International Day of No Prostitution

International Day of No Prostitution

"As activists, we have a duty to imagine a world without sexual exploitation, as we have learned to imagine a world without slavery, apartheid and oppression."

In the Philippines, prostituted women are criminalized yet the abusers in the system remain free from accountability. Those who profit and gain from the industry include the recruiters, pimps, establishment owners, promoters, and the buyers/customers.

The state has long reneged on its responsibility to protect the human rights of women, being complacent in the existence of prostitution as a catch-basin for those unemployed. The government continues to be cynical to violence in the homes, without laws to criminalize domestic abuse, even as sexual abuse in particular push more women to prostitution. Worse, the state has profited from the system as local governments continue to license and gain from taxes paid by prostitution establishments and extract from the prostituted women. Further, as less companies comply to the Minimum Wage Law and the unemployment crisis is not met squarely, the women’s options continue to narrow. Globalist policies, too, have aggravated the trade and commodification of women’s bodies – across countries and domestically. Finally, the state’s embracing US troops contributed to the exposure of the women to further prostitution.

It is high time that the state – law enforcers, in particular – should be held accountable for abusing the women further. Policies condoning and contributing to the sexual exploitation of women have to be opposed. Together with women still in prostitution and those who survive it, we call on the public to shift the blame from the women victimized to those who gain from prostitution. Policies need to be changed towards de-criminalizing the prostituted women. Instead, the state should criminalize the perpetrators of sexual exploitation. Thus, the Anti-Vagrancy Act should be repealed immediately. Alternative sources of income, education and opportunities for economic empowerment should be made available to women. Support services for education, health and housing of the women should be provided.

The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific also call on men to stop buying or selling anyone for sex, and for them to create ways and organize to stop prostitution and sexual exploitation of women. On the International Day of No Prostitution, for at least a day, let us direct our resources to survivors’ groups and save the women from one day of sexual exploitation.

Activities:

9-12 AM Press Conference, Annabelle’s Restaurant, Tomas Morato

Speakers: Bukluran ng Kababaihan sa Lansangan, Buklod – Olongapo City,

Saligan (on the Anti-Vagrancy Act and Anti-Prostitution Act)

1-4 PM Educational Discussions on Prostitution: Makalaya and BUKAL offices

5-7 PM March around Quezon Memorial Circle to mark the IDNP