NCW Chief Wants Legalization of Sex Work
Shrimathi Lalitha Kumaramangalam , Chairperson of the
National Commission for Women (NCW) issued a clarification regarding media report titled “ NCW chief wants legalization of sex work”
published in “The Hindu” on 28th Oct., 2014.
The media report stated “The
Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), Lalitha Kumaramangalam,
has advocated legalising sex work to regulate the trade and ensure better
living conditions for women engaged in commercial sex work. Legalizing the
trade, she says, will also bring down trafficking in women and lower the
incidence of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Ms. Kumaramangalam said she would put forth
the proposal at the empowered committee meeting of the Cabinet on November, 8.”
Reacting
to the report, the NCW Chief clarified
that she has been misquoted by the newspaper regarding putting forth the
proposal at the empowered Committee meeting of the Cabinet on November 8. She said that she mentioned about putting
forth the issue in the National Consultation
scheduled to be held on 8.11.2014 by Supreme Court Panel constituted by Supreme
Court with reference to the PIL which was converted from appeal of 2010
Budhadev Karmaskar Vs. State of West Bengal to assist the court. Hon’ble Supreme Court vide its
order dated 24.8.2011 directed NCW to attend the meetings of the panel. The
panel has to make certain recommendations for the possible amendments in
Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 [ITPA] in the light of third term of
reference, i.e., “conditions conductive for sex workers to live with dignity in
accordance with the provision of Article 21 of the Constitution’’.
She further clarified that the statement was given with reference to the meeting which 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.
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