The Hungarian government has granted 48 million forints (234,578 U.S. dollars) to help educate sex workers on legal regulations and reduce the dangers of falling victim to human trafficking, local media reported.

Agnes Foldi, head of the Interest Protection Organisation of Hungarian Prostitutes, said on Thursday the organization has received the grant, Hungarian News Agency MTI reported.

Foldi said the money would be spent on educating prostitutes about the dangers of human trafficking and working abroad, as well as on legal regulations that affect their work.

There are about 20,000 sex workers in Hungary, who remain unsettled because local governments have failed to designate zones where it is legal to practice prostitution, Foldi said.

She said prostitutes can be fined up to 150,000 forints (733 dollars) for soliciting as a result.

Many Hungarian sex workers have no choice but choose to work abroad, a move posing new dangers such as getting into the hands of human traffickers, she added.

The organisation plans to develop its legal aid services and provide advice to sex workers on interest protection.

Source: Xinhua