NCJ Number
90687
Date Published
1981
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This paper reviews the Indian Law designed to control prostitution -- the Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act of 1956 -- and analyzes its ineffectiveness.
Abstract
The Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act in India does not outlaw prostitution per se but rather brothels (two or more person jointly trading in sexual favors at a given location) and public solicitation. The law has been generally ineffective in restraining the practice of prostitution, because law enforcement has neither the resources nor the will to enforce it. Even with the resources and the commitment to the enforcement of the law, however, the loopholes in the law and the failure of the law to counter the demand for prostitute services (no sanctions against male clients) makes it unlikely that the law can ever be a realistic vehicle for dealing with prostitution. A more practical law would regulate prostitution to control venereal disease and prevent its domination by pimps and procurers. The contemporary emphases on personal freedom and women's liberation make the suppression of prostitution less likely, as women demand the right to use their bodies as they please and to pursue the business of their choice in providing a service to willing clients.