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Prostitution is an act of sexual intercourse in exchange for money. In india, there are an estimated 3 million women working as prostitutes. The average age that a girl enters the sex trade In India is reported to be between 9 to 12 years old.
Prostitution is an act of sexual intercourse in exchange for money. In india, there are an estimated 3 million women working as prostitutes. The average age that a girl enters the sex trade In India is reported to be between 9 to 12 years old.
Prostitution is an act of sexual intercourse in exchange for money. In india, there are an estimated 3 million women working as prostitutes. The average age that a girl enters the sex trade In India is reported to be between 9 to 12 years old.
FACULTY OF SOCIOLOGY SUBMITTED BY:- ANKIT ANANd(916)
INTRODUCTION Prostitution is an act of sexual intercourse in exchange for money. According to the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, prostitution means the sexual exploitation or abuse of persons for commercial purposes. 1 In India, there are an estimated 3 million women working as prostitutes of which 1.2 million sex workers are under the age of 18 2 .The average age that a girl enters the sex trade in India is reported to be between 9 to 12 years old. Asia is the largest sex industry centre in world. 3 In terms of number of prostitution India comes at the second palace in world after China (5 million).According to survey, The prostitution industry in India generates $8.4 Billion (400 Billion Indian Rupees) each year 4 and out of which $2.31 Billion (110 Billion Indian Rupees) generated by Child prostitution. 5
Prostitution has a long history in India right from the Ancient time, there was a practice of having Nagarvadhus, Brides of the town. till today. Indian Courts have also recognized [P]rostitution in society has not been an unknown phenomenon... The victims of the trap are the poor, illiterate and ignorant sections of the society and are the target group in the flesh trade; rich communities exploit them and harvest at their misery and ignominy in an organized gangsterism, in particular, with police nexus... 6 .
1 2(f), Immpral Traffic (Prevention) Act,1956(here in after ITPA). 2 Andrew Mac Askill and Bibhudatta Pradhan, Sold for Sex at Puberty Village Girls Fate in India, Bloomberg Business week,September 18,2013.
3 Robert I. Freidman, Indias Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption Are Leading to An AIDS Catastrophe, The Nation, April 8, 1996 c.f. Donna M. Hughes et al, Factbook on Global Sexual Exploitation, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW), http://www.catwinternational.org/factbook/india.php.
4 Sankar Sen and P.M.Nair,A Report on Trafficking in Women and Children in India 2002-2003, NHRC- UNIFEM-ISS Project, Vol. 1. July 2004. 5 S. Sridevi Goel, Girl Child Prostitution, Societys Responsibility Indian Scenario, 7 CBI BULLETIN 14 (1999). 6 Gaurav Jain v. Union of India and others AIR 1997 SC 3021 (K. Ramaswamy J.,).
This research paper aims to know the adverse effect of prostitution in our society and try to know how it operates in our society. The paper will start with a broad overview of the definition of prostitution with regard to India and historical background of prostitution. Historical back-ground include the cause and effect of prostitution in our society. This is followed by the kind of prostitution and their brief analysis. Then this paper will move to legal provision of prostitution regard to world. Legal provision will start with a broad overview of the national and international law dealing with prostitution. It will include various existing law prevail in various countries and steps in respect of legalisation of prostitution that have been adopted by various countries. This will followed by the picture in India with regard to legal frame work and ground realities will be consider including issues of inadequacy of the legal frame work and misuse thereof. The decision of Supreme court and High court will be looked at where the problem of sex work have been contemplated and addressed. This will be followed by field work and data analysis which include interview of various person. The final chapter deal with research question and it include question of legalisation, decriminalisation and total prohibition of commercial sex work and It also deal with the effect of such legalisation on our society and try to know about the authenticity, merit and demerit of legalisation of prostitution. The conclusion would contain a summary of the issue brought forth in paper and also suggestion deal with prostitution. This will followed by bibliography. This paper will only deal with prostitution and not deal with human trafficking.
Aims and Objectives
The purpose of this research paper is to examine the intricacies involved in the problem of prostitution in India and also to critically analyze the legal frame work of prostitution in India and other country. Try to know the adverse effect and cause of prostitution in our society. Try to know historical background of prostitution. Try to have a better understanding of national and international law dealing with prostitution. To have a better understanding of the factors that make the prostitute carry on with her job despite the societal labels and stigma. Try to understand various types of prostitution. Try to merits and demerit of legalisation of prostitution. Try to suggest the appropriate measures that would help in taking up cudgels against the existing evils. Hypothesis The researcher feels that the prostitution of women is a social problem all around the world and our country is also facing this problem. According to researcher poverty is the main cause that leads to prostitution in India. The researcher feels that the prostitution of women in flesh trade business should be legalised.
Research Methodology Doctrinal Method
The doctrinal method in this project refers to various books, law review, magazine and journals on prostitution. Some help has also been taken from news paper, article and data given in report and last but not the least on line material. Non Doctrinal Method The non doctrinal method will involve interview of 2-3 women caught in flesh trade, Police officer, Journalist. It also involves Interview of a common man and taking their view on this social problem. Chapterisation Introduction (definition) An individual male or female who for some kind of new or for some other personal satisfaction and as a part of full time profession, engages in normal or abnormal sexual intercourse with various persons who may be of the same sex. Or the opposite sex is the prostitution and the trade which is being carried on in this way is called prostitution. 7
"Prostitute" is derived from the Latin prostituta. Some sources cite the verb as a composition of "pro" meaning "up front" or "forward" and "situere", defined as "to offer up for sale" 8 . Another explanation is that "prostituta" is a composition of (preposition) pro and (verb) statuere (to cause to stand, to station, place erect). A literal
7 The Critical Study of legalisation of prostitution in India: A Comparative study with special Reference to UK & USA 8 Roberta Perkins and Francis Lovejoy, "Call Girls" , UWA Press, 2007, pg 2 - 3
translation therefore is: "to put up front for sale" or "to place forward". The online Etymology Dictionary states, "The notion of 'sex for hire' is not inherent in the etymology, which rather suggests one 'exposed to lust' or sex 'indiscriminately offered.' 9
In simple language Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. 10 The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john" or tricks in North America and punters in Britain or customer . Prostitution is one of the branches of the sex industry. The legal status of prostitution varies from country, from being a punishable crime to a regulated profession. In India as we know prostitution is a crime but it is quite different from other crime. Most crimes involve a victim and a perpetrator. The perpetrator typically looks for his victim and the victim avoids the perpetrator as much as he can. In prostitution also there are victim and perpetrator involved but it isnt clear who the perpetrator is and who the victim is. Moreover, it is in the interest of both the prostitute and the client to do their best to find one another. As a result, prostitution operates just like a market: it is populated by buyers and sellers who mutually benefit when they come together to perform a transaction. 11
History of Prostitution in India
9 Prostitute,Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 2012-06-26 10 Shashank Shekhar,(Assistant Professor, RML National Law Uni versity Lucknow, INDIA), PROSTITUTION IN INDIA- LEGAL AND SOCIAL RAMIFICATIONS,2011,Volume1, 11 Chicago booth, The Economics of Prostitution, Forbes India, http://forbesindia.com/article/chicago-booth/the- economics-of-prostitution/8992/1#ixzz2gNoKuY59
Prostitution is said to be one of the oldest profession in the world. It existed across culture and times. In India, the practice of prostitution has been prevalent since time immemorial. Vedic texts give accounts of a mythic empire builder, Bharata and prove that the people were acquainted with prostitution through references to loose women, female vagabonds, and sexually active unmarried girls. The vedic literature serves as a ware house of information on prostitutes and prostitution. For instance, Rig Veda mentions both prostitutes and illegitimate children. Vagabond priests and their female companion have been described in atharvana veda as sacred prostitutes. Who can forget the Hindu rituals of love in Vatsyayanas Kama Sutra. The vedic words sadbarani refers to a women who offers sex for payment. In ancient India, there was a practice of having Nagarvadhus, "brides of the town"(grooms) who were actually prostitutes. Famous examples include Amrapali, state courtesan and Buddhist disciple, described in Vaishali Ki Nagarvadhu by Acharya Chatursen and Vasantasena, a character in the classic Sanskrit story of Mricchakatika, written in the 2nd century BC by Sudraka. In Mauryan Dynasty, Kautilya (Chanakya) the renown author of arthasasthra wanted prostitution to be utilized by public exchequer. The Mughal Empire (1526 -1857) also witnessed prostitution the word 'mujra ' became common during this era. King Jahangir's harem had 6,000 mistresses which denoted authority, wealth and power. Even during the British era prostitution flourished the famous Kamathipura, a red light area in Bombay, was built during this era for the refreshment of British troops and which was later taken over by Indian sex workers.
Prostitutes in different parts of India are known by different names Devadasi, Devadiyal, Kannerikam, Basivi, Kanjaris, Jaunsar Bawars, Harbedas, Bohiokojeers etc. Originally, devdasis were celibate dancing girls used in temple ceremonies and they entertained members of the ruling class. But sometime around the 6th Century, the practice of "dedicating" girls to
Hindu gods became prevalent in a practice that developed into ritualized prostitution. Devdasis literally means God's (Dev) female servant (Dasi), where according to the ancient Indian practice, young pre-pubertal girls are 'married off and given away' in matrimony to God or Local religious deity of the temple. 12 The marriage usually occurs before the girl reaches puberty and requires the girl to become a prostitute for upper-caste community members. Such girls are known as jogini '. They are forbidden to enter into a real marriage. The system of devdasis started only after the fall of Buddhism and records about them start appearing around 1000 A.D. [Bharatiya Sanskruti Kosh, IV, 448]. It is viewed that the devdasis are the Buddhist nuns who were degraded to the level of prostitutes after their temples were taken over by Brahmins during the times of their resurgence after the fall of Buddhism.
Cause of prostitution The profession of trade of prostitution has existed in all civilized country from earliest time. According to social research made so far females are drawn in to prostitution for a variety of reasons. A study of Kanpur prostitutes has revealed that though a majority of prostitutes have taken their profession due to extreme poverty, but there are many who have willingly adopted it after a series of love exploits. Though economic factor is important but there are several external causes, which induce/force persons, particularly women and children to turn to prostitute for livelihood over which they have no control. The most important causes which can be classified in the following categories are: (1) Economic Cause (2) Social Cause (3) Psychological Cause
12 Indianredlight.wordpress.com
(4) Biological Cause (5) Religious and Cultural Cause (6) Family and community oriented prostitution, i.e., Mathamma community in Tiruvallur District, Baduva Community in Jumbuliputhur in Dindigual District of Tamil Nadu, etc. (7) Lack of sex education (8) Inability to arrange marriage (9) Prior incest and rape (10) Early marriage and desertion (11) Lack of recreational facilities, ignorance, and acceptance of prostitution (12) Kidnapping and abduction (13) Sale by parents and husbands, especially in certain areas of Chittor, Bellampalli, Warangal etc in Andhra Pradesh and in Northern states of U.P and M.P etc. (14) Deceit and cheating by parents. (15) Pornography including Soft and Strong literature and entertainment. (16) Problematic drug use and alcohol abuse. (17) Debt and Cast system in society Economic Cause As we know economic compulsion constitutes the major factor in the causation of prostitution. In India there are prostitutes who are compelled to adopt prostitution to feed themselves and their family.
However, poverty is not the only economic factors, there are many other factors which are economic. (a)Poverty including Illiteracy and difficulty in finding job (b)Under-age employment (c)Immoral traffic of woman and children (a)Poverty According to me poverty leads crime in our society. Poverty factor is the most responsible factor for prostitution. It follows a chain. Poverty leads to illiteracy, illiteracy leads to unemployment and unemployment leads to crime in society and prostitution is one of crime. A poor woman who is unable to get any employment due to illiteracy and who does not has superior must either starve to death or earn her livelihood through prostitution. In India, due to poverty many parents prostitute their own child. (b)Under age employment In India, due to poverty many females have to work in hotels, offices, industry and shop at immature age. At this impressionable age they are easily misled by lust seeker. (c)Immoral traffic of woman and children Many girls are kidnapped from their homes by pimps. They properly train them in the art of prostitution and when these girl attain the age of maturity they sold them. (2) Social Cause The social causes are extremely important factor in encouraging and promoting prostitution. The social factors are
(a)Family Cause (ill treatment by parents) (b)Bad neighbour
(a)Family Cause (Ill and harsh treatment by parents at home) A social research on prostitution reveals that most of the prostitutes were connected with family troubles like Experience of violence, ill treatment and abuse at home. Their parents were either living separated or their family or relatives were so strained that as children they were left to their own machinations and received no love and affection from their parents. These children can be easily misguided by lust seeker. (b)Bad neighbour It includes two causes. # Truancy or exclusion from the rest of the peer group and poor educational attainment # The children living near brothels or in the company of immoral persons become so used to seeing sex trade that they come to accept it as normal. The children who get exposed to sex business want to have the exhilarating experience at the first available opportunity. (3) Psychological Cause There are some psychological facts which tend the person towards prostitution. A woman who is frigid becomes desperate and she tried one after another because of frigidity. She has greater sex urge and desire for variety in sexual life. Thats why she is unable to experience pleasure and becomes a prostitute by profession. (4) Biological Cause
The person born with defective sex organ or overactive glands may feel compelled to sex gratification in bizarre manner. (5) Religious and Cultural Cause (Social Custom) In India there has been a religious sanction to prostitution. In South India, (especially in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh) every family was suppose to offer one daughter to the temple where apparently she suppose to serve gods with total dedication. They were known as Devadasis. (6) Family prostitutes In prostitution business age is directly proportional to cost. So after the age of 35 they are unable to earn their livelihood and feed their family. In this case prostitutes daughter has to adopt this family prostitution business. In Khakranagla village of Rajsthan Bedia caste is known for family prostitution business 13 .
(7) Lack of sex education Due to lack of sexual knowledge they have a lot of misconception about sex and ultimately this misconception result in to prostitution.
Impact of Prostitution The impact of prostitution at large seems to destroy its very ethos. Besides bringing down the moral standards in our society it casts a stigma on all the connected conniving persons to do this bad act. The helpless victims usually are various persons of either sexes of any age groups and even innocent children, spreading diseases such as STD, HIV, AIDS. Besides inflicting serious harm and damages to the
13 A Rajsthan village where prostitution is tradition, July 9, 2006 Saira Kurup, TNN.
concerned victims through spread of infectious diseases, they also make the persons involved potential agents for their spread. Prostitution makes victims of many of those involved in it and of those communities in which it takes place. Key concerns include. Impact of Prostitution is following (a)The nuisance caused to the neighbourhoods through noise, litter, and harassment. (b)Impact on Youth:- The advertising of prostitution particularly through soliciting on street and through internet has an adverse effect on young generation. (c) The spread of sexual and drug transmitted infection and diseases (d) Business of prostitution links with drug abuse /market. (e) Prostitution link with criminality. (f) Related violence including serious assault on those involved in prostitution leading to disorder of Law and Order in our society. (g) The negative impact of prostitutes on their family and it leads to family prostitution in our society. (h) The effect on the attitude of men to women and on gender equality, more generally. (i) Making some persons as professional of trafficking for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. (j) The increase stigmatization and social exclusion of those involved in prostitution. Types of Prostitutes Street Prostitutes
Street prostitution is a form of prostitution in which sex worker call for customers from a public place, most commonly a street but also other public places such as parks. In easy word, a prostitute who solicits on the streets is known as street prostitutes. Street-walking is probably the most ancient of prostitute operating methods. Bar Dancer Bar girl is a sex worker who works as a hostess or dancer in bars to provide company or sexual services to patrons. Call Girl A call girl is a sex worker who is neither visible to the general public; nor does she usually work in an institution like a brothel although she may be employed by an escort agency. The client must make an appointment, usually by calling a telephone number. Greenwald said: Call girls are independently operating prostitutes. In simple word, a female prostitute with whom an appointment can be made by telephone, usually to meet at the clients address is Call girl. Religious Prostitutes Sacred prostitution, temple prostitution, or religious prostitution is a sexual ritual consisting of sexual intercourse or other sexual activity performed in the context of religious worship, perhaps as a form of fertility rite. Escort Girl An escort girl is just a dignified name for a prostitute. You can hire her services at a rate and she will do anything for you, even have sex with you. Use of internet by escort girl and customers is common. Road side Prostitutes
Sex worker who solicits customer from road side is known as roadside prostitute. They can be easily identified because they are dressed in provocative manner. It is mostly found in United State of America. Child Prostitutes Child prostitution is the commercial sexual exploitation of children in which a child performs the services of prostitution for remuneration in cash or another form of retribution (gifts, food, clothes, etc.).The term normally refers to prostitution of minor, or person under the legal age of maturity. Beat Prostitutes They engaged in the prostitution as a matter of Principle, and in accordance with an ethic which may or may not be rightly adhered to. Some girls living members of the Beat Generation and subscribing to the values characteristics of that sub-society. Camp Followers They are simply prostitutes who gather and operate where large numbers of soldiers, and other servicemen are stationed, and who serve principally the sexual needs of those males, although civilians are seldom discriminated against. It is mostly found in United State of America. Adolescent The school girls living at home with their parents and perusing prostitution as an evocation, sometimes for Sex sometimes for money, probably most often for both. It is mostly found in United State of America. Elderly Prostitutes
They are sex worker much older than oneself. For example; A young man unconsciously equates the older woman with his mother; a young girl equates an older man with her father. It is due to desire for a sex partner much older than him/her and it is not uncommon aberration in U.S.A. Present Scenario
Sex and the Cities: Cities not so Beautiful
Did you know that there are 20 million prostitutes, 35% of these are under 18 (according to Human Rights Watch) and 1 million child prostitutes in India?
Its everywhere. No part of the country is spared from this crime. Either you visit remotest of the remote area (where you will brothels running in mud huts) or you visit big cities (where you will find brothels running in slum areas or big renowned hotels) the condition is same but Ill present you the picture of few cities, Ive lived or visited. Chandigarh City, named as one of the best places to live for many times is also in the grip of prostitution. No matter a few years ago, there was no such specified area as Red Light Area in the city so beautiful but in recent years Mani Majra (place just about 5km from Chandigarh) is gradually becoming the G.B. road of Chandigarh. A survey conducted by State AIDS Control Society reported there is 3200 sex workers in the Chandigarh and believed that numbers could be 3 times the reported ones. Varanasi City considered one of the holiest cities of the world and Mecca of Hindus, is not spared from the flesh trade. Hindus come here for salvation and take a dip at (un)holiest river Ganga. Exploitation of sex-workers do happen the most on the tourist or religious cities/places and apparently these cities are turning to sexual-tourism- cities. On the name of God or enjoyment people do exploit the
women. Women even at old age when come to Varanasi for mukti or women, who are left by their children at Varanasi for getting the ultimate truth of life, end up as a beggar or are forced into sex-trade. Maduahdiah is a famous place in Varanasi for hotbed activities and where life comes to alive after daylight. Vrindavan No doubt the place associated with the mischievous Hindu god Krishna, who used to play with goppies (young girls), is considered sacred by Hindus but condition as pathetic as it is elsewhere in India. Ashrams in the Raman Reti area of Vrindavan are used by sex- workers to rent the room via bribing the managers of Ashrams and get their work done under the shadow of beloved God! Many of the sex- workers believe Ashrams are the safest place to work out with clients. Young girls coming to Vrindavan after being abandoned by their husbands form a large source of prostitution in the city. Many foreigners from America and Russia can also been seen in the Mathura and Vrindavan areas, working as prostitutes. Many other women who come here at Ashrams for the last days of life also end up as beggars and remain vulnerable to always unsatisfied balls. Karnataka State famous for its Hindu temples and infamous for the devdasis practice (temple prostitutes?) is also indulged in the flesh trade to large extent. Districts bordering Maharashtra and Karnataka are known as devdasis belt. Yes, devdasis practice is in effect since the hundreds years and few years back anti-slavery campaigners showed that still there are about 25,000 devdasis in the state Karnataka only. Another survey revealed that about one-third of devdasis are under the age of 14 and many of them ends up in brothels. One must also not forget that most of the devdasis were/are degraded lower caste womensince ancient times. On 13 th June, 1936 at Mumbai, Dr B R Ambedkar had asked to stop devdasis practice in the conference of devdasis but its still alive in 21 st century! Devdasis practice is simply unethical, horrible practice and exploitation of women on the name of god and I believe such exploitation must stop as soon as possible. Other major cities such as Agra, Nagpur (Ganga Jamuna area), Pune (Budhwar Peth area), Allahabad (Meerganj area), Meerut (Kabadi Bazaar area) Hyderabad, Bangalore,Patna etc are also in the grip of
sex slavery. Not only big cities but every big/small cities are in the grip of prostitution. For instance, In Bihar District like Munger, Begusarai, patna, Muzzafarpur, etc are famous for prostitution. No doubt that sex-trade and sex slavery is a biggest criminal industry in India and sex-trafficking happens the most in India. According to India Todays report there are about 3000 foreigner prostitutes in Delhi capital of India.
Number of Prostitutes by Country The number listed above is the estimated figure of how many prostitutes there are in the world on the data listed below. The no. of prostitutes by country is collected from open sources documents published by security agencies, non- governmental organisations, and media reports.
Country No. of prostitutes
1. China 5000000 2. India 3000000 3. Russia 1600000 4. South Korea 1200000 5. United States 1000000 6. Philippines 800000 7. Germany 400000 8. Thailand 250000 9. Brazil 250000 children 10. Bangladesh 200000 11. Taiwan 100000 12. United Kingdom 80000 13. Ukraine 67500 14. Kenya 50000 children 15. Vietnam 30000 16. South Africa 30000 children 17. United Arab Emirates 30000 18. Poland 19000 19. Mongolia 19000 20. Israel 17500 21. Mexico 16000 children 22. Costa Rica 15000 23. Switzerland 14000
Legal in 50 (50%); Limited Legality in 11 (11%); Illegal in 39 (39%); Total: 100 (100%) 1. Afghanistan 2. Albania 26. Czech Republic 27. Denmark 51. Israel 52. Italy 76. Portugal 77. Romania
3. Angola 4. Antigua and Barbuda 5. Argentina 6. Armenia 7. Australia 8. Austria 9. Bahamas 10. Bangladesh 11. Barbados 12. Belgium 13. Belize 14. Bolivia 15. Brazil 16. Bulgaria 17. Cambodia 18. Canada 19. Chile 20. China (including Taiwan) 21. Colombia 22. Costa Rica 23. Croatia 24. Cuba 25. Cyprus 28. Dominica 29. Dominican Republic 30. Ecuador 31. Egypt 32. El Salvador 33. Estonia 34. Ethiopia 35. Finland 36. France 37. Germany 38. Greece 39. Grenada 40. Guatemala 41. Guyana 42. Haiti 43. Honduras 44. Hungary 45. Iceland 46. India 47. Indonesia 48. Iran 49. Iraq 50. Ireland 53. Jamaica 54. Japan 55. Jordan 56. Kenya 57. Korea, North 58. Korea, South 59. Kyrgyzstan 60. Latvia 61. Liberia 62. Lithuania 63. Luxembourg 64. Malaysia 65. Malta 66. Mexico 67. Netherlands 68. New Zealand 69. Nicaragua 70. Norway 71. Panama 72. Paraguay 73. Peru 74. Philippines 75. Poland 78. Rwanda 79. Saint Kitts and Nevis 80. Saint Lucia 81. Saint Vincent and Grenadines 82. Saudi Arabia 83. Senegal 84. Singapore 85. Slovakia 86. Slovenia 87. South Africa 88. Spain 89. Suriname 90. Sweden 91. Switzerland 92. Thailand 93. Trinidad and Tobago 94. Turkey 95. Uganda 96. United Arab Emirates 97. United Kingdom (including Scotland) 98. United States 99. Uruguay 100. Venezuela
Prostitution (the exchange of sex for money) legal but regulated Prostitution legal and not regulated, organised activities such as brothels and pimping illegal Prostitution illegal No data Source: Wikipedia.org
Legal provision on prostitution in other countries
(1)Austria Legalisation Varies from Region to region With the exception of one state, Local jurisdictions have legalised prostitution in specified areas. Those involved have to register their names and undergo weekly health checks. (2) Belgium Local approaches differ, although there is generally a level of toleration of prostitution in larger cities. Some areas have introduced an unofficial policy of registration and health checks. Exploitation of another through prostitution is an offence.
(3) Brazil Prostitution itself is not illegal. It is illegal to operate a brothel, rent a premise to sex workers, exploit children or live in the earning of prostitution. Female sex workers are generally tolerated but transgender and male sex workers are made liable to prosecution by police. (4) Canada Prostitution is not illegal. Communicating in public place for the purpose of engaging in prostitution; providing directions, taking or showing someone to a common bawdy-house, procuring or assisting or obtaining a person for sexual service on behalf of a third party, and living
on the avails or benefitting from the prostitution of another. person are offences. (5) Denmark Prostitution was legalised in 1999. Keeping a brothel or gaining in other ways from prostitution is an offence. Purchasing the sexual service of a child under18 age is an offence. Street prostitution has ended, ever since sex workers were allowed to advertise their services in1973. (6) France Prostitution is not illegal. Touting on public highways and procuring are offences, as is living on the earnings of a prostitute.
(7) Finland Prostitution is not illegal. But the selling of sex in public is an offence. Pimping, promoting prostitution and keeping a brothel are offences. Purchasing the sexual service of a child under18 age is an offence. (8) Germany Prostitution is legal, both on and off the street. Some areas have been declared prostitution free zones. Coercing prostitution under duress is an offence. Pimping and promoting prostitution is an offence.
There is toleration and relatively civil policing. (9) Greece Prostitution is legal. Prostitutes are required to register and to undertake health check-ups twice a week. Registered sex workers have citizenship rights. (10) Holland An area for soliciting, a working area and a drop-in shelter are considered essential elements of a managed area. Managed areas are regularly patrolled. In other respects, the model varies from city to city. For example, in Hereen, women are required to be licensed. Drug dealing is officially prohibited in managed areas, but is generally tolerated to avoid women with problematic drug use, leaving work for elsewhere, where they can buy drugs. Managed areas have become overcrowded following the licensing of brothels, when migrant workers were forced onto the streets- these areas are now closed, or planned to be closed. (11) Italy Prostitution is not illegal. But Streetwalking, running a brothel and promoting prostitution are offences. (12) Kenya Prostitution is not defined in the legal code. A woman with many sex partners is highly stigmatized and often regarded as a prostitute. (13) Netherlands Prostitution is legal.
Street prostitution confined to managed zones. Brothels are legal, subject to a licensing regime, operated by municipal authorities, governing the location, working condition etc. Receiving money from prostitution, involving a minor in prostitution, or forcing a person to engage in prostitution are offences, as is forcing another person to surrender the income from prostitution. Sex worker pay tax and are subject to local by- laws. (14) New Zealand Prostitution has recently been decriminalized. Brothels are governed by usual employment, health and regulation laws.
(15) Portugal Prostitution is not illegal. Offences apply only to trafficking. (16) Peru Brothels in urban areas are licensed and regulated by the states. Sex-workers must be registered, carry identity cards, and are subject to fortnightly check-ups. (17) Senegal It is illegal to aid, abet, procure live on the earnings of prostitution or run a brothel. Female sex workers must register, carry identity cards and subject themselves to regular medical examinations.
(18) Spain Prostitution is not illegal. Forcing people into prostitution, the sexual abuse of minors and trafficking in persons for sexual purposes is an offence. (19) Sweden Not equivalent offence to loitering or soliciting. Government- funded outreach programmes exist to support women to leave prostitution. Paying, or offering to pay for sexual services on or off the street is a criminal offence. Selling sex has been decriminalised. The focus is on support for women to quit prostitution. (20) Switzerland At a national level, Prostitution is legal. At a regional level, health control and exclusion zones act as measures to control or limit prostitution. Prostitutes must be registered and have a valid work permit. The promotion of prostitution and encouraging prostitution, are offences. (21) Turkey Prostitution is legalised. Operate a system of state-licensed brothels (genelevs). Genelevs may only employ registered prostitutes. Local areas impose restrictions on the administration of genelevs and on registered prostitutes. Although registration is gradually being dropped, Istanbul is registering no new prostitutes and in other areas monitoring arrangements have ceased. Sex worker have joined a local trade union.
(22) Thailand It is illegal to be a prostitute or to live on the earning of prostitution but law is ignored and prostitution is widely tolerated. Sex tourism is indirectly allowed and bulk of states revenew comes from prostitution. (23) United States of America Prostitution is illegal in all states but exception is Nevada. In Nevada, prostitution is restricted to certain counties. It is forbidden in counties with high populations, e.g. Las Vegas, Reno and Lake Tahoe. Nevada state law allows prostitution in brothels only, which are registered with the police. Prostitutes are required to provide finger prints and to go regular health check up. (24) United Kingdom Sex work per se is not an offence. Its related activities such as soliciting, procuring, brothel- keeping, and living on the earning of prostitution are illegal. Recently provision have been introduced criminalise men looking for street sex-workers, i.e. to look and launch criminal proceeding against these persons, especially men. (25) Australia Responsibility for prostitution law is developed to the eight states, a large number of which enacted legislation over the last two decades legalizing and decriminalizing prostitution. Registered prostitute must be at least nineteen years of age. They must undertake regular health checks.
They may be restricted to certain streets or may be totally prohibited from working on streets at all. Victoria and Queensland have licensed the owners and operaters of brothels. Source:-Immoral Traffic- Prostitution in India Written By:-V.Sithannan
National Law dealing with Prostitution The laws governing sex work in India are entailed in the Constitution of India, 1950; the Indian Penal Code 1860; Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girl Act 1956 and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. The Constitution of India apart from fundamental Right i.e., the equality provisions 14
and provisions of freedom of association under Article 19(1),
right to life and personal liberty under Article 21, guarantees prohibition of trafficking of human beings and forced labour under Article 23. Under Part IV of Directive Principles of State Policy: the State is required to direct its policies towards securing, inter alia, that both men and women have an equal right to an adequate means of livelihood{under Article 39(a)}
that health and strength of workers not be abused, and that citizens are not forced by necessity to enter avocations unsuited for their age and strength,{Article 39 (e)}
promotion of the educational and economic interests of weaker sections of the society, ensuring their protection from social injustice and exploitation (Article 46) requirement of fostering respect for international law and treaty obligations,(Article 51) obligation on the state to raise the levels of standard of living (Article 47)
and the renunciation of practices by citizens that are derogatory to the
14 The equality provisions are Articles 14 and 15 in Part III dealing with Fundamental Rights of the Constitution of India,1950. Article 14 provides for equality before the law and equal protection of the laws; Article 15 prohibits the state from discriminating on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, though it can make special provisions for women, children, socially and educationally backward classes, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
dignity of women {Article 51A(e)}
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has also affirmed that these combined duties are placed on the state and a corresponding right is placed on citizens including sex workers. 15
The Indian Penal Code has at least 20 provisions 16 that make trafficking punishable. For instance: - Indian penal code (IPC) section 373:- Whoever buys, hires or otherwise obtains possession of any person under the age of eighteen years with intent that such person shall at any age be employed or used for the purpose of prostitution or illicit intercourse with any person or for any unlawful and immoral purpose ,of knowing it to be likely that such person will at any age be employed or used for any purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine. Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 372:- Selling minor for purposes of prostitution, etc. Whoever sells, lets to hire, or otherwise disposes of any person under the age of eighteen years with intent that such person shall at any age be employed or used for the purpose of prostitution or illicit intercourse with any person or for any unlawful and immoral purpose, or knowing it to be likely that such person will at any age be employed or used for any such purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall be liable to fine.
15 P.N.Swamy Labour Liberation Front, Mahaboobnagar v/s Station House Officer, Hyderabad 1998 (1) ALD 755.
Most of them deal with abduction for illicit intercourse {Section 366(B) IPC 1860} wrongful confinement after abduction {Section 368 IPC 1860}
inter alia. The primary piece of legislation dealing with sex work is the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (hereinafter ITPA). The Act mainly makes pimping and other activities punishable, which gives a commercial aspect to prostitution that is likely to exploit the person of the prostitute. 17
The Act does not prohibit prostitution per se but it does prohibit commercial activities of the flesh trade. 18
Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act - PITA The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act or PITA is a 1986 amendment of legislation passed in 1956 as a result of the signing by India of the United Nations' declaration in 1950 in New York on the suppression of trafficking. The act, then called the All India Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act (SITA), was amended to the current law. The laws were intended as a means of limiting and eventually abolishing prostitution in India by gradually criminalising various aspects of sex work. The main points of the PITA are as follows: Sex Workers: A prostitute who seduces or solicits shall be prosecuted. Similarly, call girls can not publish phone numbers to the public. (imprisonment up to 6 months with fine, point 8) Sex worker also punished for prostitution near any public place or notified area. (Imprisonment of up to 3 months with fine, point 7) Clients: A client is guilty of consorting with prostitutes and can be charged if he engages in sex acts with a sex worker within 200 yards of a public place or "notified area". (Imprisonment of up to 3 months, point 7) The client may also be punished if the sex
17 Manoj Wad and Sharayu Yadav, The legal framework of prostitution in India, Prostitution and beyond: an Analysis of Sex Work in India (New Delhi: SAGE Publishers, 2008) 212.
18 Manoj Wad and Sharayu Yadav, The legal framework of prostitution in India, Prostitution and beyond: an Analysis of Sex Work in India (New Delhi: SAGE Publishers, 2008) 212.
worker is below 18 years of age. (From 7 to 10 years of imprisonment, whether with a child or a minor) Pimps and Babus: Babus or pimps or live-in lovers who live off a prostitute's earnings are guilty of a crime. Any adult male living with a prostitute is assumed to be guilty unless he can prove otherwise. (Imprisonment of up to 2 years with fine) Brothel: Landlords and brothel-keepers can be prosecuted, maintaining a brothel is illegal. (From 1 to 3 years imprisonment with fine for first offence, point 3) Detaining someone at a brothel for the purpose of sexual exploitation can lead to prosecution. (Imprisonment of more than 7 years) Procuring and trafficking: A person procures or attempt to procure anybody is liable to be punished. Also a person who moves a person from one place to another, (human trafficking), can be prosecuted similarly. (From 3 to 7 years imprisonment with fine) Rescued Women: The government is legally obligated to provide rescue and rehabilitation in a "protective home" for any sex worker requesting assistance. Public place in context of this law includes places of public religious worship, educational institutions, hostels, hospitals etc. A "notified area" is a place which is declared to be "prostitution- free" by the state government under the PITA. Brothel in context of this law is a place which has two or more sex workers (2a). Prostitution itself is not an offence under this law, but soliciting, brothels, madams and pimps are illegal.
The Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act, 1956 ("ITPA"), the main statute dealing with sex work in India, does not criminalise prostitution or prostitutes per se, but mostly punishes acts by third
parties facilitating prostitution like brothel keeping, living off earnings and procuring, even where sex work is not coerced. Section3 Punishment for keeping a brothel or allowing premises to be used as a brothel. (1)Any person who keeps or manages, or acts or assists in the keeping or management of, a brothel, shall be punishable on first conviction with rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than three years and also with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees and in the event of a second or subsequent to conviction with rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than five years and also with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees. (2)A any person who, - (a) Being the tenant, lessee, occupier or person in charge of any premises, uses, or knowingly allows any other person to use, such premises or any part thereof as a brothel, or (b) Being the owner, lessor or landlord of any premises or the agent of such owner, lessor or landlord, lets the same or any part thereof with the knowledge that the same or any part thereof is intended to be used as a brothel, or is willfully a party to the use of such premises or any part thereof as a brothel, shall be punishable on first conviction with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years and with fine which fine which may extend to two thousand rupees and in the event of a second or subsequent conviction, with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and also with fine. (2-A) For the purposes of sub-section (2), it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that any person referred to in clause (a) or
clause (b) of that subsection, is knowingly allowing the premises or any part thereof to be used as a brothel or, as the case may be, has knowledge that the premises or any part thereof are being used as a brothel, if, - (a) A report is published in a newspaper having circulation in the area in which such person resides to the effect that the premises or any part thereof have been found to be used for prostitution as a result of a search made under this Act; or (b) A copy of the list of all things found during the search referred to in clause (a) is given to such person. Section5. Procuring, inducing or taking person for the sake of prostitution. (1) Any person who- (a) Procures or attempts to procure a person whether with or without his/her consent, for the purpose of prostitution; or (b) Induces a person to go from any place, with the intent that he/she may for the purpose of prostitution become the inmate of, or frequent, a brothel; or (c) Takes or attempts to take a person or causes a person to be taken, from one place to another with a view to his/her carrying on, or being brought up to carry on prostitution; or (d) Causes or induces a person to carry on prostitution; shall be punishable on conviction with rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than three years and not more than seven years and also with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, and if any offence under this sub-section is committed against the will of any
person, the punishment of imprisonment for a term of seven years shall extend to imprisonment for a term of fourteen years: Provided that if the person in respect of whom an offence committed under this sub-section, - (i) Is a child, the punishment provided under this sub-section shall extend to rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years but may extend to life; and (ii) Is a minor; the punishment provided under this sub-section shall extend to rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years and not more than fourteen years. So it can be seen that both the sections namely section 3 and section 5 punishes only the acts of the 3rd party and same does the other sections in the Act and so new legislation shall be passed as to punish the client who are visiting the prostitutes.
Provincial act dealing with prostitution The various provincial acts, which were in vogue when the suppression of Immoral Traffic Act 1956 came in to force in india, are listed as follows: The calcutta Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act (13 of 1923) The Bombay prevention of prostitution Act (11 of 1923) The Madras Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act (8 of 1930) The Bengal Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act (6 of 1933) The Uttar Pradesh Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act (8 of 1933) The Punjab Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act, 1936 The Bihar Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act (3 of 1948) The Jammu & Kashmir Public prostitutes Registration Rules.
Constitutional Provisions dealing with prostitution in India (1)Under Article 23 of the constitution, traffic in human beings is prohibited and any convention of this provisions in an offence punishable in accordance with law. (2)Under Article 35, such a law has to be passed by the parliament, as soon as may be after the commencement of constitution. (3)Article 39(f) enshrines in the directive principles of state policy that it is the duty of the state to prevent exploitation of children and girl. (4)Article 42 requires the state to enact/bring in suitable provisions for securing just and humane working conditions as well as provide for maternity benefits. (5)Article 51 of the constitution of India requires the state to foster respect for international law and treaty obligations. (6)Article 51 A (e) of the constitution that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to renounce practice derogatory to the dignity of women.
Aspect of legalisation of prostitution in India Three systems of prostitution-related laws have been formulated and applied 19
in legal strategies and these vary considerably both in effectiveness and appropriateness.
These systems are classified as: Criminalization, Decriminalization and Legalization 20 .
19
Jean D Cunha, Prostitution Laws: Ideological Dimensions and Enforcement Practices, 27(17) ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WEEKLY WS-34 (1992) 20 Frances M. Shaver, Prostitution: A Critical Analysis of Three Policy Approaches,
To Criminalize, is to Change the criminal sanctions in order to control the social evil of prostitution and to countenance it by amending the criminal law. Advocates for criminalization of prostitution perceive prostitution as immoral and aims at its eradication for which it bans prostitution per se, by criminalising the activities of all categories of people involved in prostitution: brothel- keepers, pimps, procurers, clients and prostitutes. To legalize something is to "authorize" and "to make legal." When prostitution is legalized in a country, prostitutes are recognized as professionals. Therefore, they have to register or licensed as professionals, which allows a heavy intervention of government authorities over the industry. In countries like Germany, Australia, Nevada, where prostitution is legalized, prostitutes are required to submit fingerprints, photographs, and personal information to the police station. To decriminalize, other hand, is to "eliminate criminal penalties for or remove legal restrictions against." Advocates for decriminalization of prostitution argue that the system allows the prostitutes to exercise their choice to sell their bodies with their voluntary consents to the customers. Advocates for decriminalization of prostitution apply "the same criteria to private consenting adult sex," to the principle of regulating sex industry. Therefore, they argue that prostitution should not be prohibited if it was performed in a privacy of one's home or hotel, and the money is freely exchanged with consent. Advocates also argue that decriminalization of prostitution will encourage prostitutes to seek help from the police men since prostitution will no longer be illegal. They also assert that decriminalization will reduce crimes against the prostitutes. There is a lot of criticism of the system of legalization. (1)Licensing and monitoring may not help sex workers to live and
work with dignity. (2)Regulation leads to a division between legal and illegal sex workers, leading to further marginalisation of the latter. (3)Legalization of prostitution is akin to legalizing child labour
and tantamount to slavery. (4)It should not be legalised because there is a chance that the unemployed women would take it as a career option. (5)As we know there are different kinds of prostitution and one of them is call girl whose identity is not publicly and due to regulation they will be publicly seen as prostitutes. (6)Legalising Prostitution will not be culturally accepted by Indian society (7) Legalising will give this exploitation a legal shelter. (8)Most prostitutes are victims of the trafficking and thus they do not see it as a profession. (9) Prostitution is an exploitation of women and this commercial sexual exploitation is a form of slavery and slavery cannot be legalized. (10) It is a myth that legalising prostitution will stop pimps and brothels. Fact is that it will benefits pimps and traffickers and not victims. According to Janice G. Raymond of the Convention against Trafficking in Women (CATW), in her article 21 ,
there are ten reasons
21 Janice G. Raymond, 10 Reasons for Not Legalizing Prostitution, http://action.web.ca/home/catw/attach/10_Reasons_9-15-03_FINAL_[1].doc; See also Janice G. Raymond, Prostitution, Trafficking and Traumatic Stress (Mellissa Farley ed., Binghamton: Haworth Press, 2003).
for not legalizing prostitution has been mentioned. These ten reasons are: (1)Legalization of prostitution is a gift to pimps, traffickers and the sex industry because it will give legitimacy to the consumers (including third-party businessmen, brothel owners and pimps) of sex who would buy sex and would not be beneficial to the sex worker herself. Legalization will dignify only the industry but not the sex worker. (2)Legalization of prostitution and the sex industry promotes sex trafficking as there would be no method to ensure that immigrant sex-workers from other countries would voluntarily consent to their being a part of the sex industry. There is no definite mean to identify coercion or forced sex work. (3)Legalization of prostitution does not control the sex industry. It expands it. Prostitution as an industry would flourish with private entrants coming into the business. This would in turn increase the atrocities against which sex work was legalized in the first place. It could open doors for other forms of sexual exploitation such as phone sex, table-top dancing, peep shows, pornography, beer bars and so on. (4)Legalization of prostitution increases clandestine, illegal and street prostitution because many sex workers would not be eligible to register with the local authorities. Some could be minors, some could be illegal migrants, and some could have diseases such as HIV or other venereal diseases which would lead them to stay away from legalization. Many sex workers would therefore move underground
and in turn contribute to illegal sex work and street prostitution. There are many dangers of working on the street which include rape, police abuse, and substance abuse also known as occupational hazards. (5)Legalization of prostitution increases child prostitution as research shows that after sex work was legalized in Netherlands and Victoria, Australia, child prostitution has grown exorbitantly and this leads to various forms of commercial sexual exploitation of children (6)Legalization of prostitution does not protect the women in prostitution as there would be no safeguards against abuse during sexual contact. Legalization would instead benefit the client rather than the sex worker herself. (7)Legalization of prostitution increases the demand for prostitution. It encourages men to buy women for sex in a wider and more permissible range of socially acceptable settings. When such legal barriers disappear, the men forget their social and ethical barriers and view women as just sexual merchandise and this leads to commoditisation of women.
(8)Legalization of prostitution does not promote womens health as it is necessary that the clients also need to be monitored for Sexually Transmitted Diseases such as HIV/AIDS. With such mandatory health check-ups in place only for the sex workers, there is no guarantee that they will be safe from contracting any disease during their work. The enforcement of a condom policy has also failed as it is left to the sex worker herself to decide whether she
wants to practice safe-sex or not. (9)Legalization of prostitution does not enhance womens choice in terms of wages earned for their sex work. Most women do not make a rational choice of sex work to be their profession. Many are victims of trafficking and illegal pathways and land up in prostitution beyond their will. So, legalization would in turn deny them their freedom. (10)Women in systems of prostitution do not want the sex industry legalized as this would increase the risks and humiliation that is faced by the sex workers. They are definite that this would increase violence against them and they do not consider this to be their rightful profession as it destroys their life and health. Some people opine that prostitution should be made legal. They accept prostitution as a part of our society because the problem of prostitution is inevitable. The benefit of legalisation of prostitution in India will be that at least we will have a track record of sex workers and give access to medical facilities, which can control the spread of AIDS. Merits of legalisation are: (1)Legalisation of prostitution and the sex industry will stop sex trafficking. (2)Legalisation of prostitution will control the sex industry. (3)Legalisation of prostitution will decrease hidden, illegal and street prostitution. (4)Legalisation of prostitution will promote the women in prostitution as they will have rights. (5)Women in systems of prostitution want the sex industry legalized
as they are the one who suffers the most as they do not have any rights. (6)Legalisation of prostitution will promote womens health as they can have easy access to medical facilities which they do not have when it is illegal. (7)Recognizing prostitution as an economic activity, thus enabling women in India to obtain working permits as sex workers (8)Legalisation of prostitution will promote the women in prostitution as they will have rights. (9)The ILO suggests that by including prostitution as an economic sector, poor countries of South East Asia can benefit economically through the revenues generated by the industry. (10)The social stigma regarding prostitution will fade away after legalization or decriminalization, yet the shame of those in prostitution remains after legalization or decriminalization.If brothels are to be legalized, the employees should be protected like any other workers under the appropriate provincial labour standards legislation. Regulation going beyond this minimum is likely to contribute to the continued stigmatization of prostitutes and to the institutionalization of yet another working ghetto for women. Conclusion Prostitution is an enormous and important issue in India and around the globe. This research paper has attempted to explore a unique angle in prostitution by exploring how sex workers view the city of Kolkata. While sex workers in Kolkata are a heterogeneous group, a number of common aspects of experience exist. In many ways, sex work defines how sex workers experience the city of Kolkata. For many women, entering sex work is simultaneous to a new start in city life. For these women, the experience of sex work is intimately tied to migration. Additional common experiences include perceptions of work alternatives and feelings of exploitation, harassment and abuse.
The sex workers experience of city life is shaped by stigma and patriarchal social norms pertaining to womens role in society and acceptable behavior for women and girls. The stigma women experience is external (in their interactions with individuals within and outside the sex work industry), and is internalized (in how these women perceive themselves and their position in society). Certainly, many women enter sex work as a direct result of failures of the patriarchal system to protect them and maintain them. An important element of the sex workers experience is their notion of agency. While it is clear that a number of women believe that their circumstances and profession are beyond their control, groups such as the DMSC are active in Kolkata and represent an outlet for women to engage society, gain power, and fight for the rights and needs they see are important. It is important to note that the experiences of female sex workers in Kolkata are not unique. Gross human rights abuses, such as trafficking and sexual slavery, exist around the world, and in every country. These issues represent a major challenge to the universal rights of every individual and have been (unsuccessfully) addressed by global organizations including the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the International Monetary Fund[152]. Despite measures being made by all these organizations, little progress has been made to prevent involuntary and unwanted entry into sex work by millions of individuals. To date, sex work in research has mainly been presented and funded in relation to HIV/AIDS and other health consequences of the trade. While this research is valuable, it is by no means sufficient to address the issue of sex work. Aspects of sex work, including human rights abuse, and the economic and social development of women, are important fields that need to be addressed in greater detail in academic fields such as of history, social science and policy planning. Regardless of their status or experience, few (if any) women enter sex work in order to deviate from, or to openly defy social norms. The women interviewed by this author report an overwhelming desire to have alternatives to sex work, to be able to provide opportunities for their children to exit poverty, and for the basic joys of protection, security and social value. Moving forward, sex work advocates, NGOs, and governmental agencies must work together to assist women (and men) in sex work. Successful programs, like the DMSC, need to analyzed, funded and expanded. Legal measures, such as punitive laws need to be reassessed so that women are not punished for their circumstances. Greater efforts must be made to include women in the economic and social development of India.
Steps that should be taken in order to fight with prostitution: # Formal education should be made available to those victims who are still within the school going age, while non-formal education should be made accessible to adults. # The Central and State Governments in partnership with non- governmental organizations should provide gender sensitive market driven vocational training to all those rescued victims who are not interested in education. # Rehabilitation and reintegration of rescued victims being a long- term Recruitment of adequate number of trained counsellors and social workers in institutions/homes run by the government independently or in collaboration with non-governmental organizations. # Awareness generation and legal literacy on economic rights, particularly for women and adolescent girls should be taken up. # Adequate publicity, through print and electronic media including child lines and women help lines about the problem of those who have been forced into prostitution. # Culturally sanctioned practices like the system of devadasis, jogins, bhavins, etc. which provides a pretext for prostitution should be addressed suitably.