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| Europe | |
| Dutch back brothel ’seal of quality’ | |
| 2004-07-03 | |
| THE HAGUE, Netherlands (Reuters) -- The Dutch government backs plans for "seals of quality" for well-run brothels and standard contracts for prostitutes, as well as more support for those who want to leave the world’s oldest profession, it said Friday. The Dutch cabinet said it supported the initiative from the prostitution industry to further improve supervision four years after the Netherlands lifted a ban on brothels to improve regulation of the business and fight trafficking in women. "The sector has said it wants to develop a seal of quality to improve its image," the cabinet said in a statement. "This seal could be given to prostitution firms, which ... comply with criteria in areas such as safety, health and integrity." The Netherlands has some of the world’s most liberal rules on prostitution, defined as a legal profession since 1988. There are some 2,000 brothels operating openly in the country’s infamous "Red Light" districts and about 30,000 prostitutes. The center-right government urged local authorities which are responsible for regulating brothels in their regions to work with the industry to develop such policies. It said abuses had declined since the ban was lifted on brothels but called on the police to do more to inform the victims of trafficking about the possibility of temporary or permanent residence in the Netherlands. Many prostitutes in the Netherlands are illegal immigrants, some of whom are working against their will. The cabinet also backed programs to help prostitutes leave the profession and said it would introduce a central register for license holders in the escort business and a code of conduct for the media so only licensees could advertise their services. So, where will this so-called "seal" be placed? Will it have the equivalent of a "USDA PRIME" sort of nomenclature in blue ink? Or is it just going to be the barking kind with flippers for their more broadminded customers?
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| Posted by:Zenster |
| #14 I remember when the Mustang Ranch was taken over by the IRS. Letterman suggested that they sell a T-Shirt: I got screwed by the Federal government. |
| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2004-07-03 10:09:40 PM |
| #13 I know I'm late to the party but are the girls going to have those paper protective strips like the facilities used to in hotels that say "Sanitized for your protection"? |
| Posted by: Doc8404 2004-07-03 8:51:36 PM |
| #12 I have heard that in that profession girls have to go to bed in order to get the job. |
| Posted by: JFM 2004-07-03 4:28:40 PM |
| #11 ok, you got me grinning on that one |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-07-03 2:19:54 PM |
| #10 All right, Frank G, you asked for it. Q: What do a plumber and a walarus have in common? A: They both like a tight seal. [rimshot] |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-07-03 2:10:13 PM |
| #9 Step right up! We got the finest Dutch Prime Piece of Ass in the country! Certified by the Board of Pimps and Ho's! Come on in and see our 5-Star Bitches! |
| Posted by: Chris W. 2004-07-03 1:35:38 PM |
| #8 Still funny Frank.... don't hear that joke for years then it appears twice in a week. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-07-03 11:25:06 AM |
| #7 *slaps Frank G with the Herring of Doom™* The Netherlands, already at rock bottom, have been digging for quite some time. |
| Posted by: Korora 2004-07-03 9:46:01 AM |
| #6 "so he sez to the Penguin, 'looks like you blew a seal', and the Penguin sez 'no, no, it's just ice cream'" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-07-03 9:28:22 AM |
| #5 Methinks by 8:00 AM there won't be a decent pun left, heh. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-07-03 1:12:15 AM |
| #4 I wonder what the test is like to get a hooker license? Let's just say that passing grades are still handed out even to those who "blow" it. It looks like sucking up to the teacher will never go out of style. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-07-03 1:06:11 AM |
| #3 Thanks, Super Hose, but I think the Quality Job would be more fun -- wait, I mean, more important. Yeahhhh, more important... |
| Posted by: nada 2004-07-03 12:58:08 AM |
| #2 If you don't get the job in the Netherlands. Here is another "position" that you may not find on Monster.com. It's in Britian. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-07-03 12:49:35 AM |
| #1 Forget the tests, who's gonna be the Quality Control Inspectors? I need to update my resume... |
| Posted by: nada 2004-07-03 12:41:30 AM |