Govt agency on women calls for decriminalization of prostitution in PHL | News | GMA News Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere
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The government's policy-making body on gender equality and women’s empowerment is echoing the United Nations' call for the decriminalization of prostitution.
The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) views prostitution as an exploitative system that commodifies and dehumanizes women, men and children who are being victimized within the system, PCW Executive Director Emmeline Verzosa said in a statement.
“As a form of sexual exploitation, prostitution violates a person’s human rights and it reinforces the subordinate status of the more vulnerable individuals who are more often than not, women and children,” Verzosa said.
“We are advocating for the decriminalization of prostituted persons so that they will no longer be arrested, treated and fined like criminals, but we are not in favor of legalizing prostitution,” she added.
Earlier this month, the UN recommended the decriminalization of the world's oldest profession in the Asia and the Pacific Region to help curb the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
The UN said the criminalization of sex-related jobs increases workers’ susceptibility to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by “fuelling stigma and discrimination, limiting access to sexual health services, condoms and harm reduction services; and adversely affecting the self esteem of sex workers and their ability to make informed choices about their health.”
Shift criminal liability to exploiters
The recommendation is also a move to stop the exploitation of sex workers and to give them basic rights by suggesting that their jobs, too, should have typical workplace standards in line with the law and government.
According to Verzosa, treating persons in prostitution as criminals will lead to further discrimination and abuse; programs that provide restitution and renewal for an alternative lifestyle and livelihood for the prostituted person should be put in place.
“[Programs] should go hand in hand with the apprehension and prosecution of agents, recruiters, traffickers, pimps, procurers, establishment owners, customers and others who derive sexual gratification, financial gain and advancement, or any other benefit from the prostitution of others, said Verzosa.
“PCW supports the anti-prostitution bills in Congress which shift the criminal liability from the prostituted persons, to those who 'buy' and make profit from such transactions,” Verzosa said.
Verzosa urged the government and the general public to examine the issue of prostitution and the HIV epidemic in a broader context.
“We should go beyond looking at prostitution as the reason for the spread of HIV, thereby placing greater risk of discrimination for the prostituted person. Instead, we should prioritize the implementation of existing laws and policies aimed at addressing HIV and AIDS. Funding support should also be given to programs on prevention of HIV as well as treatment, care and support for people living with HIV and AIDS,” Verzosa said.
Church, 2 senators oppose proposal
Earlier, a Catholic prelate expressed his opposition to the UN's recommendation to decriminalize prostitution.
According to Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chair of Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action Justice and Peace, decriminalizing prostitution will only worsen promiscuity in the Philippines.
Pabillo also insists that there is no certainty that HIV and AIDS will be prevented once prostitution will be decriminalized or legalized.
“Hindi tama ang kanilang premise na kapag ma-legalize ang prostitusyon ay maiiwasan ang sakit na HIV-AIDS. Kahit sa ibang bansa na ligal ito ay laganap pa rin ang HIV-AIDS at mas malala pa yung promiscuity," Pabillo explained in an interview with Radyo Veritas.
“Kasi ang problema ng mga pananaw lalo na ng UN ay hindi nakikita yung values. Yung behavior ng mga tao at sa ating paninindigan sa Simbahan," he added.
At least two senators have also rejected the United Nations’ proposal to decriminalize prostitution in the Philippines, saying what works in other countries may not work in the country.
“Hindi naman tayo dapat sunud-sunuran sa kagustuhan ng United Nations. Kung kagustuhan ng ibang bansa na maging prostitutes ang lahat ng kanilang kababaihan, bahala sila. Pero palagay ko naman dito sa atin ayaw natin,” said Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
He added he is not likely to support such proposal.
“There are many complexities about it. But we are willing to listen to the arguments. But to say offhand I am in favor of it, I am not. I have to be convinced,” Enrile said.
Sen. Koko Pimentel, for his part, believed decriminalizing prostitution in the country will not yield the same results as in other countries.
“Let us not just copy the policies and laws of other countries. Sa more developed countries, ‘yung prostitutes nila nagiging prostitutes dahil sa sarili nilang decision, voluntarily. Ang tanong, is that the case in the Philippines?” he said.
“Kahit i-legalize natin ‘yung prostitution dito, ‘yung objective ay hindi natin ma-achieve dahil hindi pareho ang situation. I don’t think the Filipino electorate, as well as the policy-makers, are ready for such a radical proposal to legalize prostitution. Personally hindi ako pabor,” he added. — Amanda Fernandez/BM, GMA News.
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