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Friday, 10 March, 2000, 10:03 GMT
Latvia bans child models
Latvia has banned under-18s from working as models or taking part in beauty contests, in
reaction to a child prostitution and pornography scandal that has rocked the country.
The scandal - which allegedly involves members of the government - broke last year when
directors of a local beauty contest and model agency, were arrested for procuring boys and
selling paedophile videos.
Some Latvians feared that the scandal could undermine the country's chances of joining
Nato and the European Union.
Proponents of the new law - which classifies anyone under the age of 18 as a child - say
it will help to protect children from abuse.
'Politically motivated'
Last month parliamentary investigators linked the Prime Minister, Andris Skele, and the
Justice Minister, Valdis Birkavs, with a paedophile ring based in the Latvian capital
Riga.
According to a member of Latvia's parliament, up to 10 people, including victims of sexual
abuse and witnesses, named the ministers in testimony to an inquiry.
Both men have denied the allegations, which they say are politically motivated.
Mr Birkavs has just called off a hunger strike, staged almost a month ago to clear his
name and protest at what he saw as the failings of the legal system.
Last week, the United States State Department reported that Latvia was a key transit point
for the flourishing east European sex trade.