Confession of a prostitute: They are dragging my hair, slapping, kicking and i have to endure it

- I started with prostitution since i was 17. I gave birth to a little girl and i had to work for her, to have something to eat and drink - said the woman from Novi Sad

More than 300 prostitutes are working on the streets of Novi Sad. They live in misery, they are beaten daily by pimps, husbands and customers. The state has no strategy to help these women, and there is only one safe house for them in the country. 

- I started with prostitution since i was 17. I gave birth to a little girl and i had to work for her, to have something to eat and drink - said 21 year old girl in Novi Sad in safe house for sexual workers. As she said, her aunt introduced her to the job. Their life is like hell. They are unemployed and poor, there is no place or time when they are not suffering some kind of violence - from ordinary people passing by, from women standing on the sidewalk, to those who use their services and who live with them.

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- The most important is that my child has something to eat - said the girl quietly for Deutsche Welle.

The other girl said:

- Two years ago i had a spine fracture and a broken leg. He thought i stole from him, he almost cut my head off with a knife. I was attacked and beaten. They are dragging our hair, slap, kick. I am with them, i do the job, they don't give me money or he takes mine. I have to give him or he will beat me, but he does beat me anyway.

There are over 300 prostitutes on the streets of Novi Sad, the research of an Institute for Public Health shows that. Those are usually women from 18-29 years old waiting for customers on few of the usual places. The most famous one is Kacka intersection towards Belgrade. They sell their body for 1.000 to 1.500 dinars.

Prostitution in Serbia is treated as a violation, and it is regulated with only one Act of the Law about public peace and order. That law was in front of the parliament members in January last year, when the fine for persons that are in prostitution was increased from 30 to 60 days and there is a possibility of monetary fine.

There is only one safe house for women in prostitution in entire Serbia. It was opened by the Prevent Institution near Kacke Intersection in Novi Sad. Up to 10 women are there every day, and besides giving away of condoms and lubricants, they are offering HIV and hepatitis testing, laundry, shower, gynecologist help. lawyer, psychologist and social worker help.

(Telegraf.co.uk / DW)