Helpline Created for Prostitutes During World Cup
May 1, 2006An organization fighting forced prostitution, Solwodi, on Monday launched a 24-hour helpline for prostitutes in trouble during the World Cup 2006. The helpline will be operational until July 31, three weeks after the final of the June 9 to July 9 soccer extravaganza which is being hosted by 12 German cities, Solwodi said. It will be staffed by 20 women who are able to take calls in English, French, German, Polish, Russian, Romanian, Spanish and Ukrainian. Some 40,000 prostitutes, mostly from eastern Europe, are expected to come to Germany for the World Cup and non-governmental and religious organizations have expressed concern that the event could see a rise in trafficking in women. Solwodi, which stands for Solidarity with Women in Distress, was founded in Kenya in 1985 by a German Roman Catholic nun, Lea Ackermann.
