Fiji women say stop prostitution, Fiji men say tax it
Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:28 pmA stop is better, Ali says
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=57770
Monday, February 26, 2007
The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre wants all prostitution stopped, rather than it being legalised, centre co-ordinator Shamima Ali says.
Ms. Ali said there were many reasons why women engaged in prostitution, including poverty and a lack of education.
She said most of the young people who sold their bodies were disempowered and had been victims of abuse.
Ms. Ali said when the country suffered economic setback, an increase in prostitute numbers was to be expected.
"We consider prostitution a form of violence against women and we want it to go away rather than decriminalise it," said Ms Ali.
Fiji Nursing Association general secretary Kuini Lutua said when it came to the health consequences of sex workers, it was important they be given a choice on how to keep themselves safe from sexually transmitted diseases.
She said figures the association received did not indicate prostitutes were a vessel for the spread sexual diseases like HIV/AIDS.
Ms. Lutua said when it came to the large number of people getting paid for sexual favours people should get to the bottom of the matter and find out why there was an increase.
"May be, it is because of the large number of clients for these people. There may be a lot of demand for their services, thus, the increase. May be, it's a bread and butter issue," she said.
She said it was unfair to go after prostitutes.
"It is the clients who should be targeted, if an end is to be brought to prostitution," she said.
Interim Education Minister Netani Sukanaivalu has voiced concern about such issues, revealing his ministry and the Ministry of Social Welfare were working together and a committee had been set up to address such issues.
This comes after a counselling psychologist, Doctor Raymond Chandra, this week argued if prostitution was legalised, prostitutes would contribute in a more positive way to the State.
"If prostitution is made legal in Fiji, Fiji will be in league with many progressive countries of the world.
"Prostitution would no longer be a dirty, dangerous trade in the dark," he said. Women who are forced by circumstances into prostitution would be much safer in every way."
He said legalised prostitution would keep these "businesswomen" off the streets and into clean, supervised and licensed premises where they could operate.
"All these businesswomen would be medically checked by designated health workers for the safety of their clients and themselves," he said.
"Income generate by license fees and income tax, however small, would be a bonus for the State."
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=57770
Monday, February 26, 2007
The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre wants all prostitution stopped, rather than it being legalised, centre co-ordinator Shamima Ali says.
Ms. Ali said there were many reasons why women engaged in prostitution, including poverty and a lack of education.
She said most of the young people who sold their bodies were disempowered and had been victims of abuse.
Ms. Ali said when the country suffered economic setback, an increase in prostitute numbers was to be expected.
"We consider prostitution a form of violence against women and we want it to go away rather than decriminalise it," said Ms Ali.
Fiji Nursing Association general secretary Kuini Lutua said when it came to the health consequences of sex workers, it was important they be given a choice on how to keep themselves safe from sexually transmitted diseases.
She said figures the association received did not indicate prostitutes were a vessel for the spread sexual diseases like HIV/AIDS.
Ms. Lutua said when it came to the large number of people getting paid for sexual favours people should get to the bottom of the matter and find out why there was an increase.
"May be, it is because of the large number of clients for these people. There may be a lot of demand for their services, thus, the increase. May be, it's a bread and butter issue," she said.
She said it was unfair to go after prostitutes.
"It is the clients who should be targeted, if an end is to be brought to prostitution," she said.
Interim Education Minister Netani Sukanaivalu has voiced concern about such issues, revealing his ministry and the Ministry of Social Welfare were working together and a committee had been set up to address such issues.
This comes after a counselling psychologist, Doctor Raymond Chandra, this week argued if prostitution was legalised, prostitutes would contribute in a more positive way to the State.
"If prostitution is made legal in Fiji, Fiji will be in league with many progressive countries of the world.
"Prostitution would no longer be a dirty, dangerous trade in the dark," he said. Women who are forced by circumstances into prostitution would be much safer in every way."
He said legalised prostitution would keep these "businesswomen" off the streets and into clean, supervised and licensed premises where they could operate.
"All these businesswomen would be medically checked by designated health workers for the safety of their clients and themselves," he said.
"Income generate by license fees and income tax, however small, would be a bonus for the State."