Harassment of Sex workers will be probed:SL

26 October 2012 08:27 am

With reference to the United Nations report that sex workers in Sri Lanka were often the target of police or military harassment,the Government said today said the allegations would be looked into and necessary action taken.

“Overall these allegations will be looked into. Sometimes these allegations are baseless, however we as the government won’t be setting it aside and all these issues will be looked into” Government spokesman KeheliyaRambukwella said.

The United Nations in its report said Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh were among countries where sex workers were often the target of police or military harassment.

“Incidents involving sexual assaults by police or military have been reported from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fiji, India, Kiribati, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka,” the UN Development Programme and the UN Population Fund in partnership with the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS and non-governmental organisations across Asia said in a 210-page report titled "Sex Work and the Law in Asia and the Pacific”.

“Sex workers are often targeted by police for harassment and arrest under public order offences and offences relating to beggars or vagrants. This may lead to arrest and detention in special ‘rehabilitation’ facilities (e.g., Sri Lanka and India),” the report said. ( Hafeel Farisz)

Related link
SL, Indian sex workers face police/military harassment: UN