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NEW DELHI: The proposal for legalizing prostitution in India will be placed before the Supreme Court constituted panel on Nov 8, National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Lalitha Kumaramangalam said on Wednesday.
"The proposal for legalizing prostitution will be put forth in the National Consultation scheduled to be held on Nov 8 by Supreme Court panel ...," Kumaramangalam said in a statement.
The apex court had constituted the panel after a public interest litigation was filed 2010 on rehabilitation of sex workers. In its order dated Aug 24, 2011, the court had directed NCW to attend the panel's meetings.
"The panel has to make certain recommendations for the possible amendments in Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) in the light of conditions conducive for sex workers to live with dignity in accordance with the provision of article 21 of the constitution," added the statement.
The Supreme Court-constituted panel would deliberate on the existing provisions of ITPA, loopholes, implementation of the law and the impact of such implementation on the sex workers and their lives.
Sex workers stand in queue to cast their votes at a polling station at Sonagachi during the last phase of Lok Sabha polls in Kolkata. (TOI Photo by Jayanta Shaw)
Kumaramangalam meanwhile denied media reports that she was planning to put forward the proposal of legalizing prostitution at the cabinet meet.
However, activists expressed concern and discontentment over the NCW's proposal.
"Legalization of prostitution goes against the International Labour Organization's (ILO) definition of 'decent work' and is considered as selling sex under distress. Instead of criminalizing the buying and selling of sex, we are giving more power to those who exploit sex workers and treat them as commodities that can be sold in a market," Ranjana Kumari, director, Centre for Social Research said in a statement.
Proposal to legalize prostitution to be placed before SC panel: NCW - The Times of India
"The proposal for legalizing prostitution will be put forth in the National Consultation scheduled to be held on Nov 8 by Supreme Court panel ...," Kumaramangalam said in a statement.
The apex court had constituted the panel after a public interest litigation was filed 2010 on rehabilitation of sex workers. In its order dated Aug 24, 2011, the court had directed NCW to attend the panel's meetings.
"The panel has to make certain recommendations for the possible amendments in Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) in the light of conditions conducive for sex workers to live with dignity in accordance with the provision of article 21 of the constitution," added the statement.
The Supreme Court-constituted panel would deliberate on the existing provisions of ITPA, loopholes, implementation of the law and the impact of such implementation on the sex workers and their lives.
Sex workers stand in queue to cast their votes at a polling station at Sonagachi during the last phase of Lok Sabha polls in Kolkata. (TOI Photo by Jayanta Shaw)
Kumaramangalam meanwhile denied media reports that she was planning to put forward the proposal of legalizing prostitution at the cabinet meet.
However, activists expressed concern and discontentment over the NCW's proposal.
"Legalization of prostitution goes against the International Labour Organization's (ILO) definition of 'decent work' and is considered as selling sex under distress. Instead of criminalizing the buying and selling of sex, we are giving more power to those who exploit sex workers and treat them as commodities that can be sold in a market," Ranjana Kumari, director, Centre for Social Research said in a statement.
Proposal to legalize prostitution to be placed before SC panel: NCW - The Times of India
