Why we. Third World women, have developed our own perspective on prostitution?

Three months ago a group of 15 women from Latin America, Asia and Africa met in Thailand to begin a period of exchange and intensive exposure to the realities of prostitution in these regions. We realized the need to articulate a feminist and Third World perspective on the issue. The prevailing analysis approaches groups, scholars or researchers and official institutions. One of the most misleading elements in their view is to reduce the issue of prostitution to one of violence against women. This view lacks an integrated framework which takes into consideration the global social and economic realities and in particular, the unequal North-South relations.

In our Third World societies there is an alarming increase in the magnitude of poverty and prostitution. Viewed within the context of North-South relations, this situation is the outgrowth of our colonial histories which brought capitalism, which in turn has increased economic and social life. Today, we see that in spite of all modern development strategies, large numbers of Third World women are entering prostitution as a survival strategy. The transnationalization of capital has been paralleled by the transnationalization of the sex industry where demand and supply for women in prostitution go beyond national boundaries. Demand largely comes from men of the North and supply from women of the South, while recruiters, agents and middle men from both North or the South, seem to form effective international criminal organizations. National governments, of both the North and the South, In not taking decisive actions against this situation, are contributing to and reinforcing the sex industry in our societies.

The internationalization of sex services is manifested in sex tourism, prostitution around military bases and international trafficking in women and children for prostitution. Although women may knowingly enter prostitution for lack of viable economic alternatives, the recruitment of women for prostitution is often characterized by force, violence, trickery and deceit.The institution and business of prostitution are maintained and perpetuated by the patriarchal assumptions and myths such as: Prostitution is the oldest profession; that male sexuality is uncontrollable and should be given full rein; that women's sexuality should be for the service of men, therefore women's bodies are commodities to be bought and sold in prostitution.

We challenge the very basis of the institution of prostitution and denounce child prostitution, sex tourism, militarization and prostitution and trafficking of women and girls for prostitution. Making a distinction between the institution of prostitution and the individual women, we address ourselves to the concerns of women in prostitution and stand for the decriminalization of prostitutes.

In the light of this, and as a result of our country exchange and exposure, we have formulated action strategies in the following fields:

o Education and awareness raising

o Economic development

o Legal actions

o Creation of infrastructure

o Networking, lobbying and political action

Some of our specific recommendations in each of these fields, which are to be implemented at the national, regional and international levels, are:

I. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS RAISING:

o Encourage research and analysis on the structural roots of prostitution, sexist myths about prostitution and      prostitutes and the operations of the sex industry and the conditions of women involved.

o Documentation and dissemination of this information at all levels.

o Promote non-sexist education and socialization of both women and men.

o Conduct formal and informal educational activities with prostitutes on issues relevant to their life and work        in  order to empower them.

o Promote preventive education to children, parents and the general community to advise against the                 different  manifestations of forced prostitution.

II. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

o Redistribution of income through implementation of land reform, progressive taxation measures; promoting     the development of local industries, adequate use of technologies relevant to our realities.

o Denounce tourism as a strategy of economic development for the Third World, labor export and the                 encouragement of migration as a means to earn foreign exchange.

o Create alternatives for a more relevant, wholesome and independent development.

o Offer training and services for employment and organizational management and alternative livelihood                programs.

III. LEGAL ACTIONS

o Decriminalization of prostitutes.

o Effective enforcement of penal provisions in existing laws against trafficking networks and prostitution               racketeers through the constitution of mandatory and statutorily recognized citizens groups that oversee         implementation.

Request that Third World views are given voice and taken into consideration in the elaboration of international conventions on human rights, children and slavery and establish means to effectively implement those conventions.

IV. CREATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE

o Maintain and create counselling centers, provide legal aid and medical services for women in prostitution.

o Establishment and support of drop-in centers, half-way homes for women in prostitution and their children,       and subsidized hostels and public housing for women.

o Create a monitoring body at international level to identify and follow-up the different dimensions of                    problems around the issue of prostitution.

V. NETWORKING, LOBBYING AND POLITICAL ACTION:

o Promote discussion, analysis and activities on the issues of prostitution among feminist groups, human           rights groups, NGO's, government institutions and other forums at the national, regional and international         level.

o Disseminate information on the issue of prostitution among the above mentioned groups and to the general     public at all levels.

o Solicit regional and international support to pressurize governments to accede demands raised on the             issue  of prostitution and the rights of prostitutes.

Isis-Wicce Exchange Program on Women, Poverty and Prostitution: September-December 1991. Position statement of 15 women from Third World countries on the issue of prostitution.