adminThe Herald, July 3, 1981
THE Deputy Minister of Community Development and Women’s Affairs, Dr Naomi Nhiwatiwa, says prostitution creates a misconception of women’s sexuality and has many undesirable consequences.
Addressing a meeting of women in Fort Victoria this week, she said that while a great stigma is attached to women who are prostitutes, it is, in fact, men who create the demand, reports ZIS.
Young girls were recruited in the villages and promised jobs in the cities without knowing they were being trapped.
She suggested this could be curbed by organising skilled training for young women in both urban and rural areas.
Dr Nhiwatiwa said that besides the moral issue, prostitution broke up the family and degenerated women.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Prostitution is regarded as the world’s oldest tradition dating back to 2400 BC in ancient Babylonia.
While a lot of women engage in prostitution because of various reasons chiefly raising money to fend for themselves and their families, the practice comes at a great risk to their health and safety. Most prostitutes are at higher risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual or physical violence and incarceration since the practice is considered a crime in most countries.
Although women are blamed for prostitution, it is common that prostitution thrives because men go out to look for prostitutes, therefore, they should also be held accountable for perpetrating prostitution. If men stop paying or hiring the services of prostitutes, the practice will die down.
Prostitution should not be tolerated as it has given rise to serious crimes such as sex trade, human trafficking involving women and girls from poor countries and child prostitution in some instances.
Online Reporter