Gabriela Solon warns Legalization of Prostitution is Legalization of Slavery, Exploitation

Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan today warned against proposals to legalize prostitution in the Philippines following a statement from the United Nations recommending the legalization of prostitution amid an increase in HIV cases in the country.

“The legalization of prostitution will not in anyway ensure the protection of women, children and men forced to engage in the flesh trade. Legalization will not guarantee protection against sexually transmitted infection and HIV.”

The Gabriela solon also said that it has been their experience working with prostituted women in Davao City through Talikala to help ensure protection from infection and HIV. This is done by increasing women’s awareness and education as well as ensuring women’s access to health services.

Ilagan instead proposes for Congress to enact legislation to decriminalize rather than legalize prostitution by introducing amendments to the Revised Penal Code. "Our present laws seek to penalize only the women engaged in prostitution. Prostituted women are treated as criminals rather than victims of poverty and gender inequality. Our laws do not penalize pimps, bar owners and operators or those who pay to use and abuse these women."

“Prostitution is a highly organized exploitative system. Legalization would only give pimps, owners of prostitution dens and their customers the leverage to further exploit women as well as children and minors.” #