Women in oldest profession continue to be exploited

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 Myra Imran & Saadia Khalid Islamabad Prostitution is thought to be the oldest profession in the world but it could also be termed the oldest way of women exploitation. Putting their self-respect at stake willingly or unwillingly and involved in this business either due to poverty or lust, these women usually have no way back while living in a Pakistani society. Those into this profession know that they are no more acceptable in society as normal women and have no protection whatsoever in this vicious cycle of social crime. They know that the respect their client enjoys is not actually meant for them. Interviews conducted to understand the intense insecurity faced by such women reveals that all kinds of services are offered in the twin cities. People working on issues like HIV and AIDS told ‘The News’ that there were brothels operating on modern lines in the capital. “You just need to have the right connections,” said the executive director of an NGO. Many such facilities are run by foreigners and also by locals, usually women who almost always have past experience in this field. The sex workers can be picked up on the street or at bus stops in commercial areas at night or even during the day. A vast majority of these workers conduct their business on cell phone. The sex workers interviewed by ‘The News’ said that poverty was the main reason that forced majority of them into this business. On the other hand, the official of another NGO said that these sex workers would never accept a decent job in return for staying away from this business. “I offered one such girl a job of Rs10,000 per month but she rejected it and insisted on finding clients for her,” he said. One of the sex workers named ‘A’ (to keep her identity secret) said that if they were provided a respectful life and opportunity to earn enough for a decent living, most of them would leave the profession. “No woman wants to live such a life.” She said that there was no public or private organisation that could support women who wanted to quit this profession. “Women with this background are not even given shelter or protection in places for homeless women like Edhi Homes and Women Centres,” she pointed out. A divorcee and a mother of two, ‘A’ said that she also had to look after her ailing father. Having a bachelor’s degree in home economics, she said that going for a job in a school would earn her only Rs3,000 to Rs5,000 per month. “I would not be able to feed my family with that money.” She admitted that many sex workers tended to reject job offers after taking up this profession for it earned them good money. “We also have to think twice before accepting any job offers because most of the men offer help with bad intentions,” she added. Talking about violence faced by such women, she said that sex workers available at pick-up points were the most vulnerable in this regard. “They are taken to places of the client’s choice and at times suffer immense violence,” she said adding that no protection was available to them in such cases. “We cannot imagine going to a police station to lodge complaint against such clients whereas no NGO has ever thought of providing any kind helpline where we could contact for medical or psychological help,” she said. “The only option we have is to go off to sleep and avoid that very client in future,” she said. ‘A’ said that those operating through cell phone were always overly careful in choosing clients. “We refer each other to reliable clients only,” she said pointing out that their families were usually unaware of their activities. “My family believes that I work at a beauty parlour,” she said. Highlighting yet another interesting fact, ‘A’ said that very few women were forced into this business whereas most were operating of their own will. “Women from rich families are also involved in this business but they usually do that for free or just to make contacts,” she revealed. Blaming men for all the wrongs, she said that one would never find a woman paying for such services. “Their wives mostly have no idea what their husbands are up to while being away from home,” she said. According to ‘A’ those forced into this business were usually little girls and such activities happened in dens called ‘Kothi Khanas.’ One such case came to limelight recently when a 12-year-old girl Kiran managed to escape from a brothel. The child suffered immense violence in one year at the brothel but again there was no place where such a girl could be provided proper shelter and counselling. She stayed at Darul Aman for about 15 days. Meanwhile, no child protection NGO came forward to help her. Kiran was sold to the brothel owner Perveen by her stepfather and mother for Rs100,000. Police raided the brothel and arrested Perveen but under the Women Protection Bill, she could not be kept in jail. Having destroying the life of an innocent child, she was released the very next day. On the other hand, the officials of the police department said that those operating such dens had connections with influential. “They know how to deal with legal problems and make use of the Women Protection Bill,” they say, adding that police did not have any record of such places. Highlighting another legal hurdle, a police official said that in case they raided any brothel, people in the neighbourhood refuse to become witnesses. “We cannot start any legal process against such people without any witness,” he said adding that there was a need to develop cooperation among the police department and courts so that culprits could be punished. Although Kiran is now reunited with her father, she may never be considered a ‘sharif’ girl by society and would have to live with the psychological trauma all her life. No support for her rehabilitation has been forthcoming from any quarter. Treating such women and girls as a non-entity is no solution to the problem. Providing economic security, refuge and counselling might prompt many to quit this profession and live a normal life.