Enrile, Pimentel thumb down proposed decriminalization of prostitution

At least two senators on Tuesday rejected the United Nations’ proposal to decriminalize prostitution in the Philippines, saying what works in other countries may not work in the country. “Hindi naman tayo dapat sunud-sunuran sa kagustuhan ng United Nations. Kung kagustuhan ng ibang bansa na maging prostitutes ang lahat ng kanilang kababaihan, bahala sila. Pero palagay ko naman dito sa atin ayaw natin,” said Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. He added he is not likely to support such proposal. “There are many complexities about it. But we are willing to listen to the arguments. But to say offhand I am in favor of it, I am not. I have to be convinced,” Enrile said. Sen. Koko Pimentel, for his part, believed decriminalizing prostitution in the country will not yield the same results as in other countries. “Let us not just copy the policies and laws of other countries. Sa more developed countries, ‘yung prostitutes nila nagiging prostitutes dahil sa sarili nilang decision, voluntarily. Ang tanong, is that the case in the Philippines?” he said. “Kahit i-legalize natin ‘yung prostitution dito, ‘yung objective ay hindi natin ma-achieve dahil hindi pareho ang situation. I don’t think the Filipino electorate, as well as the policy-makers, are ready for such a radical proposal to legalize prostitution. Personally hindi ako pabor,” he added.   In a recent report, the UN recommended the decriminalization of the world’s oldest profession in the Asia and the Pacific Region to help curb the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV. The UN said the criminalization of sex-related jobs increases workers’ susceptibility to HIV by “fuelling stigma and discrimination, limiting access to sexual health services, condoms and harm reduction services; and adversely affecting the self esteem of sex workers and their ability to make informed choices about their health.” The recommendation is also a move to stop the exploitation of sex workers and to give them basic rights by suggesting that their jobs, too, should have typical workplace standards in line with the law and government. — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News