To Editor-in-Chief Dario Crestodina
To the journalist Paolo Berizzi
Editorial Staff of La Repubblica of Milan
Subject: Interview with Police Commissioner Paolo Scarpis
Dear Sirs,
Arcigay of Milan brought to my attention the interview with the Police Chief of Milan published on your pages on May 20, 2004, edited by Paolo Berizzi.
Our association would like to take this opportunity to provide some clarifications.
First, the scourge of male child prostitution has been present—and not just in Milan, of course—for decades, and has changed its appearance and location over time. Piazza Trento is a sort of symbol of the horror, which, unfortunately, has endured. As the Police Commissioner rightly points out, the problem isn't the location, but rather the ability to not only repress it decisively, but also to prevent and assist.
As Arcigay, we have demonstrated in Milan and other Italian cities that we want to take responsibility for working daily on behalf of these young people, beyond the fleeting hype and facile press campaigns.
It is for this reason that we indignantly reject the statement by journalist Paolo Berizzi, who in his last question cites gay clubs as places of child prostitution.
Here too, generalizations cause dangerous confusion among public opinion, equating recreational clubs affiliated with Arcigay with private initiatives, which can sometimes conceal criminal interests.
On the street at night
In our 11 recreational clubs in Milan, frequented by thousands of gay men, and in all those throughout Italy, we have an electronic membership system that bars entry to anyone under the age of 18. This system, in place for several years now, aims to ensure the protection and peace of mind of all our members, rejecting anyone with bad intentions and anyone who is incompatible with our mission: to be an organization serving the gay community.
Our history and the work we do demonstrate that there can be no misunderstanding: Arcigay resolutely fights all forms of sexual exploitation of minors.
Finally, we would also like to point out that we have always maintained collaborative relationships with law enforcement and judicial authorities, whom we have consistently encouraged to monitor closely all recreational activities aimed at the homosexual community. This allows us to disrupt illicit trafficking, interrupt migration flows for the purpose of prostitution, and identify those who profit from the violation of the rights of children and adolescents.
Aurelio Mancuso
National Secretary of Arcigay
Here is Paolo Berizzi's interview with the Milan Police Chief in "La Repubblica" on May 20, 2004.
Scarpis: We'll send more police to Piazza Trento.
The police commissioner: a pact is needed to help child slaves. "The number of Romanian children is increasing, and often the perpetrators are their parents." Solidarity is needed. Children forced into prostitution must be re-educated. In most cases, they flee their communities. The solution: there's no need to militarize the city. The point is different: we need to intervene against the clients, catch them red-handed.
One thing's for sure, he says: we can militarize Piazza Trento, but that's not how we'll solve the problem. The key is another: cracking down on the clients. Harshly. "It's not easy, but we'll try to catch them red-handed, on the spot, when they're in the car with these kids. But we need to understand that it's not just a matter of repression: much more is needed to eradicate child prostitution.".
Police Commissioner Paolo Scarpis: What else is needed?
«"These kids need to be re-educated. I'm a police officer and I enforce the law. Others need to take care of the so-called support. Re-education, reintegration.".
Explain better.
«"We take them to shelters hundreds of kilometers from Milan. Then what do they do? They run away. And they end up back on the streets.".
After the police raid and the arrests of the Romanian tormentors, on Monday night in Piazza Trento everything was as it was before. As always. Kids for sale, clients ready to load them into cars. A 14-year-old from Montenegro told us: "I have a pimp, they sell me for 120 euros a night.".
«"Unfortunately, a judicial police operation can make little difference. We know full well that young and old people continue to prostitute themselves there. We are continuing our investigations. Further operations will follow.".
People, now more than ever, would like more police in that square.
«"We're here, and we'll be here even more. There and in other places where these minors live their lives. We're taking preventive measures, but we can't completely shut down Piazza Trento.".
Why not?
«We would do nothing more than move the "tour" to a nearby street".
So what to do?
«"We have to target our customers. The law is there and it's clear: anyone caught in the company of a minor risks up to 10 years in prison.".
Why is it not being applied enough?
«"It's not easy to catch a customer in the act. However, our efforts now will be directed precisely in this direction.".
In Piazza Trento, or at the main cemetery, there are 14- or 15-year-olds who apparently look much older. Especially the Brazilians.
«"Exactly. And that doesn't help us.".
Why?
«"Being with a 10-year-old or a 17-year-old is the same thing, criminally speaking. But many of these child prostitutes actually have a deceptive appearance.".
Arrests and checks: faced with the disgrace of Piazza Trento, public opinion calls for a hard line. Zero tolerance.
«"This phenomenon can't be eliminated with arrests and checks alone. The police are the last link in the chain. It's a major moral problem.".
Big moral problem?
«"The sordid law of supply and demand is truly terrifying. The child sex trade is shocking, and it must continue to shock.".
Milan has discovered a new plague. Or perhaps the plague has always been there, but we just pretended not to see it.
«"It's nothing new that Piazza Trento is a temple of male prostitution. But recently there's been this wave of very young Romanians...".
Who are their tormentors?
«Often the same parents».
The femminielli prostitute themselves on the streets but also in gay clubs, red-light cinemas, and parks.
«"Cinemas are a thing of the past. And I'd be very cautious about parks: Milan's parks aren't what they were 15 years ago. Remember Lambro Park? They're very busy during the day, but closed at night.".
Volunteers are working hard to combat child prostitution. There's the Arcigay street unit, many religious and non-religious associations, and the juvenile court.
«"It's true. And it's very important. We must join forces. These Milanese who prey on children are unworthy. It's a matter of conscience that must involve all of us.".
From "La Repubblica" of May 18, 2004 – ARTICLE ON ARCIGAY STREET UNITY
""This is how we help those kids.""
He's one of the few who knows them intimately. He records their drama and their fears every night. He teaches them about condom use and the risks of AIDS. He's someone they now, after so much time, after so much hardship, trust. "But don't write my name, or they might become suspicious again." Franco, as we call him, is a volunteer with the Arci Gay street unit. "Every night we go to Piazza Trento," he says. "We do AIDS prevention. We hand out pamphlets in their own language and even condoms to these kids." There are about a hundred young prostitutes who crowd the streets around this square, which is featured in many gay guides. "Each ethnic group has its own slice of the square. Lately there's been an invasion of Slavs, especially Montenegrins. They sell themselves for very little. In cars, or at home, or in hotels. Or in movie theaters. "On average," Franco says, "condom use is quite widespread. But there's still a lot of work to be done. And the police must continue to arrest their exploiters.".
A plan for child slaves
by CATERINA PASOLINI
The police commissioner: "We have discovered an unspeakable reality.""
A meeting between the municipality, the prefecture, magistrates, and police. More officers on the streets and more assistance for minors.
It is the response to the arrests of the Romanian gang who forced children into prostitution in Piazza Trento.
Bruno Ferrante: "It's a growing phenomenon." Adults face 10-year sentences.
Councilor Maiolo: "Foster care is another way to save them.""
More plainclothes officers in the streets and squares where, at night, teenagers and children are bought and sold as sex toys for fifty euros. Ten- and twelve-year-olds arriving from the East, often without families and with exploiters as their only point of contact, find themselves in a city that uses them at night as child prostitutes and then forgets them.
More officers on the streets and, as soon as possible, a meeting at the prefecture with the police commissioner and Carabinieri, the city council, and magistrates dedicated to abandoned and exploited foreign minors. This is the action plan following the Flying Squad investigation that resulted in six men being jailed for forcing children into prostitution. A situation "unworthy of a civilized city like Milan," says Police Commissioner Paolo Scarpis.
«"A worrying and growing reality, a complex problem we've been monitoring for months, and one that recently increasingly involves young Romanians," emphasizes Prefect Bruno Ferrante, who coordinates the working group dedicated to the problem of foreign minors forced to beg, steal, or sell themselves. "We want to better organize the crackdown to stop those who exploit children and coordinate assistance for the little ones. Their protectors exploit them, but the problem also involves the Italians who use them and take advantage of their poverty, leaving scars that these children will bear for years.".
Everyone is now aware that the problem of foreign minors without families in our city is a complex one. They often live in abandoned factories and, at best, are forced to beg when they are not used as pickpockets, street children and girls.
«"We'll put more officers on the streets, and clients, often fathers who officially appear to be upstanding, all work and family, would do well to be careful," says Scarpis. And he adds: "I want to remind you that the penalties for those who have sexual relations with children are up to ten years in prison.".
Children and minors, who rarely report their exploiters, feel the burden of bringing money home and supporting their families, who often remain in Romania, as demonstrated by some of the phone calls recorded during this investigation. It's a commitment they fulfill without question, fleeing their communities to return to pickpocketing or prostitution.
«"When the juvenile court entrusts them to us, we take them to secret communities, so their tormentors and pimps can't find them, but these children always try to escape and return to their pimps," says Social Services Councilor Tiziana Maiolo. "They don't want to be in institutions and rarely take advantage of the law that grants a residence permit to those who report their pimps," adds Maiolo. "I'm not very optimistic," concludes the councilor, "but perhaps foster care offers a better opportunity to save these children from the streets.".