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Prostitution in India to be decriminalized
Aug 28, 2007 04:30 AM
Nita Bhalla
REUTERS NEWS AGENCY
NEW DELHIIndia plans to decriminalize prostitution by
treating sex workers as victims and not offenders, and
instead going after traffickers, pimps, brothel owners
and clients, a government official says.
Hundreds of thousands of women and girls in India are
kidnapped, sold, coerced or trafficked for sex in a
highly organized yet illicit trade, with many brought
in from neighbouring countries.
Yet activists have long said the sex workers, who are
mostly forced into the trade, are treated as criminals
by the law, which should instead focus on punishing
those behind the trade.
Officials said new amendments to the Immoral Traffic
(Prevention) Act, 1956, which would no longer penalize
sex workers, are expected to go before the cabinet in
the coming days. The proposal would then go before
parliament.
"We are hoping that the amendments would be passed in
this session of parliament," said Nandita Mishra, an
official from the ministry of women and child
development.
Proposals include deleting sections in the more than
50-year-old law relating to seducing or soliciting for
the purpose of prostitution being punishable with a
maximum jail term of six months and a fine equivalent
to about $13.
Prostitutes would also no longer be forced to vacate
the property they reside in.
The International Labour Organization says 2.45
million people worldwide are exploited and treated
like slaves every year, and another 1.2 million are
trafficked.
According to some estimates, the global trade in human
trafficking where women and children are often
trapped in slave-like situations unable to free
themselves from their pimps and brothel owners
generates more than $30 billion annually.
That makes it the world's third most lucrative illicit
business after arms and drugs, according to the United
Nations.
Officials said the new changes included stiffer
penalties for those involved in the trade, such as a
maximum penalty of life imprisonment for those guilty
of trafficking children.
Those owning, managing or assisting a brothel would
also have minimum jail terms raised to two years from
one year and fines to at least $250 from $50.
Activists said for the first time, men frequenting
brothels could be punished under the new proposals.
Paying for sex with a prostitute is not an offence
unless she's less than 18 years old.
"The proposed law is good progress as, at last, women
will not be punished for being exploited," said
Ranjana Kumari, director of the Centre for Social
Research, a New Delhi-based think-tank promoting
women's development.
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