Plans for a ‘sex trade strategy’ workshop
IT’S time to face up the reality that the country’s illicit sex trade has led to human rights abuses, and to discuss whether prostitution needs to be legalised, the new Interior Minister told Cyprus Today.
Ayşegül Baybars Kadri said that “up to now all former governments have turned a blind eye for years to the illicit sex trade, which involves a series of human rights abuses”, and pledged that her ministry would take steps to bring an end to this “hidden” issue.
Work has already begun on drafting new legal measures and a workshop to draw up a “sex trade strategy” is planned for April with the participation of government officials, experts, academics and civil society representatives.
The move follows the minister’s recent launch of a crackdown on nightclubs, widely viewed as places where sexual services are bought and sold, despite prostitution and living of the earnings of vice being illegal.
There are currently 35 operative nightclubs and three pubs, employing “hostesses” who international and local reports say may be the victims of forced prostitution and trafficking, as well as rights abuses including confiscation of their passports, compulsory health checks and limits on their freedom of movement.
Mrs Baybars Kadri said the new government had decided to launch its countrywide crackdown before deciding whether clubs seeking renewal of their licences met the requirements of the Legislation on Nightclubs and Entertainment Places.
“Previously nightclubs saw their licences renewed once they paid the fee,” she said.
“When you look at the existing legislation, you can see that there are some discrepancies between the theory and the reality of granting permits to the nightclubs, yet as a state where rule of law prevails we are obliged to abide by the law. That’s why we can only implement the rules [that exist] until we amend them,” she said.
Mrs Baybars Kadri said inspections had so far thrown up issues involving hygiene, work permits and accommodation, while legal investigations had also been launched against a Gazimagusa venue where prostitution had been identified.
However she added: “Existing law does not envisage closure of the venue for prostitution.”
Acknowledging the inadequacy of the current law to address such illegality or curb rights abuses, she said: “It’s time to talk about the issue, and whether the sex trade needs to be legalised or not.
“We do not have an answer to this question right now, but we believe this social issue, involving all parts of society, needs to be discussed with all sides.
“We will amend the existing legislation in light of a report to be drawn up at the workshop [in April].”
Her personal view was that decriminalisation of the sex trade could allow the authorities to regulate the sector, and she commented: “Prohibiting prostitution would not yield the right results. We need to find a way which would ensure that both people’s working and human rights are protected.”
Mrs Baybars Kadri added that the ministry was also being tipped off about alleged illegal sex acts at venues other than nightclubs. The information was “being evaluated” and any necessary action would be taken by district offices.