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USFK to combat prostitution near bases
By Yoon Won-sup
September 22, 2004
With a special law on the sex industry set to take effect Wednesday, the United
States Forces Korea (USFK) has begun actively eliminating prostitution near its
bases, according to the U.S. military newspaper Tuesday.
"U.S. military officials in South Korea say they embarked on an aggressive
program to combat the sex trade and human trafficking," the Stars and Stripes
reported.
The USFK will take various steps, including increasing both uniformed and
non-unformed patrols in known sex-trade enclaves, putting suspect
establishments and even entire neighborhoods on ``off limits’’ lists, and
creating a human trafficking hotline for service members to report suspected
cases.
USFK commander Gen. Leon LaPorte testified about military efforts to combat
human trafficking in a Tuesday briefing before the U.S. House of
Representatives’ committee on armed services.
The commander stressed cooperation with host countries as being important in
addressing the issue of human trafficking and prostitution.
A USFK official said U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz also called
for the elimination of prostitution.
According to an investigation headed by Joseph Schmitz, U.S. Department of
Defense inspector general, USFK service members were encouraged to further
their understanding of human trafficking problems.
South Korea’s new law on prostitution was designed to strengthen punishment for
sex buyers and brokers and protect sex workers.
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