Legalize prostitution if you can't curb it: Indian SC to govt

[Jana]

Legalize prostitution if you can't curb it: SC to govt
PTI 10 December 2009, 12:19pm ISTText Size:|Topics:Govt
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre whether it could legalize prostitution if it wasn't possible to curb it.



"When you say it is the world's oldest profession and when you are not able to curb it by laws, why don't you legalize it? You can then monitor the trade, rehabilitate and provide medical aid to those involved," Justices Dalveer Bhandari and AK Patnaik told Solicitor-General Gopal Subramaniam.

The court said legalizing sex trade would be a better option to avoid trafficking of women and pointed out that nowhere in the world was prostitution curbed by punitive measures.

Subramaniam said he would look into the suggestion.

"They (sex workers) have been operating in one way or the other and nowhere in the world have they been able to curb it by legislation. In some cases, they (the trade) is carried out in a sophisticated manner. So, why don't you legalize it?" the judges asked.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by NGOs Bachpan Bachao Andolan and Childline complaining about large-scale child trafficking in the country and seeking directives to contain it.

The apex court also wondered why 37% of the country's population continues to reel under below poverty line at a time when then there is much talk of growing GDP rate in the country.

The bench said child trafficking and sex trade were flourishing because of poverty which needs to be tackled.

"We are taking about growing GDP. I do not know what is the development we are all talking about when the number of BPL families is at 37% which has increased from 30%.

"Growth of GDP does not mean some four or five families have developed. If this is the state of development, we can't help it," the bench said while posting the matter for further hearing to January 5.

The contention of the petitioner is that a number of minor children, particularly girls and those of tender age, are being pushed into sex trade.

Childline counsel Nandita Rao alleged several minor girls are being sexually exploited by circus owners and there has to be adequate legal framework to prevent such exploitation.

Responding to her suggestion, the Solicitor General told the bench that government was contemplating a legislation to declare circus as a "hazardous industry" to prevent abuse of child labourers.

Legalize prostitution if you can't curb it: SC to govt - India - The Times of India

[afriend]

I believe the same is a good move. Exploitation happens when something is illegal, if it is monitered and controlled through legal system, then lives of many people can be saved.

[ferrari]

Good, if it is legalized. Things will be under control.

[macrocks]

^^^^^ Agreed !!!

[Jana]

"When you say it is the world's oldest profession and when you are not able to curb it by laws, why don't you legalize it? You can then monitor the trade, rehabilitate and provide medical aid to those involved," Justices Dalveer Bhandari and AK Patnaik told Solicitor-General Gopal Subramaniam.

The court said legalizing sex trade would be a better option to avoid trafficking of women and pointed out that nowhere in the world was prostitution curbed by punitive measures. "

[Selma Shirazi]

Prostitution is the result of extreme poverty and desperation, if you legalise it, it will only grow faster.

[Solid Beast]

This industry absolutely needs controls and measures with oversight put in place. Let's be adults about it and recognize it happens everywhere but under more inhuman circumstances in most parts of the world. The tax revenue can replace pimp revenue utilized by organized criminals. Let's help orphans and people displaced from fighting not human traffickers and sleazy night club/massage parlour owners. HIV infections will also go down drastically.

[vinod2070]

Originally Posted by Selma Shirazi

Prostitution is the result of extreme poverty and desperation, if you legalise it, it will only grow faster.

Absolutely not!

There are prostitutes in every rich country. There are prostitutes who make more money in a day than most of us make in a month. There are many who do it out of choice, no compulsion.

Just easy money for doing what they may even enjoy instead of a 9 to 5 job!

This may not be true for a large majority but to link prostitution to just poverty and desperation is being blind to the reality.

[Selma Shirazi]

Sure there would be some but thats a very tiny percentage of all. If you think that the red light disctricts here in Europe are flooded with local girls then think again, about 90% comes from poor countries from Africa, Asia and latin America.

In Asia's largest Redlight District in Mumbai I'm sure you'll find many Nepali, Bangali, Burmese and maybe even some Chinese girls but the majority would be Indian, poverty stricken Indians girls with little other choice than to sell their own bodies.

[vinod2070]

Originally Posted by Selma Shirazi

Sure there would be some but thats a very tiny percentage of all. If you think that the red light disctricts here in Europe are flooded with local girls then think again, about 90% comes from poor countries from Africa, Asia and latin America.

In Asia's largest Redlight District in Mumbai I'm sure you'll find many Nepali, Bangali, Burmese and maybe even some Chinese girls but the majority would be Indian, poverty stricken Indians girls with little other choice than to sell their own bodies.

Yes, same like there would be mainly Pakistani girls with little choice in Heera Mandi and so many other brothels in Pakistan.

But not all are forced into the profession. I disagree with your original comment "Prostitution is the result of extreme poverty and desperation, if you legalise it, it will only grow faster.".

It is factually wrong. There is no data to show that legality increases the trade. It only promotes rights for the workers.

It is just trying to turn away from reality and being too righteous by making it into a moral issue. It is a social issue primarily.