Jul 16, 2010
Spain to ban prostitute ads
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Jose Luis Rodriguez, an active promoter of women's rights since he took power in 2004, said in parliament on Thursday 'publicity announcements for prostitutes (should be) eliminated'. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
MADRID - SPAINISH Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has come out in favour of banning adverts for prostitutes in the press, newspapers reported on Friday. The Socialist leader, an active promoter of women's rights since he took power in 2004, said in parliament on Thursday 'publicity announcements for prostitutes (should be) eliminated'.
He said that 'as long as these adverts exist, they are contributing to the normalisation of this activity,' El Pais and El Mundo newspapers reported. Both mass-circulation newspapers regularly carry such adverts, which include not only telephone numbers and prices but explicit descriptions of services on offer, with attention grabbing headlines like 'Unforgettable girls' and 'Generous breasts.'
Such publicity is a significant source of income for the Spanish press, which has seen a drop in its advertising revenue because of the financial crisis, and it is against any move to stop it without state compensation. The AEDE association of newspaper editors said a ban would go against Constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and information. In a statement, it invited the government to 'adopt the necessary measures to stop prostitution' and said if it were really illegal, newspapers would not carry its publicity. -- AFP
