Pictured

OLD PROS' HOME

Incredible pictures shed light on life inside the shelters for ageing sex workers in Mexico

Women aged between 55 and 85 live together at the government-run shelter in Mexico City

Danny Collins

Published: 19:55, 28 Jul 2016
Updated: 3:48, 29 Jul 2016

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THESE are the women living out their days at a Mexican retirement home - built specially for prostitutes.

Dozens of women call the Casa Xochiquetzal home after years of working in Mexico City's sex trade.

Luchita is one of those who use the shelter in Mexico's capital. Here she applies make-up in her bedroom — Luchita is one of those who use the shelter in Mexico's capital. Here she applies make-up in her bedroomCredit: Rex Features

The government-run institution offers a refuge for those women who are no longer able to walk the streets — The government-run institution offers a refuge for those women who are no longer able to walk the streetsCredit: Rex Features

Many of those that stay at Casa Xochiquetzal are emotionally-scarred after decades on the streets of Mexico City — Many of those that stay at Casa Xochiquetzal are emotionally-scarred after decades on the streets of Mexico CityCredit: Rex Features

As well as offering food and healthcare, the shelter gives its users a sense of camaraderie and friendship — As well as offering food and healthcare, the shelter gives its users a sense of camaraderie and friendshipCredit: Rex Features

Angelica is a keen singer and dancer. She is pictured here performing in her bedroom at the government-run shelter — Angelica is a keen singer and dancer. She is pictured here performing in her bedroom at the government-run shelterCredit: Rex Features

And these revealing images uncover the work the shelter does to provide for its often-destitute and emotionally-scarred patrons.

Many of the women are mentally scarred after decades of work in the capital's sex trade.

But at the government-run shelter they are provided with basic healthcare and food alongside the friendship of their peers.

Opened in 2006, it has welcomed more than 250 women through its doors since then.

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A photographer who observed the shelter's work commented that, where the women would once have competed for clients, they now share a common sense of camaraderie.

Those taken in age from 55 all the way up to 85.

Prostitution has been regulated in various forms in Mexico since 1885 and is decriminalised across the central American country.

Today, 13 of the country's 31 states regulate the trade.

The shelter was set up in 2006 to look after some of the city's thousands of prostitutes — The shelter was set up in 2006 to look after some of the city's thousands of prostitutesCredit: Rex Features

Women at the shelter are aged between 55 and 85 years old — Women at the shelter are aged between 55 and 85 years oldCredit: Rex Features

Elia, another resident at the shelter, is pictured here taking care of her dolls at the home — Elia, another resident at the shelter, is pictured here taking care of her dolls at the homeCredit: Rex Features

A photographer who visited the institute said that women who stayed at the home had often competed with each other for clients' business on the streets — A photographer who visited the institute said that women who stayed at the home had often competed with each other for clients' business on the streetsCredit: Rex Features

But now they shared a camaraderie influenced by their shared experiences of the perils of prostitution — But now they shared a camaraderie influenced by their shared experiences of the perils of prostitutionCredit: Rex Features

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