Prostitution in the Kingdom of Italy

In Italy prostitution, described as the exchange of sexual services for money payment, is legal, but only in organized and supervised forms (indoors in brothels) Self-exercised indoors prostitution is tolerated and other forms are illegal. Sex workers in Italy are often referred to as Lucciole (fireflies). Prostitution thrived in Italy in the Middle Ages. The city of Venice declared in 1358 that brothels were indispensable, and courtesans achieved high social status in Venice, particularly in the 17th century.

History

Regulation was established in 1861, with Italian unification, modelled on the French Napoleonic system and the Bureau des Moeurs. A decree of 1859 authorized the opening of houses controlled by the state for the exercise of prostitution in Lombardy. On 15 February 1860 the decree was signed into law with the enactment of the "Regulations of the Security Service on Prostitution".
A further law, adopted on 29 March 1888 prohibited the selling of food and drinks, and parties, dances and songs in the brothels and the opening of such homes near places of worship, schools and kindergartens. It also provided that the shutters should always remain closed, hence the name "case chiuse" or "closed houses". Under this system prostitution in Italy was fully legal in private houses. A system of hospitals for sex workers were set up under the belief that they were the sources of venereal disease. More repressive measures were introduced in 1923, 1933 and 1940; in 1958 the current regulation was established.

Merlin Law

The Merlin Law (L75/1958) (Merlin Law, named after its main author, became effective on 20 September 1958. This law established the State-authorized brothels and established a new offence called sfruttamento della prostituzione (exploitation of prostitution) with the aim to punish pimping. Article. 3.3 lists places where prostitution is prohibited, such as houses, hotels, dance halls, entertainment clubs or other areas open to the public. solicitation in a public place or place open to the public, solicits in a scandalous or disturbing manner. Article 7 establishes registration, public security controls and mandatory health checks.

Legal status

Prostitution is legal, unauthorized brothels and pimping are illegal. Single sex workers working from apartments are 'tolerated'. Loitering is permitted but scandalous soliciting is illegal. Work permits can be issued to migrant dancers in entertainment clubs for one year in a single workplace. Sex work is forbidden but nude dancing is tolerated. Suspicions of sexual encounters lead to club closures.