VietNamNet Bridge – The number of sex workers and “hotspots of prostitution” are on the rise, but the number of cases sent to trial is falling, according to information released at a conference reviewing 10 years of implementation of the ordinance on fighting prostitution in HCM City yesterday.

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At the meeting, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huu Nghia of the HCM City Police Agency said the “hotspots of prostitution” in the city are the roads of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Hai Ba Trung, Dong Du (District 1), where there are many restaurants and service centers, and the roads of Hoang Sa (District 1), Tu Xuong, Nguyen Thong, Hai Ba Trung (District 3) where there is public prostitution.

Mr. Huynh Thanh Khiet, Deputy Director of the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that prostitution acts now also include sexually arousing services at cafes, karaoke bars and barber’s shops. Many prostitution rings of actresses and models have been uncovered.

Prostitution related to men and transgendered individuals has increased, but the law on prostitution prevention does not cover these subjects. Online and cellphone prostitution brokerage, advertisements and sex tours have appeared.

HCM City has over 29,000 service business establishments. Random inspections have revealed that more than 53% of them provided prostitution services.

"Although thousands of establishments have been punished, prostitution is still expanding," Khiet said.

He said the main cause of the situation is the economic downturn and high unemployment rate. Furthermore, the prostitution prevention measures have not been effective.

Ho Chi Minh City is also considered a hotspot for HIV/AIDS, with nearly 60,000 cases of HIV infection, mainly concentrated in the age group of 30-39. Of these, 22% got the disease from prostitution.

Admitting that the number of prostitutes in HCM City is the highest in the country, the city’s Vice Chair Hua Ngoc Thuan recommended that the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs should have more suitable policies on prostitution prevention.

Since 2003, HCMC police have worked with the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to seize 4,468 prostitutes and clients of prostitutes.

Between 2003 and 2012, the city's Women Education and Vocational Training Centre in Thu Duc District and Phu Nghia Education and Social Labour Centre in Binh Phuoc Province took in 3,909 prostitutes.

Of these, 3,823 integrated into society after 18 months of treatment and vocational training at the centres.

The Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has also worked with the Women's Union and AIDS Prevention Committee to carry out three models to assist the women to integrate into society.

In one model, peer-education workers who are ex-prostitutes provide information about HIV/AIDS prevention, reproductive health and sexual disease prevention.

They also deliver condoms and syringes to street prostitutes and to female prostitutes working in restaurants.

The peer-education model last year helped reduce HIV transmission among street prostitutes by 4 per cent compared to 2009, according to the AIDS Prevention Committee.

The two remaining models include a club of women who have given up prostitution, drugs and card playing, and an assistance model for human trafficking victims and former prostitutes undergoing societal integration.

These two models mainly focus on providing small loans to the women to do business, in addition to vocational training and job recruitment. 

Le Ha