Malawi not ready to legalize prostitution – Justice Ministry
Sex workers who would like to see government legalise the trade will live to regret as government has no plans to draft a policy to legalise prostitution in the country.
Government has since maintained its stand that prostitution is illegal.
Public Relationship Officer (PRO) for the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Apoche Itimu said sex workers were operating illegally in the country.
Itimu said despite increasing cases of new HIV infections among the sex workers government was not ready to draft a regulation to allow people practice prostitution.
“Government cannot allow legalising prostitution in the country,” she said.
Media in the country reported recently that according to a National Aids Commission (NAC) report of 2010, among the people who were infected with HIV and Aids in the country, 70.1 percent were women who were living on prostitution.
The report on the other hand proposed to government to legalise prostitution.
The PRO wondered why a lot of women are indulging themselves in prostitution knowing that it was morally bad and ended most of the sex workers infected with various Sexually Transmitted Diseases like HIV.
But Itimu r explained of an HIV bill that is being prepared and that once the bill is passed out, it will help in reducing the rate of prostitution.
Dr. Drafta Khembo who is an HIV/ AIDS programs manager in the Department of public service management confirmed that 70.1 percent of sex workers were HIV positive.
“We really need serious action to curb the problem,” Khembo explained.
Florence Banda, 27, of Area 23, in Lilongwe who ekes a living on prostitution said they are forced to do so due lack of resources in terms of money.
“We are in this trade because we need money for our living.
“My parents died when I was very young, ever since I have been living in my village until 2009 when a friend told me about prostitution and that became the turn of my life,” Banda explained.
“When I came here in Lilongwe life became a little bit simple with the money that I am from my business,” said Banda.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
