Italy's social affairs minister has proposed reopening the nation's brothels and allow prostitutes to form cooperatives, the Boston Globe reports.
     Livia Turco, who originated the proposal, has called prostitution in Italy a "new form of slavery." Her plan seeks to shelter women from violence and danger by permitting them to do business within private homes without fear of prosecution. Ultimately, Turco would like women to organize in an effort to combat the gangs responsible for most forced prostitution.
     Last week, Italy set up a free telephone hotline that encourages prostitutes to call for assistance on housing, health and breaking free from gangs.
     Two-thirds of Italy's 25,000 prostitutes are foreign-born, mainly coming from Albania and other eastern European nations, the former Soviet Union and Nigeria. The Rome-based research center Parsec estimates 1,500 to 1,800 of these women were sold, kidnapped or told they would land good jobs in Italy. Reports indicate that one-fifth of immigrant prostitutes are between the ages of 14 and 18.
     Proponents of Turco's plan note it would work against illegal immigrant and underage prostitution rings. Italian arrests for prostitution-related crimes rose from 2,579 to 4,088 between 1991 and 1999. The Interior Ministry says more than half of those arrested are from Albania (Jeff Israely, Boston Globe, 13 Aug).