and were vulnerable, at the mercy of clients. There is therefore a much greater health and financial risk.  "  

The associations also demand a rapid recovery, aware of course that health care will be required, but it is possible, believes Eva van Rahden of the NGO Sophie.

“  There are other professions where distances cannot be respected, in tattoo parlors for example. However, it was decided to authorize these activities again. I therefore see no objective reason to continue to prohibit sexual services. New health measures will be needed, those who exercise this are aware of this. But this sector showed, when AIDS appeared, for example, that it was able to put in place effective hygiene measures. "

After a meeting with the Ministry of Health, the associations say they are confident about a possible resumption from July 1.

► Read also: Coronavirus: Austria on the road to deconfinement

Our selection on the coronavirus

• Listen to our Coronavirus Info column 

• Our  explanations  :
→  What we know about the mode of contagion
→  Disparities and inequalities in the face of the coronavirus
→  Triple therapy, Discovery… update on research
→  Remdesivir, antibodies and immunity
→  The race for the vaccine is in full swing
→  How to make a mask and use it well

• Our series  :
→ “  The response, country by country  ”
→ “  Nurses  ' words ”

• After Covid-19, towards a new world?

• See also the files of RFI Savoirs on the Covid-19:
→  Birth of a pandemic
→  Everyday life put to the test
→  The history of epidemics
→  Science facing the Covid-19
→  The geopolitical consequences

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• Austria
• Coronavirus
• Sexuality
• Employment and Work

On the same subject

International reporting

Austria: young people in civil service take part in the fight against Covid-19

Government strengthened by Austrian coronavirus crisis

To save tourism, Austria wants to test hotel staff regularly