‘A New Perspective’ for Amsterdam prostitutes
On Thursday 19 February, in the Amsterdam International Press Centre, the City of Amsterdam kicked off its unique project entitled ‘A New Perspective’, offering prostitutes who wish to leave the profession assistance and guidance in finding education or another job. ‘A New Perspective’ is a co-operative effort between Scarlet Cord (an organisation that provides assistance to prostitutes), the temporary agency Randstad HR Solutions and the City of Amsterdam.
Transitional project
Prostitutes often discover that leaving their profession and finding other work is a very complicated process. It usually involves creating an entirely new life with a new social structure. That is why Amsterdam’s transitional project ‘A New Perspective’ provides assistance to women who wish to stop working in prostitution and find different work and housing.
Women can sign up for the project via Scarlet Cord or the Prostitutie- en Gezondheidscentrum (Prostitution and Health Centre). Following an intake interview, Randstad HR Solutions will support the participants in examining the opportunities present in the job market and in looking for another profession. They are assigned a career counsellor and receive intensive training in which they gain self-confidence and learn how to stick up for themselves. They are also given assistance with practical problems that make it difficult to find other work, such as debts and finding new housing.
Public-private project
This public-private partnership is unique in that it enables the organisations to offer a complete reintegration package. Organisations that are active in the field of prostitution policy in other cities, such as Deventer, have already shown an interest in this method.
‘A New Perspective’ is financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment and the City of Amsterdam.
Press release - City of Amsterdam - 24 February 2009
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