Taiwan to decriminalise prostitution

Radio Australia

25 June 2009

Taiwan is planning to decriminalise prostitution by revising laws punishing sex workers . It's also considering allowing red-light districts. Under existing laws, prostitutes face being detained for three days or a fine of up to 900 US dollars.

Speakers: Jung Che Chang, Collective of Sex Workers organisation

CHANG: That was announced by the Prime Minister himself. So the first is that the government will move into the direction of decriminalisation and the second is that, within 6 months, the central government will set up draft bill to manage the sex trade and then after the draft bill they will abolish the social order maintenance law, article 80 that's the law to punish the sex worker. So they will have this new law first and abolish article 80. And then the third thing is that if the local government want to set up red light district, it is up to them to decide it.

WERDEN: Is that good news for the sex workers in Taiwan?

CHANG: Yes I would say so, that was a tremendous move, after 12 years very small move but tremendous, because finally the government has made clear position on this before this they never say anything clear, they always avoided the question?

WERDEN: And what prompted the change in the government's attitude?

CHANG: I think first of all for the past 12 years, we campaigned everyday on the streets and lobby everything, that is one of the many reasons another eason is that many other social groups apart from sex workers group,they come to agree with our arguement as well and then they lobby the government and there is a new political alliance as well on decriminalisation including gay movement people and scholars and disabled people so many people join in this campaign so the government was under a lot of pressure.

WERDEN: What about the community, is the community behind the change?

CHANG: I think it depends on which community, there are 16 countys in Taiwan and three now say they want to have a red light district in their own county. In the urban area, the problem is in the urban area sex industry is everywhere but people say oh don't come to my neighbourhood, but the problem is its everywhere.

WERDEN: And how many sex workers are there in Taiwan?

CHANG: Oh that's a very difficult question, I would say at least 100,000.