There is a light that never goes out – a Peruvian answer to prostitution

Sometimes the road to the best solutions starts with the simplest ideas. Case in point: the mayor of La Victoria- a neighborhood in the Peruvian capital of Lima- was not pleased with prostitutes and johns congregating in the area’s main square. So what was his answer to try to get rid of the plaza’s sex workers? Install more light posts around the square:

“In association with the electric company Luz Del Sur, (Mayor Alberto Sanchez Aizcorbe) installed high power lights that illuminate the entire plaza, eliminating the 'dark' corners that served as work stations for area prostitutes”.

Mind you, “getting rid” of prostitution requires a deeper commitment including promoting viable economic alternatives for women and assuring satisfactory social services for the community. (In other words it isn’t that simple). But hopefully Mayor Sanchez’ illuminating idea can be the start of improvement in La Victoria.

Links- Living in Peru

Image- Living in Peru (Sex workers in the Peruvian province of Arequipa)