Prostitution in Caphiria

Prostitution in Caphiria is legal and regulated, as are other aspects of the sex industry, including brothels, advertisement, and job offers through "adult service" companies. The College of Prostitution is the governing body for sex work in Caphiria, responsible for the regulation and protection for both businesses and workers, and for ensuring workers comply with health regulations and engage in preventative practices. While Caphirian views on sexuality are incredibly liberal, the government of Caphiria levies heavy taxes on the sex industry, in part to appease the Catholic Church and to appeal to traditional Christian values.

In accordance with the law, all sex workers must be registered with the College of Prostitution and undergo monthly health checks. Additionally, Caphirian law mandates the use of condoms for sexual intercourse with prostitutes, including oral contact.

Trafficking, forcing people into prostitution and most forms of pimping and street-walking are illegal. Despite having a liberal society, the social stigmatization of sex work persists and many workers continue to lead a double life. Human rights organizations consider the resulting common exploitation of ethnic Sarpic women to be the main problem associated with the profession.

History
Historically, sex work in Caphiria has never been outlawed and has been described since the classical era. Since at least the 3rd century, several Caphirian cities operated popular brothels that were frequented by many of Caphiria's aristocracy. The practice of sex work was considered a necessary evil; some cities actively encouraged it and far from existing on the margins, sex workers were often honored guests, who maintained domestic order as an outlet and lesser evil to such things as adultery and rape. The cities also gained tax revenues from the prostitutes.

Legality
Prostitution is legal in Caphiria. However, prostitutes are required to obtain and maintain a monthly valid registration certificate after undergoing prescribed health advice, while businesses involved in prostitution must possess legal permits. Both prostitution without the use of condoms and the advertisement of prostitution involving either no condoms or pregnant women is also illegal as well. Prostitutes may work as regular employees with contracts and also supposed to register with the local authority which provides them a document colloquially called the concubit, though the vast majority work independently. Brothels are registered businesses that need a special brothel licence; if food and alcoholic drinks are offered, the standard restaurant licence is also required.

Until 2010, prostitutes and brothels were technically not allowed to advertise, but that prohibition was not enforced. The Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that, as a consequence of new prostitution laws, advertising of sexual services is no longer illegal. Many newspapers carry daily ads for brothels and for women working out of apartments. Many prostitutes and brothels have websites on the Internet. In addition, sex shops and newsstands sell magazines specializing in advertisements of prostitutes.

Pimping, exploiting and/or controlling a sex worker, admitting prostitutes under the legal age (16) to a brothel, and influencing persons under the legal age to take up or continue work in prostitution, are illegal. It is also illegal to contract sex services from any person younger than 18. This law also applies to Caphirians traveling abroad, to combat child prostitution occurring in the context of sex tourism.

Taxation
There is a base VAT rate of 30% applied on all prostitution transactions and additional taxes are levied on the prostitute, the client, and the brothel. This base tax applies to stripteases, peep shows, porn cinemas, sex fairs, massage parlors, and licensed prostitution.

The client, in addition to the 30% VAT, must pay a $5 fine, which goes to supplying brothels with condoms, and a $5 tax per act of prostitution, with the proceeds going to the College of Prostitution.

Prostitutes have to pay income taxes, and because prostitution is primarily a cash business, the Caphirian government initiated a system where prostitutes have to pay their taxes in advance, a set amount per day, to be collected and paid to tax authorities by the brothel owners. Prostitutes must also pay a monthly $155 registration fee, half of which goes to funding the College of Prostitution.

Brothels must pay operational fees as well as a 20% revenue tax for each prostitute under its employment. Half of the tax revenue collected from brothels goes directly to the College of Prostitution.

Bars
In bars, prostitutes try to induce men to buy expensive drinks along with sexual services. Sex usually takes place in a separate but attached building. Prices are mostly set by the bar owner and the money is shared between the owner and the prostitute.

Escort services
Escort services, where a potential male client calls for a woman to visit a residence or at a hotel for sexual services, exist throughout Caphiria.

Amorini houses
Amorini houses are buildings where prostitutes can rent small one-room apartments for 75–150 aurei per day. Then they solicit customers from the open door or from behind a window. Prices are normally set by the prostitutes; they start at 250–500 aurei for short-time sex and can increase exponentially. The money is not shared with the Amorini house owner but security and meals are provided by the house owner. The women may even live in their rooms, but most do not. Minors and women not working in the Amorini house are not allowed to enter. Amorini houses exist in almost all larger Caphirian cities. Amorini houses - particularly those located in Caphiria's territories and possessions, tend to become sex tourism destinations, especially female sex tourism.

The most famous is Diominessa's Amorini House in Venceia, and the largest brothel in Caphiria is the Amorini house Ophedra in Castra Vetera, a 12-story building with some 120 rooms for rent and several bars.

Cupid's Lane
Cupid's Lane is the name for Caphiria's red-light districts. A typical Cupid's Lane consists of a network of alleys containing approximately three hundred one-room cabins rented by prostitutes who offer their sexual services from behind a window or glass door, typically illuminated with red lights and blacklight. The Cupid's Lane area also has a number of sex shops, sex theatres, peep shows, sex museums, and a number of coffee shops that sell cannabis.

Every major city in Caphiria has at least one Cupid's Lane, with larger metropolitan areas having multiple spread throughout the region. They are popular with tourists and foreigners. Cupid's Lane is partially operated by the College of Prostitution as a way to officially designate where legal and regulated prostitution is. In popular cities for tourists, Cupid's Lane is under video surveillance to help counter illegal forms of prostitution (such as child prostitution), especially in areas that do allow regular prostitution to occur.

Delphini Clubs
Delphini Clubs are fully licensed sex businesses that range from swing clubs to full sex clubs. Most clubs are upscale and professional places that provide a safe place to meet other swingers or partners, with (sometimes, but not always) paid prostitutes in attendance, as well as 'amateur' women and couples.

For swing clubs, single men pay a flat-rate entrance charge of about $80 to $300, which includes food, drink and unrestricted sexual activity, with the requirement that these are performed in the open in full view of all the guests. Women normally pay a low or zero entrance charge. At the other end of the spectrum, some Delphini Clubs have formal memberships and requirements that can include steep membership fees as high as $50,000, showing proof of identity, attending a formal orientation, possibly providing STI test results or showing that one is part of a stable, long-term relationship and is attending with that partner (intended to minimize the number of single males or cheating husbands).

One of the biggest differences among clubs is the distinction of "On-Premises" (in situ) or "Off-Premises" (ex situ) Delphini Clubs. On-Premises Delphini Clubs are ones that offers rooms or areas that permit couples to engage in sex either alone or with others. Off-Premises clubs are ones that allow for couples to meet and often dance or can socialize but have no areas or rooms where any sexual activity can occur. Larger establishments may include the facilities of an ordinary nightclub such as a bar and a dance floor. Each club sets the rules for activities which take place at club organised events. Some clubs organise events which cater to heterosexual couples or individuals, others to gay men or (rarely) lesbians, and others have no orientation policy. Some cater to non-conventional activities, such as gang bangs, BDSM or fetish.

Delphini Clubs normally do not directly advertise to the general public, but typically rely on their own websites, social networking, vertical integration in the adult entertainment industry, or through affiliate promotions on other adult venues. Many clubs, websites, publications, travel agencies, resorts, and events catering to the lifestyle promote each other to their mutual financial benefit but also with the altruistic intent of encouraging the dissemination of accurate information about the sex lifestyle. It is estimated that there are over 5,000 Delphini Clubs in Caphiria.