Vietnam's women 'detectives' fight prostitution together

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Vietnam's women 'detectives' fight prostitution together

Postby sam » Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:13 pm

Women join forces to fight prostitution
http://www.thanhniennews.com/features/? ... wsid=40069

Several months ago, a coffee shop waitress in Binh Duong Province was lured into a hotel room by a male customer.

As the waitress was about to be abused, three detectives crashed into the room to rescue her.

But these detectives did not belong to any police force nor had they had any professional training.

They are just local women who have taken on the responsibility of stamping out prostitution in their community.

The detective group was formed in 2005, with 22 volunteers from An Thanh Town in the southern province of Binh Duong.

As the town was becoming rapidly urbanized, hundreds of mini-hotels, cafes, karaoke parlors and barber shops were springing up.

These places employed usually country girls as waitresses, said “detective” Nguyen Thi Ngoc My.

My said many marriages had broken up because husbands went to such places looking for sexual services.

Group leader Nguyen Tu Thien said a typical mission was launched if any group member spotted a local married man going to a karaoke parlor suspected of offering sexual services.

A young member of the group would go undercover, acting as a customer in order to observe the married man’s actions, Thien said.

This young member would try to obtain as much information as she could, Thien said, noting that undercover detectives used tricks such as entering a room “by mistake” and gossiping with the waitresses.

The detective group member would report whether the parlor offered sexual services, how many waitresses were working there and which local men were regular guests, Thien said.

The following day, other members of the group would go to the karaoke shop to try to persuade its owner and waitresses to stop their unhealthy business, she said.

All the inspection and persuasion skills were self-taught, Thien said.

“We read a lot of books, newspapers and also detective stories and then discuss among ourselves the most effective tactic for each mission,” the group leader said.

However, not every tactic works.

The group members said they had nearly been attacked by both owners and workers of cafes and mini-hotels for interfering in their business.

But the goal of the group is not just about combating prostitution.

It also provides both emotional and financial support to local waitresses, most of whom leave their families and move to Binh Duong Province to earn their living.

The group members often donate money to help the waitresses find other jobs in case the poverty trap turned them into sex workers.

The group also helped teach the waitresses about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases.

“We think that our initial support can help lead the waitresses in the right directions,” Thien said.

So far the group has also attracted almost 20 part-time members, including owners and employees of local bars, cafes and mini-hotels.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Hai, a coffee shop owner, said the detective group worked for the greater good and thus she and her employees were willing to give the group a hand.

“Now I often go to other cafes and inform the group of what I’ve found,” Hai said.

Truc Phuong said many people used to consider her, a coffee shop waitress, a sex worker.

But after she joined the group, her self-esteem had risen.

The group members said because they were women, they understood the difficulties of the waitresses better than local authorities.

With so many victories in the fight against prostitution, the group has become a model for other female activists in the province.
"Your orgasm can no longer dictate my oppression"

Trisha Baptie
sam
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