Govt makes efforts to show compassion for sex workers
- Source: The Global Times
- [20:45 May 20 2009]
- Comments
Massage girls and sex workers at entertainment venues are a highly-mobile group, said Zheng Zhiwei, director of the Beijing Association of STD & AIDS Prevention and Control. The number is uncertain. “The government has difficulty tracing them,” he said.
Zheng said governments at various levels have given more attention to female sex workers around China.
The Beijing government, for example, has launched a condom project and encouraged the installation of condom vending machines at entertainment venues to distribute condoms to those sex workers at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and STDs, he said. He said all of society should not ignore them and it is obligatory to raise the awareness of this particular group for HIV/AIDS and STD prevention.
“Massage girls in particular live in the lowest strata of the society. They have to endure the exploitation of their bosses. And they face a serious health and safety risk.”
According to the Mid-to-Long Term Plan for Prevention and Control of AIDS (1998-2010), ministries of health, public security, civil affairs, justice and education should make their own plans on how to fight AIDS and cooperate closely. The central government will provide the majority share of funding and ensure the plans are carried out. Local government should also make a budget on the project.
According to Chinese laws and regulations, those who give or receive sexual service for money will be detained for 10-15 days and also fined 5,000 yuan or less.
If the case is not serious, people involved will be detained for no more than five days or fined less than 500 yuan. Those who sleep with a girl under 14 should be charged with rape and punished severely.
The law states that people who take part in group sex activities will be detained for 10-15 days and fined 500-1,000 yuan. Pimps caught working at a public place will be detained for no more than five days or fined less than 500 yuan.
The law also states that when police conduct investigations into prostitution, drug dealing and gambling, employees of the hotel, catering, entertainment industries or taxi companies are prohibited from informing the criminals. Whoever does so will be detained for 10-15 days.
Experts said private organizations and communities are encouraged and supported by the government to provide healthcare and psychological consultation to AIDS patients, to educate sex workers on how to prevent STDs, and to raise the social tolerance of AIDS patients and their relatives.
“Community healthcare stations and disease control centers pay regular visits to hair salons, massage guesthouses, bathing centers and karaoke clubs to promote condoms and hand out flyers on AIDS prevention,” said Xiao Dong, chief of Chaoyang Chinese AIDS Volunteer Group.
“The police help with organization of these visits. The volunteer group I work for receive financial support from the health bureau and center for disease control and prevention of Chaoyang District government in Beijing.”