Amsterdam prostitutes protest closure of their windows

(9 Apr 2015) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY SHOTLIST AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY Amsterdam, 9 April 2015 1. Drummers leading a march organised by sex workers who want to protect their windows in the Red Light District 2. Sex workers walking behind drummers holding a banner reading (English) "Don't save us, save our windows" 3. Various of sex workers marching, some wearing masks 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mariska Majoor, spokesperson for Dutch sex workers' union Proud: "I know something else we want, you know what we want more, we want respect." 5. Various of protestors walking through Red Light District 6. Mariska Majoor giving an interview 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Mariska Majoor, spokesperson for Dutch sex workers' union Proud: "It's quite interesting because Amsterdam is world-famous because of the Red Light District but seven years ago they (the City of Amsterdam council) started the project to change the image of Amsterdam. We used to have a city council that had different plans with Amsterdam, they wanted to make it into a more decent city, a more decent area. They say that they want to have more control over the sex industry because it is related often to human trafficking and abuse but in our opinion they use that as an excuse only for the gentrification project." 8. Sex worker posing in front of window 9. SOUNDBITE (Dutch) Black Pearl (pseudonym), sex worker: "Here in the Netherlands we have to stay free, this is a land of free-thinking and expression. Netherlands is the haven of freedom and it must stay like that." 10. Various of protestors walking through the city 11. Various of protestors in Amsterdam's City Hall 12. Eberhard van der Laan, Mayor of Amsterdam, talking to reporters 13. Protestors in City Hall 14. SOUNDBITE (English) Eberhard van der Laan, Mayor of Amsterdam: "Finally about the work place, I think this is about the last war, the war is over. I think the new city council said we want to buy few, lesser windows so the project of 2012 will change." 15. Van der Laan talking to reporters STORYLINE Scores of sex workers took to the streets of Amsterdam on Thursday to protest moves to rejuvenate the city's famed Red Light District by shuttering windows where scantily-clad prostitutes pose to attract clients. The sex workers say that the closures are depriving them of safe places to work. The protestors went to city hall, where they presented a petition to Mayor Eberhard van der Laan. Amsterdam municipality is involved in a long-term initiative to reinvigorate the historic network of canal-side streets and narrow alleys in part by reducing the number of brothel windows. Some 115 of the 500 windows have been closed in recent years. Dozens more had been slated for closure, but that now appears unlikely to happen. Van der Laan said the protestors were fighting a battle they had already won, telling them that the municipal council now wants to spend less money buying back windows and will likely reduce the number considerably. That didn't satisfy the protestors, who said they wanted their windows back. =========================================================== Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: [email protected] (ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...