Great news for punters, a committee drafting a new law governing prostitution has agreed that voluntary sexual service without criminal penalties ought to be allowed from the age of 20. Jintana Chanbamroong, head of the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development on the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, chaired the committee drafting the model new regulation.
The new law is a landmark flip in Thailand’s stance on prostitution, the proliferation of which might be the country’s worst-kept secret. The new law, initially called the Draft Act for the Protection of Sexual Services B.E., would function a replacement for the current Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, B.E. 2539 enacted in 1996.
Public and focus group hearings had been held in five cities before a proposal was tabled to Social Development and Human Security Minister Juti Krairiksh.
The committee’s major priority was to safeguard and legalise impartial sex employees who are at least 20 years previous and supply sexual providers voluntarily. It would still be illegal to interact in sexual relations with prostitutes beneath 20 years of age. Also not legal beneath the new draft, and migrant staff would be barred from partaking in prostitution.
Freelancers shall be granted employment rights and welfare advantages, with out being labelled as intercourse staff. They may also have entry to fair compensation but are required to endure well being assessments to verify they are free from any communicable illnesses.
The new draft makes clear that it applies only to voluntary providers and that the federal government still takes a hardline stance on pressured prostitution. Procurement and trafficking or coercion to force a girl into prostitution would nonetheless be a violation of the Human Trafficking Act.
Operators of brothels might be mandated to function inside designated areas, particularly avoiding locations close to academic or spiritual establishments, and adhering to guidelines for safeguarding their workers who provide sexual services.
Anyone involved in luring or coercing someone underneath 20 into prostitution would face criminal prosecution. This includes dad and mom being aware of illegal prostitution actions involving their children.
Complete , abuse, torture, threatening, and forcing of people to enter prostitution will still be investigated and harshly prosecuted.
The committee reviewed prostitution laws in various international locations to identify an acceptable normal for Thailand to adopt. After cautious consideration, they chose to follow the example of New Zealand’s law that decriminalized prostitution. New Zealand lawfully legalized sex work in 2003, allowing any individual 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 legislation whereas keeping a cautious consideration of not damaging Thailand’s status. The draft law is anticipated to be accomplished and tabled to the new government around August this year..