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Sex worker in Baden-Württemberg (archive picture)
Photo: Sebastian Gollnow / dpa
The Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag wants to take numerous measures to ensure stronger regulation of prostitution.
According to a position paper of the CDU and CSU parliamentary groups, among other things, the use of sexual services by women and men under the age of 21 will be punishable in the future.
The conditions and practices in the prostitution industry are "often inhumane," criticized Marcus Weinberg, parliamentary group spokesman for family, women and youth policy.
"The clients should also be held more accountable in the future and have the registration of the prostitute verified." Violations should be fined.
The faction also wants to ban prostitution of pregnant women.
For example, suitors are threatened with punishment for sexual services by "obviously pregnant" women.
The street prostitution should be more strictly regulated due to the "inhumane conditions" that often prevail there.
Municipalities should make greater use of their option to designate restricted areas.
Alice Schwarzer calls position paper a "huge step"
A general ban on prostitution is not up for debate for the Union.
"Adult women and men who freely choose to work in prostitution and adhere to the applicable regulations should continue to be able to do so," says the position paper.
The parliamentary group is striving to tighten the relevant legal regulations and wants to approach the coalition partner SPD.
The feminist Alice Schwarzer welcomed the move.
The paper was "a huge step," she wrote in the magazine "Emma".
The prostitute protection law passed in 2016 has so far remained toothless, she criticized.
For example, the mandatory registration for prostitutes contained therein is »a laughing stock«.
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fek / dpa / AFP