Swiss sex in a box

Nine sex boxes opened in Altstetten, a neighborhood outside of the city centre in Zurich, Swizerland on 26 August. The road leading to the sex-stations is clearly marked with red-umbrella signs, a recognised symbol for the trade in Eastern Europe. After negotiating a price, the driver pulls his or her car into a wooden shed. The boxes are equipped with alarms that alert the on-site police.

In March of last year, 52% of Zurich’s voters approved the sex-box proposal. Construction totalled €1.7 million; running costs amount to over €500,000 per year. The new facility provides a safer and discreet alternative for sex workers. It also takes them out of the city where residents have long complained of the noise, traffic, and other disturbances.