Fine for visiting brothels

[Guest guest]

Monday, July 21, 2008

Fine for visiting brothels

Visiting a brothel could land a person in jail and invite a penalty of up to

Rs.50,000. A group of ministers (GoM) headed by Home Minister Shivraj Patil has

given the go-ahead to penalising clients in order to curb prostitution in the

country.

The GoM approved an amendment, pending for the last two years, to the Immoral

Trafficking (Prevention) Act at its last meeting in June. The amendment has a

provision of jail term and heavy penalties for the clients of prostitutes who

were so far kept out of the ambit of prosecution.

The bill was moved in parliament by the ministry of women and child development

in 2006.

" The GoM has already decided about the provisions of jail term and penalty. It

will soon be presented to the cabinet for approval and implementation on the

field, " said Khairati Lal Bhola, member, central advisory committee of the

ministry of women and child development.

" All the ministers did not agree with the amendments but it was given final

shape with a majority of them supporting it. They believe the step will help

curb trafficking of women into the world of prostitution, " Bhola said.

He said ministers think that penalising clients will also help in controlling

the spread of HIV/AIDS.

As per the amendment, clients will be handed a jail term of three months or

penalty of Rs.20,000 or both for their first offence. The repeat offenders will

invite a penalty of Rs.50,000 or a jail term of six months.

http://mynewsfromindia.blogspot.com/2008/07/fine-for-visiting-brothels.html

[Guest guest]

Dear forum,

 

The move will be counterproductive as sex trade will move to hotels and streets

and make the CSW more vulnerable to exploitation.

The sex workers will have less acces to health and HIV prevention services ans

thus fuel the growth of epidemic.

Moreover, it gives the police more bribes. The govt should see how Thailand has

curbed HIV rates and learn a lesson.

 

Despite protests from varous sections- The govt went ahead with myoic attempts..

seems the departments with govt work at cross purposes in absence of

coordination.

 

Rajesh Sood, Centre for Health Promotion

drrksood@...

 

--

Dr RK Sood

FETP Scholar (NIE, Chennai)

drrksood@...

+91 9418064077, +91 9445157327