Rapid responses are electronic comments to the editor. They enable our users
to debate issues raised in articles published on bmj.com. A rapid response
is first posted online. If you need the URL (web address) of an individual
response, simply click on the response headline and copy the URL from the
browser window. A proportion of responses will, after editing, be published
online and in the print journal as letters, which are indexed in PubMed.
Rapid responses are not indexed in PubMed and they are not journal articles.
The BMJ reserves the right to remove responses which are being
wilfully misrepresented as published articles or when it is brought to our
attention that a response spreads misinformation.
From March 2022, the word limit for rapid responses will be 600 words not
including references and author details. We will no longer post responses
that exceed this limit.
The word limit for letters selected from posted responses remains 300 words.
Re: Commentary: Sex work is here to stay and decriminalisation improves safety and social justice
Decriminalisation and liberalization of sex work in Greece has not improved safety or public health.
Economic crisis has led many new women into Greece’s sex industry. [3][7]
In Greece, for a total population of about 11,000,000 there exist 20,000 illegal prostitutes. [1][5][7]
Male prostitutes are not even counted in Greece.
These women are never screened for STDs.
Illegal prostitutes cost much less: a median of 10 euros. [2][3][7]
Street prostitutes in Greece charge only 5 euros per client. [4]
8.1% of prostitutes in Athens have HIV. [6]
Over four years, Greece has seen a 200% rise in cases of HIV. [7]
References
[1] https://www.thenationalherald.com/203788/greek-economic-crisis-drove-mor...
[2] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/young-migrants-trapped-greece-find-li...
[3] https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-05-22/greek-prostitution-soars-150-y...
[4] http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/22/societal-ills-spike-in-crisis-s...
[5] http://www.enetenglish.gr/?i=news.en.article&id=979
[6] http://greece.greekreporter.com/2013/09/17/aids-infected-prostitutes-in-...
[7] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/politics/prostitution-the-hidden-cost-...
Competing interests: No competing interests