Strengthening solutions to prevent and combat prostitution

Currently, the province has 3,968 businesses and service establishments prone to prostitution, including 1,170 accommodation establishments (hotels, guesthouses, hostels, rental houses, etc.), 2 nightclubs, 565 karaoke establishments, massage parlors, and 2,231 other businesses. Although prostitution has not yet become a major hotspot, the situation is quite complex, especially prostitution involving the use of drugs and other addictive substances.

Strengthening measures to prevent and combat prostitution. A competition to test knowledge of laws on preventing and combating social evils was held at the Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center of Ngoc Lac district.

Many difficulties and challenges

According to reports from authorities, pimps, brokers, and prostitutes are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics and methods: pimps and motel owners do not directly manage or house prostitutes but often operate discreetly via telephone; brokers and independent prostitutes often leave their contact information with motel/hotel owners, receptionists, security guards, etc., so that customers can contact them when needed; prostitutes and their clients use websites, online services, forums, and social media platforms like Facebook, Zalo, Telegram, etc., to post provocative photos, make acquaintances, and engage in "sex chat" to find partners for prostitution, making it difficult for authorities to detect and prosecute them.

Meanwhile, some legal regulations on prostitution prevention and control are no longer relevant to current practices and do not meet the requirements of combating prostitution in the new situation. The integration of prostitution prevention and control programs with socio -economic development programs has not been flexible enough. The management of businesses and services such as guesthouses, hotels, and massage parlors by functional agencies is still lax and has many loopholes. Inspection and monitoring work is not frequent enough and its effectiveness is low. On the other hand, the awareness of some people is still distorted, with a lax and free lifestyle, and they do not take prostitution prevention and control seriously in their living areas. Some Party committees and authorities at all levels have not truly paid attention to the propaganda and fight against prostitution, thus failing to achieve the desired results.

Fundamental solutions

In order to reduce illegal activities related to prostitution, contribute to ensuring security, order, and social safety; and limit the negative impacts of prostitution on socio-economic development, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee has issued a plan for implementing prostitution prevention and control in Thanh Hoa province in 2023; a plan for inter-agency inspections on prostitution prevention and control, karaoke and dance hall services in Thanh Hoa province in 2023, along with many other directives.

Accordingly, the People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities, as well as relevant departments and units, have issued plans to implement the prostitution prevention and control program in 2023. At the same time, they have actively directed member units to strengthen prostitution prevention and control efforts, ensuring that no complex prostitution-related situations arise in residential areas. In particular, information and communication activities have been widely implemented by departments, agencies, and mass organizations; and the People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities through various rich and diverse forms.

In the first six months of 2023, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs coordinated with 10 vocational education institutions to organize 10 competitions on legal knowledge regarding the prevention and control of drug abuse and prostitution, with over 6,000 trainees, students, and teachers participating; and printed and distributed 10,000 leaflets on prostitution prevention and control to districts, towns, and cities. The Department of Information and Communications trained nearly 250 grassroots communicators on editing and writing news articles on the prevention and control of drug abuse and prostitution. It directed the culture and information departments of districts, towns, and cities to guide district and commune-level radio stations in developing special programs with hundreds of news articles on prostitution prevention and control.

The Department of Education and Training integrated anti-prostitution activities into the "Building Happy Schools" movement. 100% of units under the department organized rallies, demonstrations, and participated in the "Month of intensified drug and prostitution prevention" campaign... As a result, more than 120,812 high school students and 52,421 teachers and staff members participated in the awareness campaign and gained basic knowledge on preventing prostitution.

The People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities shall direct their departments and the People's Committees of communes, wards, and townships to strengthen propaganda work, innovate the content and form of propaganda and education on policies and laws on prostitution prevention and control. Widespread propaganda should reach all villages and residential areas; mobilize the combined strength of the entire society to raise awareness in the fight against prostitution. Integrate the task of prostitution prevention and control with the implementation of socio-economic development programs; social security and assistance; drug prevention and control; HIV/AIDS prevention and control; and human trafficking prevention and control. Link the movement of all people uniting to build a cultured life in residential areas with the movement of all people protecting national security...

In fulfilling its duties, the procuratorates at both levels have strengthened their oversight of the receipt and handling of denunciations and reports of crimes, especially those related to prostitution. The prosecuting agencies at both levels have closely coordinated in the investigation, prosecution, and trial of prostitution cases in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code and the coordination regulations between the three branches of government. Inter-agency inspections at 236 service businesses uncovered one establishment violating regulations on prostitution prevention and control. Police forces at all levels arrested and processed nine cases related to prostitution, apprehending 47 individuals. These included 12 brothel owners/brokers, 18 prostitutes, and 17 clients. As of the end of June 2023, the procuratorates at all levels had handled seven cases involving 13 defendants. The courts handled five cases involving 11 defendants.

The work of propaganda, management, inspection, and strict handling of violations of the law and crimes related to prostitution has created a strong shift in the awareness and actions of organizations and associations at all levels, sectors, and the entire society regarding the prevention and control of prostitution. This has contributed to pushing back and eradicating social evils, building a more prosperous and happy homeland and country.

Text and photos: Mai Phuong

Source