Prostitution in Italy

Prostitution in Italy is not specifically illegal, and is tolerated in an individually-organized basis; however, several prostitution-related activities are outlawed.

History

Before 1959, prostitution in Italy was fully legal into so-called case chiuse (closed houses), private houses where prostitution could be legally carried on. In 1959, the legge Merlin (Merlin Law, named after its main author, socialist MP Lina Merlin) was approved: this law, still in force today, revoked the regulation of prostitution in the country, closed the case chiuse and established a new offence called sfruttamento della prostituzione (exploitation, solicitation of prostitution) with the aim to punish pimping. The law, despite its good intentions to give more rights to dependent prostitutes, caused a notable increase of street prostitution. Street prostitution became much more visible in the early 1990s with the migratory wave from Eastern European countries after the fall of the Soviet regime. Many street prostitutes are young foreigners from Western Africa and Eastern Europe who are in the country illegally.Human trafficking, particularly trafficking of underage girls, has also become a growing issue in recent years.

The Italian Government is now considering fining clients.