Europe Europe rights chief slams Cyprus vice trade

10 Dec 2008 |

• ‘ABS-CBN News’ reports that the Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner criticized Cyprus for permitting a flourishing trade in young foreign women imported for sex in the island’s cabarets. The report singled out the issue of special visas for so-called artistes, which has facilitated the lucrative trade. Cyprus issued some 3’000 artiste visas in 2007 and while the practice was abolished as of November 1st, there are still many visas valid.