Govt. official: Prostitution crackdown and AIDS prevention need to be reconciled

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Council of Minister Sok An gives his remark at the closing 3rd National AIDS Conference.

By Chhay Sophal

In a demonstration of his understanding of some of the challenges in responding to HIV that have arisen due to the country’s new law on “Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation”, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An has urged AIDS workers to send a joint-appropriate request to the royal government to help review the law.

Speaking in his closing remarks on the final day of the three-day 3rd National AIDS Conference on 12 September, H.E Sok An, who is also Minister of the Council of Ministers, said he really understands the difficulties that strict implementation of the law causes for AIDS workers who work for HIV prevention through condom use

The anti-trafficking law was launched on 15 February this year with the aim of cracking down on crimes of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The controversial article 23 states: “Prostitution in this law shall mean having sexual intercourse with an unspecified person or other sexual conduct of all kinds in exchange for any value”.

Since the launching of the law, sex workers and AIDS activists have expressed their concerns over local police warning owners of karaoke parlors, night clubs, bars and hotels that they will be finned if their premises contain condoms. According to reports of a few NGOs, since the inception of the law many brothels have closed and sex workers are in hiding while people are afraid of talking openly about or displaying condoms. The reports said such law enforcement affects the 100 % of condom use program, and may lead to the widespread of HIV and AIDS. Some sex workers also made complaints that they were arrested by local police and asked for money for their releases.

On 4 June, a group of sex workers gathered in Phnom Penh to urge the government and lawmakers to revise the law. As a result of this law, they said, sex workers are being arrested, detained, fined and forced out of their jobs. According to the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STDs (NCHADS), there are an estimated 3,430 direct sex workers and 13,723 indirect sex workers in Cambodia.

In his reaction, H.E Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, said that sex workers had to prove that his police had committed such acts in order for the ministry to take legal action to punish them.

Based on the country’s roper custom, culture, reputation and dignity, Deputy Prime Minster So An said, prostitution is unacceptable. He, however, recognized the truth that prostitution is everywhere around the world, including Cambodia, and that “the crackdown and complete elimination of prostitution in the current situation is an absolutely impossible mission”.

Sok An said he also learnt that police had arrested some women who have condoms as police suspected that they are sex workers. Because of this, he said, sex workers are hiding in secret places where they cannot access condoms, which leads to HIV transmission. He said he had talked to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng to find an effective way for crackdown on prostitution that does not affect HIV prevention.

Sok An’s reaction was made after Ms. Erin Soto, Mission Director of USAID/Cambodia, had mentioned in her opening remark at the first day of the conference that the 100% condom use program would only remain effective if “condoms are available in all entertainment establishment”. She said cooperation is needed to “ensure implementation of the new anti-trafficking legislation does not hinder the continued success of HIV prevention program”.

Sok An compared the law enforcement and HIV prevention to taking medicine for health. “If we take much Aspirin to release headache, it can affect stomach. It is the same. If we strictly implement the law it can affect HIV prevention. Therefore, prostitution crackdown and AIDS prevention must go together. While we are keeping the country’s cultural value, we also want to have HIV prevention in the country at the same time”.