Vietnam clamps down on prostitution
The Vietnamese authorities have released
figures showing that since 1994 the police
have arrested more than 40,000 brothel
owners.
The Prime Minister,
Phan Van Khai, has
outlined an action
programme aimed to
reduce prostitution
levels over the next
five years.
Since Vietnam opened
up its economy ten
years ago, an
increasing number of
prostitutes have
started working,
especially in Ho Chi Minh City.
Over the last six years 11,000 brothels have
been shut down, according to government
figures.
And in Ho Chi Minh City nearly 1,000
prostitutes were sent to re-education camps
during the year 2000.
Officials say this refers to attempts to give sex
workers training so that they can find different
forms of employment.
Another Bangkok
The government has repeatedly expressed its
concern about prostitution but so far has been
unable to prevent the growth of the sex
industry.
There are fears that Ho
Chi Minh City could
become the next
Bangkok, attracting
foreign sex tourists.
The new government
programme is going to
focus on reducing
prostitution levels at
tourist sites.
It's hoped it will also
persuade young
people, especially
students, not to become prostitutes.
Clients
The government then plans to concentrate its
education programmes on the prostitutes'
customers, especially those who are
employees of state companies.
It is concerned not
only because
prostitution is
considered to be a
social evil in Vietnam,
but also because of
the threat of Aids.
The United Nations has
estimated that over
the next five years
200,000 Vietnamese
people will be
diagnosed with HIV.
As things stand, most Aids sufferers in Vietnam
are intravenous drug users but sex workers
also face a high chance of contracting the
illness.
By Owen Bennett-Jones - BBC News service - January 4, 2001.
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