Prostitutes own radio station

2006-03-10 20:38

Sao Paulo - Prostitutes in the Brazilian city of Salvador are starting up their own radio station.

Project co-ordinator Sandro Correia said the Association of Prostitutes of Bahia state had won the government permission for the project, enabling FM station Radio Zona to start broadcasting in the second half of the year.

Correia said: "We are not going to apologise for prostitution, but we are going to struggle for the dignity of the profession."

The aim was not to attract women to the business. Correia said that the station would feature programmes about the trade, but would also discuss issues such as human rights, social questions and sexual abuse.

He said: "The idea is that we have diverse programmes that look at health issues, Aids prevention, and racism, for example."

Working girls and media professionals such as Correia would staff the station and would give prostitutes training in an alternative job. Funding would come from association funds, advertising and sponsorship.

Prostitution was widespread in Brazil, especially in Bahia state and other parts of the impoverished northeast.

International rights organisations had criticised the country as a destination for sex tourism and child prostitution.

- Reuters