Chinese sex workers protest against crackdown

Sex workers in China have protested against the government's recent crackdown on the country's fast-growing sex industry and have called for the legalisation of prostitution. 

Despite efforts to curb it, prostitution is widespread and blatant in China and many hotels, hairdressers, massage parlours and karaoke bars
make little effort to disguise illicit activity. The World Health
Organisation has estimated the country has 4 million sex workers, but
academics have suggested the figure is higher.

Ye Haiyan, an activist and sex worker, has called for an end to discrimination
against sex workers and the scrapping of anti-prostitution laws which she says will help protect
the health of sex workers, stem trafficking, and also help
tackle corruption.

Haiyan added, "Brothels are not cheap places. Most consumers
are quite rich and spend a lot usually. So where is the money coming
from? If prostitution was legalised, such income could be more
transparent."

More on this story from The Guardian.