Prostitution in Myanmar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Prostitution in Myanmar is a major social issue that particularly affects women and children.

Myanmar is a major source of prostitutes (an estimate of 20-30,000) in Thailand, with the majority of women trafficked taken to Ranong, which borders Myanmar at its south and Mae Sai, which is located at the eastern tip of Myanmar.^[1][2] The majority of Burmese prostitutes in Thailand are from ethnic minorities.^[2] Myanmar is also a source country of sex workers and forced labourers in China, Bangladesh, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Korea, Macau, and Japan.^[3] Internal trafficking of women for the purpose of prostitution occurs from rural villages to urban centres, military camps, border towns, and fishing villages.^[3]

Women are often lured to prostitution with the promise of legitimate jobs, substantially higher pay, and because their low educational levels makes it difficult for them to find jobs elsewhere. In many instances, such women come from remote regions.^[4]

In Yangon, prostitution often occurs in hotels that also operate as brothels. The recent appearance of massage parlours began in 1995, with ethnic minority groups such as the Wa running such businesses in particular.^[5] Nightclubs are also frequented by prostitutes in Yangon, who work independently.^[6]

[edit] Legality

Prostitution was banned in 1785, during the early Konbaung dynasty period.^[7]

Under the Suppression of Prostitution Act, which was enacted in 1949, the act of soliciting or seducing in public is illegal, as is forcing or enticing women into prostitution or owning brothels. The Penal Code guarantees protection of female children from sexual abuse, with any persons found having sexual intercourse with a girl of under 14 years charged (with or without consent) charged with rape. The Child Law, enacted in 1993, raised the age of consensual sex to 16 and illegalizes prostitution. The Child Law also makes it a punishable offence to use children in the creation of pornographic materials. However, no laws currently protect boys.^[8]

[edit] HIV/AIDS

Main article: HIV/AIDS in Myanmar

Myanmar has the third highest HIV prevalence rate in Asia, after Cambodia and Thailand. Sex workers are particularly at risk, with 32% infected with the disease.^[9]

[edit] References

1. ^ Barry, Kathleen. The Prostitution of Sexuality. NYU Press. ISBN ISBN 0-8147-1277-0. 
2. ^ ^{a b} WOMEN (HTML). Burma: Country in Crisis. Soros (October 2005). Retrieved on January 11, 2007.
3. ^ ^{a b} V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G (HTML). Trafficking in Persons Report. Retrieved on January 11, 2007.
4. ^ Chelala, Cesar. Women, prostitution, and AIDS (HTML). THE STATE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH. Retrieved on January 11, 2007.
5. ^ Aung Zaw. "No Sex Please—We’re Burmese", The Irrawaddy, 2001-02-01. Retrieved on January 11, 2007.
6. ^ O'Connell, Chris. "Burma à la Mode", The Irrawaddy, 2003-10-08. Retrieved on January 11, 2007.
7. ^ Thant Myint-U (2001). The Making of Modern Burma. Cambridge University Press. ISBN ISBN 0-5217-9914-7. 
8. ^ Burma - Government laws (HTML). HumanTrafficking.org. Retrieved on January 11, 2007.
9. ^ Asia (PDF). UNAIDS (December 2006). Retrieved on January 9, 2007.