Counseling under the Prostitute Protection Act

Health counseling under the Prostitute Protection Act

In accordance with § 10 of the Act to Regulate the Prostitution Trade and to Protect Persons Working in Prostitution.

Since July 1, 2017, all persons who wish to work as a prostitute are required to register personally with the authority responsible for the area where the activity will primarily be carried out before starting work. In the Oberberg District, the registration is done at the District Regulatory Office.

Before the initial registration, a health counseling session must be attended.

This counseling is carried out in the Oberberg District by the Health Department.

After registering the activity, prostitutes aged 21 and older must attend health counseling at least every twelve months. Prostitutes under 21 years of age must attend health counseling at least every six months.

The health counseling is confidential and lasts about 30 minutes.

After the counseling session, you will receive a certificate confirming the counseling, which you need to present during registration.

The counseling is free of charge.

Please bring the following documents to the counseling session:

• Valid ID card, passport, or replacement document

• Vaccination card, if available

• Valid alias certificate, if you wish to have the certificate of health counseling issued under an alias.

The health counseling is conducted in German. If you do not understand and speak German sufficiently, please inform us when scheduling the appointment.

Personal registration, consultation with the district regulatory office

To register, an appointment must first be scheduled by calling 02261-883208 or by emailing ordnung08@obk.de at the regulatory office, Stahlstraße 5, 51645 Gummersbach – Dieringhausen.

For this appointment, you must bring the following:

·Proof of the health consultation conducted within the previous three months in accordance with § 10 Paragraph 1 ProstSchG,

·Identity card, passport, a substitute passport, or a substitute ID card, and if applicable, a current registration certificate,

Two recent biometric passport photos (the size of the photos must be 35 x 45 millimeters. This corresponds to the size required for identity cards or passports).

·Foreign nationals who are not entitled to freedom of movement must prove during registration that they are authorized to engage in employment or self-employment.

Initially, a confidential information and consultation session will take place to inform about the rights and obligations of sex workers as well as other available services. After the session, the information will be provided in an appropriate format and understandable language. If needed, additional counseling services and contacts can be arranged.

Finally, a registration certificate will be issued. In addition to the registration certificate with the clear name, a registration certificate with an alias (so-called alias certificate) can be issued upon request.

If the activity is to continue beyond the validity of the registration certificate, an extension must be requested in a timely manner. The process corresponds to the registration procedure, and a new certificate will be issued.