Number of prostitutes:

10-15,000

Of which migrant:

6-10,000

Age of consent:

14

De Jure

Prostitution:

Prostitution is not in itself a punishable act. The laws applying to prostitution do not have a prohibitive character, but, rather, regulate the conditions for practicing it.

Trafficking:

The penal law on the elimination of the exploitation of women stipulates prison sentences and fines in the cases of pimping (Article 349), exploitation of prostitutes (Article 350), and body trafficking (Article 351). Trafficking of female minors carries a sentence of 1-5 years.

Registered prostitutes are required to undergo health checks twice a week; the majority don't register and thus have no health care coverage.

De Facto

The greek government recently unveiled a plan to make prostitutes retire at 55 with the state providing social and medical benefits.

Trafficking in women for prostitution, mostly from the former Soviet Union, is increasing.  According to a report submitted to the UN by Greece in 1996, 'there are agencies that import women from abroad under the pretext of promoting artists, which does not enable the police to intervene. The residence permits of these women are valid for one to six months. The women work mainly in bars and hotels'

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women noted in its concluding observations of February 1999 the increase in trafficking in women and the insufficient attention being paid to possible links between lack of enforcement, trafficking in women and migration. In this regard, the Committee recommended introducing adequate measures to address trafficking in women.  (European Parliament)