Family Policy Institute Why prostitution must not be decriminalised or legalised in South Africa. Research Gathered & Compiled by: Errol Naidoo Achmed Kariem Marge Ballin Taryn Hodgson Sakhile Ndlovu Family Policy Institute 49 Parliament Street Cape Town 8001 PO Box 4743 Cape Town 8000 - Tel: 021 462 7888 - Fax: 088 021 462 7889 E-mail
[email protected] Web: www.familypolicyinstitute.com 1 Dear Concerned Citizen, The following is a compilation of both local and international research and social studies concerning the subject of prostitution. The call to decriminalise prostitution in SA is being championed by a small but vocal group. Presumably, the objective is to have enough prostitutes legally available for the hordes of soccer fans expected to descend on our shores for the 2010 World Cup. The first to make the call for the legitimisation of sex slavery was former national police commissioner, Jackie Selebi. This reprehensible statement was echoed by MP George Lekgetlo who suggested that prostitution be legalised for the duration of the 2010 World Cup, effectively transforming the nation into a huge brothel. The decriminalisation of prostitution is a gift to pimps, criminal syndicates and sex traffickers and does not improve the health and welfare of women trapped in prostitution. Studies reveal that the decriminalisation of prostitution in Australia and New Zealand has resulted in an increase in illegal, hidden and street prostitution. Decriminalisation also promotes trafficking in women and children increasing the tendency of child prostitution. Contrary to claims that legalisation and decriminalisation would regulate the expansion of the sex industry and bring it under control, the sex industry now accounts for 5 percent of the Netherlands economy.