Submitted by W.J. Elvin III”
Prostitutes protest with free sex
The Copenhagen Post Online
04 December 2009
As a response to the city council”™s efforts to curb prostitution during COP15, sex workers offer free service
A group of prostitutes has decided to offer free sex to delegates taking part in UN Climate Change Conference (COP15) in protest against the city”™s attempt to dissuade conference participants from visiting brothels.
The city council has contacted 160 hotels asking them not to arrange prostitutes for guests, reports Avisen.dk.
In collaboration with The Nest International – an anti-trafficking organisation – and tourist organisation Wonderful Copenhagen, postcards with the slogan “˜Be sustainable – don”™t buy sex”™ have been distributed to hotels as part of the campaign.
“˜As mayor I have a duty over which image of Copenhagen will be shown during the summit and I think it”™s deplorable that you can buy a woman for sex,”™ said Copenhagen Mayor Ritt Bjerregaard, who is hosting her own climate conference for mayors.
But sex workers interest organisation SIO is outraged by the unfounded claims that sex tourism increases during high-level summits, and a group of prostitutes are offering free sex to counteract the council”™s efforts.
“˜It”™s completely discriminatory. Ritt Bjerregaard is abusing her position when she uses her power to prevent us from carrying out our legal work,”™ SIO spokeswoman Susanne Mà¸ller said.
The group has now decided to offer a free service to people who present one of the council”™s anti-prostitution postcards, along with their official COP15 ID during the two-week conference.
In addition to the postcard campaign, the mayor has written to each of the 500 participants taking part in the Climate Summit for Mayors asking them to abstain from using the services of prostitutes.