Amsterdam makes changes to Red Light District in attempt to address violence against women

2/27/2013 – Amsterdam — As further proof that legalization is not the answer to the problems stemming from prostitution, Amsterdam is taking even more steps to try and combat a growing infiltration of organized crime, trafficking and violence against women in their legalized brothels.

Information is coming out of Amsterdam that mayor Ederhard van der Lann has announced that the minimum age to work as a legal prostitute is being raised from 18 to 21 and that brothels will no longer be allowed to operate in the early morning hours.

Van der Lann said at a press conference that the moves came from a decision to crack down on crime in the city’s famed Red Light District and protect sex workers – mostly women – from abuse.

“We think the situation is so grave that we have to act,” Van der Lann told reporters.

Prostitution was legalized in the Netherlands in 2000, but has been tolerated in Amsterdam since the 1600′s. However, in recent years the city has had to admit that their legalized system is plagued with violence, coercion, drugs and human trafficking.

Starting in 2006 Amsterdam began a crackdown by closing a third of its previously licensed brothels. Since that time the city has introduced additional restrictions and has conducted studies that show that legalization has not resulted in significant lower incidences of abuse.

Dutch officials are now said to be studying Sweden’s prostitution laws which criminalizes being a customer (“John”) but not a prostitute.

Back in December, JohnTV posted an article about a recent study that concluded that the legalization of prostitution significantly increases human sex trafficking.

In December of 2011 JohnTV posted an article about the French Parliament considering making prostitution illegal in their county.