In its report entitled “Sex Work and the Law in Asia and the Pacific,” the UN said criminalization of prostitution increases workers’ susceptibility to sexually-transmitted diseases, including HIV by fuelling stigma and discrimination, limiting access to sexual health services, condoms and harm reduction services; and adversely affecting the self esteem of sex workers and their ability to make informed choices about their health.
By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A Davao-based group assisting prostituted women has equated the legitimization of prostitution to that of the state’s abandonment of its responsibility towards women and children.
Just this month, the United Nations recommended the decriminalization of prostitution, arguing that removing legal penalties for prostitution would allow (Human immunodeficiency virus) HIV prevention and treatment program to reach prostituted women and their clients more effectively.
Jeanette Laurel-Ampog, executive director of women advocacy group Talikala Foundation shot down UN’s argument, citing that such a move will not benefit prostituted women. She said it would be like giving gifts to pimps, human traffickers and operators of clubs, saunas and other prostitution fronts, offering them more means to exploit women and children.
Laurel-Ampog contended that legalizing prostitution will allow fiercer competition among sex dens, clubs and other prostitution establishments and will increase cases of prostitution among women and children. She argued that prostitution is not a profession but a form of abuse, exploitation and discrimination against women and children. She added that legalizing prostitution would be similar to decriminalizing abuse, exploitation and discrimination.
Gabriela Women Party-list representative Luz Ilagan also criticized the UN recommendation. In a statement, Ilagan said UN’s proposal will not in any way ensure the protection of women, children and men forced to engage in the flesh trade.
She lamented that Philippine laws punish only women in prostitution and treat them as criminals instead of going after big syndicates and traffickers of women . “Our laws do not penalize pimps, bar owners and operators or those who pay to use and abuse these women,” Ilagan pointed out.
The progressive solon added legalizing prostitution would not even guarantee protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Ilagan said protection from such diseases can only be effectively carried out through a massive awareness and education campaign as well as ensuring women’s access to health services.
In its report entitled “Sex Work and the Law in Asia and the Pacific,” the UN said criminalization of prostitution increases workers’ susceptibility to sexually-transmitted diseases, including HIV by fuelling stigma and discrimination, limiting access to sexual health services, condoms and harm reduction services; and adversely affecting the self esteem of sex workers and their ability to make informed choices about their health.
The UN report also said that that legalizing prostitution would allow prostitutes to organize within their communities and register their organizations, obtain identification documents so that they can fully access services and entitlements, engage in advocacy and respond to the health and safety needs of their peers.
However, Laurel-Ampog of Talikala said the stigma of abuse, exploitation and discrimination of prostituted women and children cannot be eliminated through legalization process. She pointed out that since prostitution is a form of abuse, exploitation and discrimination, legalizing it is not an assurance that abuses against prostituted women and children will be eradicated.
She cited the cases of prostituted women in countries where prostitution is legal. “Prostituted women are often barred to rent rooms. They still experience discrimination,” Laurel-Ampog said.
“Poverty is among the root causes of prostitution and should be addressed seriously by the government,” said Laurel-Ampog. “Tan-awon unta kung unsa ang ugat-hinungdan ngano naay babaye ug bata nga mamaligya sa ilang kaugalingon (There should really be a probe to find the root cause of why women and children sell themselves),” she added.
Talikala is a non-stock, non-profit social development organization that envisions gender-fair relations between women and men, who enjoy equality and full participation towards the development of peoples and society. (Alex D. Lopez/ davaotoday.com)
