From UDON THANI: -- Udon Thani Industrial Council chairman Prayoon Homewong has made a request for the government to look into legalising prostitution.
"We can never get rid of it. So, I think we should pass laws to regulate it," Prayoon said at a meeting.
He described "prostitution" as an old profession, which many foreign countries have recognised legally.
"If there were laws to regulate prostitution, sex workers would be eligible for legal protection and benefits, while the government would earn income from the tax," Prayoon said. "And it would be easier to control."
He also said he though it a good idea for red-light district zones to be set up and working in advance of the legalization.
Conversely the Friends of Women Foundation director Thanavadee Thajeen agreed with imposing zoning and providing prostitutes with access to social security in line with other careers, but thought that regularization without proper consultation with relevant groups would bound to make a system that is unusable or exploitable.
"There are so many karaoke lounges and other night spots with covert prostitution and some are located near temples and schools. Zoning could help solve this problem," Thanavadee said.
"However, I don't agree with the registration system because it could adversely affect sex workers. Registration means a woman is willing to be stigmatised for the rest of her life as a prostitute, which may effect her chance of finding a husband'
"Campaigns among men to deter them from buying sex from women should help - if there are no buyers, there won't be sellers," she said.
-- The Nation 2009-09-15
Source:
ThaiVisa.com
The NationLabels: Phuket, prostitute
