Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala State Women's Commission has expressed strong reservations about the recent proposal by NCW to legalise sex trade, claiming that such a move would encourage human trafficking and exploitation of women.
"We cannot accept NCW's suggestion of legalising sex trade. As far as sex workers are concerned, the need of the hour is to rescue them from flesh trade and help them be part of the mainstream society by rehabilitating them," Panel chairperson K C Rosakutty told PTI.
"We do not think that legalising sex trade will solve all the problems of sex workers. Not just that, if flesh trade gets legal acceptance, human trafficking will increase manifold. The exploitation of girls will also receive an impetus," she said.
Rosakutty, a former Congress MLA from Wayanad, also noted that legalising sex trade would give a wrong message to the new generation.
"After all it is against Indian culture and tradition. If we legalise sex work it will give a wrong message to the new generation," she said.
National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Lalitha Kumaramangalam recently advocated that legalising sex trade would ensure better living conditions for sex workers in the country.
She had also suggested amendments to the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA) and said that the commission would make certain recommendations on legalising sex trade.
Many women rights groups have come out against the suggestion, stating that legalising of sex trade cannot stop trafficking.
