News Forum - Committee proposes law legalizing prostitution over 20

[Thaiger]

Great news for punters, as a committee drafting a new law governing prostitution has agreed that voluntary sexual service without criminal penalties should be allowed from the age of 20. Jintana Chanbamroong, head of the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development at the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, chaired the committee drafting the …

The story Committee proposes law legalizing prostitution over 20 as seen on Thaiger News.

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[Shade_Wilder]

 

This is wonderful news, potentially. I say "potentially" as a law is simply words on paper unless there is true implementation and enforcement.

The biggest risk(s) to this, and likely to almost any law enacted in Thailand, are the police. Will they allow a reasonable law to be passed? While I don't have solid evidence, it is widely assumed (I think correctly) that the police control the working girls in the Kingdom; will they allow for reasonable laws to take hold? Secondly, if/when a law is enacted, will the police enforce it properly and/or reasonably?

Sadly, it is quite difficult to assume that either of the risks above will be addressed fairly or professionally; in its grossest form, one has to ask what are the financial benefits for the police to do the right thing?

However, trying to be optimistic, a law legalizing the sex workers will be a good first step on a journey to a better life for the girls (a good, good thing) and will likely help those poor souls at the bottom end of the business the most. I think that the girls in Patong, Walking Street Pattaya, Soi Cowboy and the like all have an ecosystem around themselves; I can't imagine the powerlessness of the poor girl in an out-of-the-way honky-tonk in Nakhon Nowhere.

Although I don't partake anymore, my time spent with the girls back in the day was a blast; I only want good things for them. If a law finally makes it to the Royal Gazette, it can be improved later. And finally, if a law gets passed, I suspect that the girls will see a gradual but steady improvement in their lives; if they can get through the worst of the darkness, imagine what they are capable if they are allowed into the sunlight?

I vote for the girls!

 

[HolyCowCm]

Why is it always 20 yrs old and above? And figures as looks like is only designated for Thai girls legally allowed to spread their legs.

[Pinetree]

14 minutes ago, HolyCowCm said:

Why is it always 20 yrs old and above? And figures as looks like is only designated for Thai girls legally allowed to spread their legs.

you can hardly pass a law that acknowledges illegality,  after that law is enacted, that is illogical. One new law can't over turn an existing law unless that is also included in the new provisions. It is not included in this case. 

[HolyCowCm]

1 minute ago, Pinetree said:

you can hardly pass a law that acknowledges illegality,  after that law is enacted, that is illogical. 

Illogical and Thailand used in one sentence works quite well.

[kalyan]

In my opinion, Legalizing's Prostitution is bad for developing society, bad for Buddhism, bad for land of smiles.

when the world marches forward  with various job opportunities, Thailand marching back ward to oldest business model is certainly bad.

The government has to come with more business and job opportunities, rather than encouraging individuals to start their own business.

When it comes to society, in general quick money business such as prostitution will break even further the traditional families and society, as the ladies will jump into the quick trade rather than work or living in families.

How Buddhism is going to bring up this country with a encouraged individual business, how they will instil good behavior and good society.

 

 

 

 

[Ramanathan.P]

It is good that Thailand is finally considering legallizing the world's oldest profession. This is a good move and better protection for those service providers without being harassed or black mailed in the name of law

[Dancbmac]

1 hour ago, kalyan said:

In my opinion, Legalizing's Prostitution is bad for developing society, bad for Buddhism, bad for land of smiles.

when the world marches forward  with various job opportunities, Thailand marching back ward to oldest business model is certainly bad.

The government has to come with more business and job opportunities, rather than encouraging individuals to start their own business.

When it comes to society, in general quick money business such as prostitution will break even further the traditional families and society, as the ladies will jump into the quick trade rather than work or living in families.

How Buddhism is going to bring up this country with a encouraged individual business, how they will instil good behavior and good society.

So in your opinion instead of legalizing Thailand should keep the “status quo” and though illegal just have the authorities look the other way with some lining their wallets to do that?

You say the world is marching forward, but prostitution is worldwide and not just Thailand.

Any suggestions what business and job opportunities the government should come up with?  In my opinion maybe concentrate on improving education first, usually a government thing, to be able to have qualified educated workforce to pursue and fill & or create new global employment opportunies.  A few years ago I lived in Las Vegas and some of the ladies that work as escorts make over $200,000 a year. Many started while in college to pay for school tuition and continued as escorts after graduating with a degree, but they made way too much money to work at a traditional business.

I would say uneducated and poor people with no other opportunities might not have the pristine “tradional family” you have described. Sometimes is basic survival which drives many ladies into quick trade.  Alcoholism & drugs and a male Thai culture of the boyfreind/husband that dumps their lady with a couple of kids for a new younger lady to start the cycle over & over.  Obviously not 100% of the ladies, but if you have been to the tourist bar areas and massage shops which may be the majority areas this new law maybe implemented, that story has been repeated often and the ladies had kids back home in their province that they have to feed.

I don’t understand what you mean “How Buddhism is going to bring up this country with a encouraged individual business, how they will instil good behavior and good society”?  Buddhism has been here in Thailand longer than Christianity and Thailand has been poorer than western societies so what or how is the relationship of the religion & encouraged individual business?  Overall in my experience, Buddhism does seem to instill good behavior and a good society as the people of Thailand are generally good people, including ladies that are involved in this topic, unless under the influence of drugs and/or excess alcohol.

Just asking for clarification and ideas

[JohninDublin]

3 hours ago, Shade_Wilder said:

This is wonderful news, potentially. I say "potentially" as a law is simply words on paper unless there is true implementation and enforcement.

The biggest risk(s) to this, and likely to almost any law enacted in Thailand, are the police. Will they allow a reasonable law to be passed? While I don't have solid evidence, it is widely assumed (I think correctly) that the police control the working girls in the Kingdom; will they allow for reasonable laws to take hold? Secondly, if/when a law is enacted, will the police enforce it properly and/or reasonably?

Sadly, it is quite difficult to assume that either of the risks above will be addressed fairly or professionally; in its grossest form, one has to ask what are the financial benefits for the police to do the right thing?

However, trying to be optimistic, a law legalizing the sex workers will be a good first step on a journey to a better life for the girls (a good, good thing) and will likely help those poor souls at the bottom end of the business the most. I think that the girls in Patong, Walking Street Pattaya, Soi Cowboy and the like all have an ecosystem around themselves; I can't imagine the powerlessness of the poor girl in an out-of-the-way honky-tonk in Nakhon Nowhere.

Although I don't partake anymore, my time spent with the girls back in the day was a blast; I only want good things for them. If a law finally makes it to the Royal Gazette, it can be improved later. And finally, if a law gets passed, I suspect that the girls will see a gradual but steady improvement in their lives; if they can get through the worst of the darkness, imagine what they are capable if they are allowed into the sunlight?

I vote for the girls!

I too would only want good things for these girls, but I am not sure how this change will improve their lives. Unless you include the bar-owners, TH is relatively pimp free. So the girls might get some welfare benefits? But aren't they likely to have taxes to pay as well? Can't see that too many will do that. 

The cuurent law appears very ambiguous, and I'm not sure there is much effort to enforce it. So my  question is in a country that has many village brothels, so I'm told, and girls are free to leave these, again so I'm told, I am not sure what problem they are trying to fix?

[JohninDublin]

2 hours ago, kalyan said:

In my opinion, Legalizing's Prostitution is bad for developing society, bad for Buddhism, bad for land of smiles.

Has it ever been truly illegal in TH.

[JohninDublin]

56 minutes ago, Ramanathan.P said:

It is good that Thailand is finally considering legallizing the world's oldest profession. This is a good move and better protection for those service providers without being harassed or black mailed in the name of law

I raised the issue in another post, as to what problem the TH gov were trying to solve with this proposal. That might be the issue, but surely there are laws already to deal with this? Then of course, if corrupt cops can no longer extort working girls, what is there to stop them arresting these girls on trumped up charges say, for possession of Yaba?

[Karolyn]

If prostitutes are everywhere anyway, does it really matter if it's legal or not? They are finding work, and their services are freely promoted. Illegality only matters when the law is enforced

[Henry]

I think it’s a good thing that the government acknowledges prostitution exists in Thailand and they decriminalise it where appropriate. The weaker option is to do nothing and have sex workers exploited from all angles.

This way legitimate enterprise can carry on, protection, both health and legal can be sought where needed the the country can move from a laughing stock to a shining example on the world stage.

 

[Pinga]

On 3/4/2023 at 9:48 AM, kalyan said:

when the world marches forward  with various job opportunities, Thailand marching back ward to oldest business model is certainly bad.

Why is that bad? might be a matter of opinion, but a woman working overtime in an office doing paperwork or another meaningless job is worse off than a prostitute who gets to party every night, get laid, and make more. I've had several girls confess that they wished they could bring themselves to be prostitutes because it would be so much easier than their current lives. My ex-gf worked 12-hour days, 6 days a week, for a lousy 20k on a good month - how is that better? one sells her body, another sells her soul - for cheaper.

[JohninDublin]

On 3/5/2023 at 1:12 AM, Henry said:

I think it’s a good thing that the government acknowledges prostitution exists in Thailand and they decriminalise it where appropriate. The weaker option is to do nothing and have sex workers exploited from all angles.

This way legitimate enterprise can carry on, protection, both health and legal can be sought where needed the the country can move from a laughing stock to a shining example on the world stage.

I really am not sure that there is that much exploitation taking place. As I said, unless you talk about Bar and Brothel owners, there are not that many people making a living off the backs of others. Then again, as far as I know, these girls are free to leave at anytime. If the issue is about Trafficked women, then I am pretty sure the current law already deals with that.

[Marc26]

32 minutes ago, JohninDublin said:

I really am not sure that there is that much exploitation taking place. As I said, unless you talk about Bar and Brothel owners, there are not that many people making a living off the backs of others. Then again, as far as I know, these girls are free to leave at anytime. If the issue is about Trafficked women, then I am pretty sure the current law already deals with that.

It may not be exploitation like trafficking 

 

But when the bar owner goes back into the village and recruits girls she knows are in tough spots financially, that still is exploitation 

 

And yes, I think Thailand had, by far, the best set-up for p4p

 

For as many girls that get on in the bars

There are many that end up not liking it

 

Luckily, as you pointed out

They are mostly free to leave