Prostitution is a legal and common practice in Italy, and Rome wants to make the sex industry that thrives within its borders a safer, cleaner enterprise. Ignazio Marino, the mayor of the eternal city, is considering, along with other Roman officials, designating a "red light" district in order to shield prostitutes from potential exploitation and protect families from embarrassment.

Starting in April, the city officials in the EUR neighborhood, a residential and business district occupied with ministries, office high-rises, and residential buildings, plan to designate certain streets for prostitution, The Associated Press reports.

Marino said the goal of the coming red light district is to "find a balance" by selecting areas such as parks frequented by children and families where prostitution will no longer be allowed and designating certain streets where it will be.

Andrea Santoro, a EUR official, said the designation of certain streets will help to ensure that prostitutes are not placed there by traffickers.

Although prostitution is legal in Italy, the exploitation of prostitution, as well as paying minors for sex, is not.

Paolo Lampariello, a member of n EUR neighborhood group, is happy with the coming red light district, saying there are so many prostitutes on his streets "women can't enter their homes without being mistaken for prostitutes."

The church has problems with the plan, however. Avvenire, the newspaper of the Italian bishops' conference, described the red light district proposal as "a hypocritical (and perhaps ideological) operation for urban 'decorum.'"

Pope Francis called human trafficking a "shameful plague" and has urged prayer and reflection about the problem.

Not only will Rome set up certain sections for its prostitutes, but the city also plans to provide psychological support and health care to prostitutes that work on its designated streets.

Clients of prostitutes working on non-designated streets will risk receiving fines of 500 euros under the new regulations.

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