But she never considered herself as a prostitute, or a sex-worker. She said it
perfectly suits her as she likes her way of life. Her parents have no suspicion
about their daughter's way of earning money.
They were quite sure she goes to university and does a part-time job in a small
cafe nearby the relative's house where she temporarily resided. This is not a
sole example; there are hundreds of cases of girls with similar fate.
There are several spots where the ladies of the night gather to offer
themselves. One of them is right in the corner of Sovietskaya and Toktogula
streets. Before it used to be just the corner, now the commerce extends down to
Tynystanova street as well.
As I live nearby, sometimes I hear their loud voices and cars during the night.
The other one is in front of ZAGS, the central marriage registration institute.
Poor brides and grooms, as this is the scene they view on the first day of
their marriage.
Recently, Bishkek militia forces displayed a haunt for sexual services in
Bishkek. There are many such places where illegal prostitution prospers, and it
has become a way of business which has lasted for many years.
Some even spread this business in the porches of private homes and have clients
who know their address and telephone numbers make 'in calls'. There is much
less exploitation by the militia at the private residences, because the militia
usually cannot muscle their way in as easily as they can with freelance girls
on the street. If they close one place, another two or three will be opened
soon and resolving the problems has proved challenging.
Some make an argument for legalizing the prostitution, even though it goes
against Islamic rules and eastern mentality. With legalization, they believe,
the rights of sex-workers will be protected; they will go through regular
medical checks and receive any essential treatment in case they become ill. It
would also protect them from physical violence and mistreatment both from those
who use their services and militia that exploits them as well. It is said that
militia workers use the services for free any time they want and can also act
as pimps taking cuts of the women's earnings.
Others believe that legalizing is not right, what we need to do is to fight
against prostitution. However, fighting prostitution cannot be done through the
militia, who are already exploiting the women sexually and making money from
the trade. So, how do we really fight it? Or do we indeed have to fight it?
Prostitution remains illegal throughout much of Asia, but at the same time
seems to flourish as a blackmarket trade.
Agencies and Staff
