Women’s rights groups accused the government yesterday of failing to produce constructive policies on prostitution, ignoring the “structural evil” of the sex trade and seeking to establish red-light districts.
They said the Cabinet’s decision in July to amend the Social Order Maintenance Act (社會秩序維護法) to legalize prostitution within special zones disregarded the views of all five municipalities in the country.
At a press conference held under the theme “When Will Structural Evil End?” the group leaders called on voters to reject presidential and legislative candidates who support the prostitution bill.
Hung Ya-li (洪雅莉), a researcher with the Garden of Hope Foundation, said case studies conducted by the foundation have found that most teenage girls forced into prostitution in Taiwan are victims of poverty, domestic violence, incest, alcoholism or drugs.
Chi Hui-jung (紀惠容), a chief executive of the foundation, said these women were the victims of bad policies, rising consumerism and poor support systems within family, educational and social structures.
Taiwan Women’s Link secretary-general Tsai Wan-fen (蔡宛芬) said the situation of women falling into prostitution because of poverty reflects the government’s incompetence and negligence.
The central government is now attempting to cover its incompetence by pushing the controversial amendment to legalize prostitution within designated zones, Tsai said.
In its review of the amendment, the legislature should insert a clause to fine patrons of the sex trade rather than prostitutes, she said.
According to the amendment approved by the Cabinet on July 13, people found engaging in the sex trade outside the designated brothel zones will be subject to fines of up to NT$30,000.
The current law prohibits sex work on the grounds that it adversely affects social norms.
The maximum penalty for prostitution is three days in jail or a fine of NT$30,000.
Patronization of prostitutes is not listed as an offense.
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