WILLEMSTAD – The association of protestant pastors APK is protesting against the government’s plans to facilitate prostitution in Campo Alegre. They would thus be complicit in the abuse of women.
The Protestant pastors are responding to the intention of the Curaçao government to tolerate the possible reopening of prostitution center Campo Alegre and to provide sex workers with temporary work and residence permits.
“The government is acting against the family and mental well-being of the population by giving priority to low-level passion,” said the APK. Campo is not called Alegre (happiness) by the Church leaders, but Campo di Tristesa, camp of sadness.
According to the APK, the government’s behavior breaks down what the predecessors carefully build up in the community for a better future of Curaçao. In addition, it is in violation of Article 26 of the Constitution which instructs the government to protect the family, the pastors say.
The APK refers to the history of Campo in 1949 when the women of Punda had to be protected with the consent of Catholic Church. “What’s the excuse now?” the pastors wonder.