Archipelago – The Central Java administration plans to revise outdated regional regulations on prostitution that charge illegal sex workers a penalty of Rp 10,000 (72 US cents).

The head of the regional regulation agency at Semarang Legislative Council, Suharsono, explained that the revision was required because the old regulations were no longer effective.

"The law was issued in 1969, requiring that offenders pay a penalty of only Rp 10,000. That is not appropriate for current conditions," Suharsono told tempo.co recently.

Suharsono said that his agency had included the draft of the new regional bill on prostitution in the Council's legislative program this year. The Central Java administration, he said, had worked with non-profit organizations and academics in the drafting process for the bill.

"We are prioritizing the people's comfort by ensuring that this disease in the form of prostitution is tackled in Semarang," he said. Among the proposals in the new bill is the closure of prostitution centers in Semarang after five years of operation.

Ari Istiadi, the coordinator of Griya Asa, an organization that assists sex workers in Semarang, has welcomed the plan to abolish prostitution centers in stages, arguing that the scheme will allow sex workers to find other jobs. (ika)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/19/outdated-prostitution-laws-be-revised.html