Prostitution is Switzerland with sex workers required to register with local authorities and pay taxes. But while Bern is currently home to 28 licensed brothels, this number is sinking and there is growing opposition to plans for new establishments.
There were 12 reported cases in the canton of Bern from April to April , although the real number is thought to be much higher. But Bern cantonal parliamentarian Christa Ammann, who heads up a specialist unit conducting research into the sex industry, says rules introduced in requiring brothels to register have made sex work more expensive.
However, there are dozens of apartments listed on Airbnb for less than this amount. The trend towards the use of private apartments for sex work runs counter to the intention of rule changes in Bern in which are designed to protect prostitutes from abuse and exploitation. Prostitution is legal in Switzerland although individual cantons have different rules on where and when it can be practised. Forcing someone into prostitution is, however, illegal. In the Scandinavian country, it is illegal to pay for sex with clients.
But groups in Switzerland including the Swiss Aids Federation have said such a ban on prostitution would drive sex work underground and make the fight against exploitation of women even more difficult. Sign in Join. Sign in.
Log into your account. Sign up. Password recovery. Recover your password. Forgot your password? Get help. Create an account. Outlaw Hotels. Home Learn more. Editorial: It took Los Angeles years to adopt rules for Airbnb…. Home Country and city reports Switzerland Sex workers renting Airbnb apartments in Swiss capital: report.
