|
Fighting prostitution is a battle
September 23, 2004
There are big hopes for the new anti-prostitution laws that will go into effect
today, which will punish not only prostitutes' customers, but their pimps as
well.
Although prostitution has been clearly illegal for a long time in Korea, it has
been so pervasive in our society, to the point of becoming part of our daily
lives. This is because of non-existent police enforcement and virtually no real
punishment for either customers or their pimps.
The law that was in place only punished the powerless women involved in
prostitution. Under such conditions, prostitution spread like a poisonous
fungus while these women had to live in a blind spot of our society, where
their human rights were of the least concern.
What is even more worrisome is that so many different forms of prostitution are
being conducted that it is difficult to find a moral corner in our society, and
that more violent means of trading in human lives are being used to secure
prostitutes. The entire society is in a struggle to get rid of the problem of
prostitution.
In order to truly get rid of prostitution, the supply and demand must be cut
off at the same time. In order to help prostitutes from falling into the same
trap again, we have to provide a support system. The newly announced measures
are designed to punish those who arrange prostitution, while protecting the
victims, the prostitutes. One would like to think that this time, our efforts
to root out prostitution will bear some fruit.
Nevertheless, getting rid of prostitution won't be easy. There's a reason why
it's called the world's oldest profession.
Last year, in a phone survey, 48.5 percent of men surveyed admitted to having
bought sex. Eighty percent of them said they didn't feel any guilt.
The success of the new law depends on how much it can raise the moral standards
of our society. Already, there are worries that the new law will act as a
catalyst for new forms of prostitution to emerge.
Enforcement should be continuous and persistent. At the same time, at school
and at home, parents need to shed the awkwardness that comes with talking about
sex and teach their children that the act is a beautiful thing to share with
someone you love.
Religious groups and social organizations should also help in encouraging
healthy attitudes toward sex in Korea.
Copyright 1999-2004, AsianSexGazette.com. All rights reserved. No
content may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission.
Please contact us via the link below for re-print and syndication policies.
|
|
 |
