Tijuana's sex workers demand services, support for their profession

SAN DIEGO (Border Report) -- Sex workers in Tijuana are meeting with city officials on Monday to discuss the need for more resources and support for their line of work.

A new mayor took over on Tuesday and his administration includes a new police chief who has a reputation for being tough on crime and activities such as prostitution, which is legal in Tijuana's so-called "tolerance zone."

The sex workers not only worry the police chief will make it more difficult to practice their profession, but they're also concerned the city will end its funding for clinics that provide free STD testing and medical services.

The workers must be cleared physically and free from sexually transmitted diseases to obtain licenses to practice prostitution.

While campaigning, Tijuana's new mayor, Ismael Burgueño Ruiz, said that sex workers "can count on the respect for the integrity of their work and sources of income."

But sexual workers want more assurances the city will not interfere with their work.

On Thursday, they staged a demonstration asking the new mayor to officially endorse and support the "tolerance zone" and the work that goes on there.

The city responded with the following statement: "Tijuana's XXV administration will be a government characterized by its respect toward human rights for all citizens."

The city has agreed to meet with a group of sex workers on Monday evening to clear out "misunderstandings and disagreements."