Prostitution findings raise hackles in National Council

SEX was the order of the day in the National Council yesterday, as the findings of a report on legalising prostitution were unveiled to a rowdy reception.

In October, the NC accepted a motion by Vice Chairperson Margreth Mensah-Williams that its standing committee on Gender, Youth and Information investigate the plight of sex workers, street children and other vulnerable people. The committee was assigned to investigate areas from where sex workers operate; the dealings of pimps and brothels; and cases where shops, bottle stores and bars were operating after hours.They also had to look into reports that certain Government premises were being abused for the purpose of prostitution, and investigate whether the country has proper legislation to deal with these issues.In addition, the committee had to investigate the extent to which Satanism is practised, and look at issues of violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and sexual abuse against women and children.Committee Chairperson Sebastiaan Karupu reported yesterday that, because of the wide scope of their task, as well as resource constraints, the first phase of the study focused only on sex workers.The committee, he said, held public hearings with non-governmental organisations, civil society, faith-based organisations, interest groups and individuals who submitted oral or written input.Reporting on the findings of the committee, Karupu said it was found that prostitution as a profession was “growing very fast in Namibia due to a high rate of unemployment and problems related to an educational system that does not allow students to repeat Grade 10 and 12 (which leads to a) high number of drop-outs.”The ages of women found standing on the street corners of Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, and Mile Fourteen on the outskirts of Swakopmund range from younger than 16 to 50, he reported.”Despite the risky and life-threatening environment,” Karupu said, “the market is flourishing and is populated by both local and foreign sex workers.”Few women and gay men love the profession,” he continued, “and many detest prostitution or sex work.But in the absence of better alternatives, those who spoke to the committee indicated, albeit reluctantly, to continue practising.”He said there is a legal vacuum on the issue of prostitution, as there is no law to deal with the issue.”The country needs, especially in the age of HIV and AIDS, policies aimed at getting children out of the streets where they could be enticed to become prostitutes, drug abusers and alcoholics,” he said.He also said that legalising prostitution would be a critical step to minimising the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS.Replying to Karupu’s address, Omusati MP Jhonny Hakaye called the report misleading, misdirected and a complete deviation from the committee’s initial mandate.He said the committee was mandated to look at the plight of women and children who were victims of domestic violence rather than prostitutes.He added that he had received information that the investigations had been tampered with, and cited a newspaper report that said only one person attended a public meeting at the coast.”Those who want prostitution legalised in Namibia should rest their case,” he said, drawing support from other members.”You talk of AIDS, children of 16 years old being involved in this, and asking us to give them a licence to die.”Karupu replied that Hakaye’s comments were unfair and urged his fellow MP to go through the report before dismissing it.He said that it was not true that the committee were not mandated to look into the nature and background of sex work in the country, reading the issues addressed from the terms of reference given to them.Karas MP Hilma Nicanor suggested that the report be sent back to the committee to complete its investigations on all other areas.Her suggestion was accepted.The committee was assigned to investigate areas from where sex workers operate; the dealings of pimps and brothels; and cases where shops, bottle stores and bars were operating after hours.They also had to look into reports that certain Government premises were being abused for the purpose of prostitution, and investigate whether the country has proper legislation to deal with these issues.In addition, the committee had to investigate the extent to which Satanism is practised, and look at issues of violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and sexual abuse against women and children.Committee Chairperson Sebastiaan Karupu reported yesterday that, because of the wide scope of their task, as well as resource constraints, the first phase of the study focused only on sex workers.The committee, he said, held public hearings with non-governmental organisations, civil society, faith-based organisations, interest groups and individuals who submitted oral or written input.Reporting on the findings of the committee, Karupu said it was found that prostitution as a profession was “growing very fast in Namibia due to a high rate of unemployment and problems related to an educational system that does not allow students to repeat Grade 10 and 12 (which leads to a) high number of drop-outs.”The ages of women found standing on the street corners of Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, and Mile Fourteen on the outskirts of Swakopmund range from younger than 16 to 50, he reported.”Despite the risky and life-threatening environment,” Karupu said, “the market is flourishing and is populated by both local and foreign sex workers.”Few women and gay men love the profession,” he continued, “and many detest prostitution or sex work.But in the absence of better alternatives, those who spoke to the committee indicated, albeit reluctantly, to continue practising.”He said there is a legal vacuum on the issue of prostitution, as there is no law to deal with the issue.”The country needs, especially in the age of HIV and AIDS, policies aimed at getting children out of the streets where they could be enticed to become prostitutes, drug abusers and alcoholics,” he said.He also said that legalising prostitution would be a critical step to minimising the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS.Replying to Karupu’s address, Omusati MP Jhonny Hakaye called the report misleading, misdirected and a complete deviation from the committee’s initial mandate.He said the committee was mandated to look at the plight of women and children who were victims of domestic violence rather than prostitutes.He added that he had received information that the investigations had been tampered with, and cited a newspaper report that said only one person attended a public meeting at the coast.”Those who want prostitution legalised in Namibia should rest their case,” he said, drawing support from other members.”You talk of AIDS, children of 16 years old being involved in this, and asking us to give them a licence to die.”Karupu replied that Hakaye’s comments were unfair and urged his fellow MP to go through the report before dismissing it.He said that it was not true that the committee were not mandated to look into the nature and background of sex work in the country, reading the issues addressed from the terms of reference given to them.Karas MP Hilma Nicanor suggested that the report be sent back to the committee to complete its investigations on all other areas.Her suggestion was accepted.