The Case Of Criminalising Prostitution

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1. Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the key issues arising in the consideration from the governor of DKI Jakarta response to legalise prostitution in his territory. The Indonesian government has been criminalising prostitution based on the Book of the Criminal Justice Act (KUHP) regulation since more than 30 years ago, yet it did not make prostitution diminished and tends to increase the quantity of the prostitutes (Kenedi 2015). The current governor of DKI Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) believes that there should be some form of control over the sex industry (Wardhani 2015). He continues to say that decriminalising prostitution is meant to give the sex-workers a protection and safety reason while working. Ahok also…show more content…
Several positive aspects that will arises from legalising prostitution are the increased access to the criminal justice system for sex-workers, the decline on the stigma surrounding the work, and the improved working conditions. We might see a promising decline in failed marriages, children sexual abuse, and rape cases.

2. Background
Prostitution has experienced in a long and questionable history in Indonesia and around the globe. Even though it was a legal profession, prostitution has been forbidden almost by every countries. On the other hand, illegal prostitution has continued in Indonesia, and it’s social, economic, and well-being effects on men and women have driven numerous arguments to debate what its legitimate status should be.
Indonesian government actually already familiar with the issue of legalising prostitution. It was in the 16th century prostitution had entered Indonesia. Afterward, in the 1970s the former governor of DKI Jakarta, Ali Sadikin had legalised prostitution with the aim of generating tax revenue and improving conditions at that time (Cribb & Kahin 2004, p.357). Ali Sadikin initiated a red-light district that was located in Kramat Tunggak, where all practices of prostitution are legalised and concentrated in this place. From the health issue standpoint, in order to prevent the spread of STD or HIV/AIDS disease among sex-workers and customers there was
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