Prevention of prostitution falls short of expectation: conference

The prevention of prostitution has failed to meet expectation, delegates said at a conference in Hanoi on October 23 reviewing the five-year implementation of an action plan on prostitution prevention and control.

It was reported at the conference that there are more than 11,000 prostitutes on record in the country, but the actual figure may be higher as the social evil is difficult to keep under control. Hotbeds of prostitution are the Red River Delta region, the southeast region and the Mekong River Delta.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), the Government and the National Committee for Prevention and Control of AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution have required authorities of localities prone to the social evil, including Hanoi, Hai Phong, Nam DInh and Ho Chi Minh City, to take prompt action.

Ten units and 63 individuals have been disciplined for their poor performance in curbing prostitution.

Delegates reported that the enforcement of laws against prostitution is not stringent enough, adding that punishment for sex buyers is only restricted to fines payment or verbal warning, while many law stipulations are no longer suitable with reality and not effective to counter arising problems such as sex tours, foreign sex workers, male prostitutes or sex services on the Internet.

They asked for filling loopholes in laws and intervening measures by providing sex workers with equal access to social services and support to switch job, making it easier for them to reintegrate into the community.

The action plan for 2016-2020 targets that 60 percent of cities and provinces will incorporate prostitution combat into their socio-economic schemes.-VNA