Prostitution in Palma: "Increasingly delocalized and digitalized"

PalmProstitution in Palma is increasingly delocalized and digitalized. This was one of the main conclusions of the technical workshop "Delocalized Prostitution: Local Approaches to a Global Problem," organized by Palma City Council and held this Thursday. This is the first event planned to address this "increasingly present and invisible" problem, according to the University Business Foundation of the Balearic Islands.

The meeting served to analyze the risks of offshore prostitution, identify the specific needs of those involved in it, explore how to make support resources more accessible, and discuss strategies, tools, and interventions at the local level.

Professionals from the social and community sectors, healthcare and psychology, education and universities, legal and law enforcement, NGOs, and support organizations participated.

Palma City Councilor for Equality, Lourdes Roca, has pledged to continue providing resources to eradicate prostitution through digital channels and private spaces. At the opening of the event, Roca reaffirmed the City Council's "firm commitment" to "continue providing resources and offering all the necessary support to the people and organizations working to eradicate this problem." She also emphasized the importance of adapting resources to address a type of prostitution that is "increasingly invisible, delocalized, and digitalized."

The deputy mayor emphasized the relationship between prostitution and human trafficking for sexual exploitation, as one in three women in this situation suffers from this type of violence.

In this regard, she highlighted that, thanks to the joint work between the City Council and social organizations, 92% of victims received comprehensive and ongoing social care last year.

This year, Palma City Council is allocating €195,000 to fund support projects for people in prostitution through the Direct Care Network for People in Prostitution (Chadpep), comprised of Casal Petit, Doctors of the World, and the Red Cross.

Two pioneering studies

Two pioneering studies carried out in Palma were also presented at the event, Offshore prostitution in Palma: An analytical approach to prostitution in digital spaces and Offshore prostitution in Palma: A qualitative perspective. Participating were sociologist Lluís Ballester; the coordinator of the Casal Petit-Oblates research team, Jaume Perelló; and sociologist Lourdes de la Cruz from the Equality Unit at Corte.

Public policy expert Rosa Cobo gave a lecture on the characteristics of prostitution and its evolution over the last eight years, in which she highlighted the role the internet has played in this issue.

Finally, a participatory workshop took place in which attendees worked on challenges and proposed actions, which were then shared.