Myanmar Govt to Introduce Bill to Protect Sex Workers

New Delhi, November 27, 2019:

The Myanmar government is preparing a bill to protect the sex workers of the country. According to sources, the government is finalizing on a bill to protect the sex workers from abuse.

Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, U Soe Aung informed that the Bill is currently under deliberation by the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) Public Affairs Management Committee.

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The Bill has been drafted to play a major role in ensuring protection of the sex workers. It proposes to shift the cases of handling prostitution to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Director of Gender Equality Network, Myanmar, Daw May Sabe Phyu, cited financial hardship and lack of jobs as one of the main reasons of widespread prostitution in the country.

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She opined that if the prostitutes were protected by the law, social and health problems would decline. She added that by supporting the sex workers by introducing a law for their protection, the government would be able to prevent the problems.

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