Supreme Court recognizes sex work as a profession, SC considers prostitution a business, police will not prosecute consensual sex workers
The Supreme Court has recognized sex work as a profession. The SC has said that the police should not take action against women and men who have consensual sex.
The Supreme Court has ordered all states and union territories not to interfere in the work of sex workers. The Supreme Court has recognized sex work as a profession. The SC has said that the police should not take action against women and men who have consensual sex.
Police should respect sex workers, that's how they should behave: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has issued a major order regarding sex workers. The Supreme Court has directed the police forces of all the states and union territories in this regard. The court said sex workers and their children should be treated with respect and not verbally or physically abused. A bench of Justice L Nageshwar Rao, Justice BR Gawai and Justice AS Bopanna issued several directions.
What the court said, the court
He said that the constitutional protection afforded to all persons in this country should be taken into consideration by the officers on duty under the Unmoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. The bench said that any sex worker who has been the victim of sexual assault should be provided all the facilities available to the victim of sexual assault, including immediate medical aid as per law.
Attitudes are often cruel and violent.
"It has been observed that the attitude of police towards sex workers is often brutal and violent. It seems that they are a class whose rights are not recognized. Police and other law enforcement agencies should be sensitive to the rights of sex workers who have all basic human rights. Rights and other rights guaranteed to all citizens by the Constitution: Police should treat all sex workers with respect and not treat them verbally or physically, use violence against them or force them to engage in any sexual activity.
The court also said that the Press Council of India should request the media to issue proper guidelines so that the identity of the sex worker, even if he is a victim, does not come out during arrests, raids and rescue operations. Photographs will be transmitted or published which will reveal their identities. He also directed the state governments to conduct a survey of shelters to review cases of detention of adult women against their will and to take steps for their release in a timely manner.
The apex court has pointed this out on the recommendations of a committee set up to rehabilitate sex workers. The apex court was hearing a petition alleging problems faced by sex workers due to the Kovid-19 epidemic.
03-Dec-2024