Viaggio sulle strade della prostituzione con la comunità di San Benedetto

On February 20, 1958, the Merlin Law was passed, which included the crimes of exploitation, inducement, and aiding and abetting prostitution in the penal code, leading to the closure of brothels. Brothels of all levels sprang up in Genoa, from the cheapest ones in old warehouses to the luxurious ones where businessmen could combine the exploitation of women's bodies with the consumption of caviar and champagne. Sixty years after the brothels closed, prostitution in Genoa has never ceased to characterize the historic center and the streets leading from the city center to the western suburbs. Domenico 'Megu' Chionetti, spokesperson for the Community of San Benedetto al Porto, takes us to the streets where prostitution is managed and organized: "The approach Don Andrea Gallo instilled in us is not moral and does not concern the decorum of the city. For us, the focus is always on people's freedom, including the ability to decide whether or not to sell their bodies. However, it is unlikely that a person would freely decide to sell their bodies on a suburban street, in the rain, at 5°C, in winter." To overcome this situation, the path indicated by the Community of San Benedetto is to "relaunch street units, build a support network in coordination with other cities, ranging from initial shelters to serious projects for job placement and social integration. Because it is true that, if illegal, those who report their exploiters today can benefit from a residence permit, but freedom is not just a matter of documents, but also of concrete opportunities for work and removal from those who currently manage trafficking in a context of substantial impunity." (Video report by Pietro Barabino) Subscribe to Repubblica: https://s.repubblica.it/scopridipiu . Podcasts, investigations, newsletters, and much more.