Prostitution in Indonesia

Prostitution is not explicitly illegal in Indonesia , but it is often prosecuted as a "crime against morality and decency". Sex work is widespread and largely tolerated , in some cases representatives of the police are involved in the operation of the brothels ( Indonesian bordil , circumscribed as localisasi ) and thus avoid confrontation with the judiciary. Sex tourism is common in the metropolitan areas , as well as on the islands of Batam and Karimun .

history

Sex work can be documented in the history of Indonesia up to the pre-colonial period, but prostitution was not institutionalized until the Dutch colonial period . After earlier attempts to restrict or forbid the trade through laws, a new approach followed in 1852: the regulation of sex work was sought. Recommendations followed that prostitutes should undergo regular medical examinations or work from the brothel. At the same time, supervision of the situation was transferred from the central to the local governments.

The law of 1852 was tightened in 1913 according to the Dutch model, but the authorities could not keep up with the growing number of prostitutes and brothels. During the Japanese invasion in World War II , the sex workers were also used as comfort women in Indonesia .

present

In 2000, 70,781 women were registered as sex workers in Indonesia. Controversial opinions are expressed in the population. Religious or conservative groups reject tolerated prostitution. This is practiced in brothels, night clubs and karaoke bars or on the street ( wanita jalanan ).

The official brothels were introduced in their current form in the 1960s to control what was going on. The official brothels offer the workers a social environment, but are often also equipped with facilities for social life, such as cooking courses or religious events. Some of the houses are publicly owned or are supported for the rehabilitation of the workers and the containment of infectious diseases .

Rumah bordel are also facilities of private operators. The workers also live in the house, but access and protection by state institutions is not guaranteed.

Pecun

Middle-class students who perform sexual services for money or gifts are called pecun or perek (from perempuan eksperimen , "woman willing to experiment") and are a relatively young phenomenon. The pecun are not dependent on the financial donations.

Protests and riots

After a protest by the conservative Muslim group Front Pembela Islam (FPI), brothels in Jakarta , for example , which had existed for 30 years at this point, were closed in 1999 : the Kramattunggak project with - at weddings - 1,600 sex workers was run by the city administration. Since prostitution subsequently only shifted, it was no longer possible to monitor the spread of sexually transmitted diseases . The aim of the project to rehabilitate women through the infrastructure and the public authorities was also missed.

The FPI started fires in 17 other brothels in Tangerang on the day the Kramattunggak was closed . In Bekasi , there were riots: A mob destroyed hotels and restaurants, while two further plants were burning for prostitutes.

Online prostitution

Prostitution, including child prostitution , is also carried out via the Internet and social networks , and - if possible - is punished if it is illegal. The government tries (as of 2011) to suppress both pornography on the Internet and unregulated prostitution in this form.

literature

Lin Lean Lim: The Sex Sector , Brookings Institution Press, June 1998. ISBN 978-92-2-109522-4 . Link to Google Books .
T. Hull, G. Jones and E. Sulistyaninsih: Prostitution in Indonesia: Its History and Evolution , Pusaka Sinar Harapan, 1999.

Web links

Rebecca Surtees: Traditional and Emergent Sex Work in Urban Indonesia. In: Intersections, Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific, Issue 10, Australian National University, August 2004

Individual evidence

^ Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor: Indonesia , United States Department of State - Web site, March 11, 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
↑ Lin Lean Lim: The Sex Sector , Paperback , June 1998. ISBN 978-9221095224 . Link to Google Books . Retrieved November 30, 2015.
^ Rebecca Surtees: Traditional and Emergent Sex Work in Urban Indonesia , Australian National University - Intersections, Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific. Issue 10, August 2004. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
↑ Kafil Yamin: Jakarta's brothel closedown sends industry underground , Asia Times , December 24, 1999. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
↑ Hans David Tampubolon: Prostitutes and porn still available online , The Jakarta Post website, January 25, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2015.

[state-1] Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor: Indonesia , United States Department of State - Web site, March 11, 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2015.

[hull-2] Lin Lean Lim: The Sex Sector , Paperback , June 1998. ISBN 978-9221095224 . Link to Google Books . Retrieved November 30, 2015.

[rebecca-3] Rebecca Surtees: Traditional and Emergent Sex Work in Urban Indonesia , Australian National University - Intersections, Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific. Issue 10, August 2004. Retrieved November 30, 2015.

[times-4] Kafil Yamin: Jakarta's brothel closedown sends industry underground , Asia Times , December 24, 1999. Retrieved November 30, 2015.

[post-5] Hans David Tampubolon: Prostitutes and porn still available online , The Jakarta Post website, January 25, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2015.