Great news for punters, a committee drafting a model new law governing prostitution has agreed that voluntary sexual service without criminal penalties must be allowed from the age of 20. Jintana Chanbamroong, head of the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development at the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, chaired the committee drafting the model new law.
The new law is a landmark turn in Thailand’s stance on prostitution, the proliferation of which is probably the country’s worst-kept secret. The new legislation, initially known as the Draft Act for the Protection of Sexual Services B.E., would serve as a alternative for the present Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, B.E. 2539 enacted in 1996.
Public and focus group hearings were held in 5 cities earlier than a proposal was tabled to Social Development and Human Security Minister Juti Krairiksh.
The committee’s primary precedence was to safeguard and legalise independent sex workers who are no much less than 20 years previous and supply sexual services voluntarily. Untold would still be illegal to interact in sexual relations with prostitutes under 20 years of age. Also not authorized underneath the model new draft, and migrant workers could be barred from partaking in prostitution.
Freelancers shall be granted employment rights and welfare advantages, with out being labelled as intercourse employees. They may even have entry to truthful compensation but are required to endure well being assessments to confirm they are free from any communicable sicknesses.
The new draft makes clear that it applies only to voluntary services and that the government nonetheless takes a hardline stance on forced prostitution. Procurement and trafficking or coercion to drive a woman into prostitution would still be a violation of the Human Trafficking Act.
Operators of brothels might be mandated to operate inside designated areas, specifically avoiding locations near instructional or religious establishments, and adhering to tips for safeguarding their workers who provide sexual services.
Anyone involved in luring or coercing somebody beneath 20 into prostitution would face criminal prosecution. This includes dad and mom being conscious of unlawful prostitution actions involving their youngsters.
The detention, abuse, torture, threatening, and forcing of people to enter prostitution will nonetheless be investigated and harshly prosecuted.
The committee reviewed prostitution legal guidelines in various countries to identify an appropriate normal for Thailand to adopt. After cautious consideration, they chose to follow the instance of New Zealand’s regulation that decriminalized prostitution. New Zealand lawfully legalized sex work in 2003, allowing any particular person aged 18 or above to buy or provide sexual companies.
The committee will push forward with analysing the societal and financial effects of the draft regulation while keeping a cautious consideration of not damaging Thailand’s reputation. The draft legislation is expected to be accomplished and tabled to the new government round August this 12 months..