reader Posted May 5 Posted May 5 From Pattaya News By Adam Judd Recently, prostitution in Thailand is back in the news, primarily due to a report by the International Sex Workers Union, seen here, that states that Thailand is in the top ten countries worldwide for the number of sex workers. This has caused significant discussion online and some confusion about what the current laws are and what proposals are in place for potential change to the laws. With the assistance of our friends and partners at Issan Lawyers, here is a brief overview of the current situation: Prostitution in Thailand is a complex issue with a legal framework that is not straightforward. Here’s a summary of the current laws, legal penalties, and future proposals regarding prostitution in Thailand: – Prostitution itself is, surprisingly to many, not fully illegal in Thailand, but public solicitation for prostitution is prohibited if it is carried out “openly and shamelessly” or “causes a nuisance to the public”. – The legal framework governing prostitution is based on three acts: the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, the Penal Code, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. – The Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act of 1996 explicitly forbids prostitution in public places and brothels, introducing fines for providing sexual services. This essentially makes any bar or club that has prostitutes illegal. Legal Penalties: – Individuals who solicit sex in an open and shameless manner or cause nuisance to the public are subject to fines. – Those associating in a “prostitution establishment” for the purpose of prostitution face jail terms or fines or both. – The Penal Code stipulates that anyone over the age of 16 who subsists on the earnings of a prostitute shall be punished with imprisonment of seven to twenty years and fined, or imprisonment for life. Future Proposals: – There are recent proposals to fully decriminalize prostitution in Thailand to ensure higher standards of safety for sex workers. – A draft law, the Sex Workers Protection Bill, has been proposed to replace the existing Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act from 1996. – The new law aims to grant fundamental labor rights, healthcare support, and social security to sex workers. Continues at https://thepattayanews.com/2024/05/05/legal-corner-what-are-the-prostitution-laws-in-thailand-and-proposals-for-fully-legalizing-the-industry/ 10tazione, vinapu and BL8gPt 3 Quote
thaiophilus Posted May 5 Posted May 5 To answer the implied question in the title, one word will do: Irrelevant. reader 1 Quote
