Thousands Against Legalization of Prostitution in Bulgaria



Published on: 05.10.2007, 10:43

Author: Olga Yoncheva

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The campaign under the project “Civil action against the legalization of prostitution” to Association “Society and values” gathered 3200 signatures of citizens.

The open position of the association prepared together with Bulgarian center for gender studies against the legalization of prostitution received support from over 65 non-governmental organizations.

The data will be distributed at the conference “Women trafficking – legal and institutional mechanisms for counteraction”, which will be held today in the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.

President Georgi Parvanov, the minister of justice Miglena Tacheva, the chief prosecutor Boris Velchev, the minister of internal affairs Rumen Petkov, US ambassador in Bulgaria John Beierly and other guests from Bulgaria and abroad will take part in the conference.

One of the main aims of the campaign is to show that civil society in Bulgaria doesn't want legalization of prostitution, which is directly connected with the growth of the trafficking and sex exploitation of women and children. Another important objective of the Association “Society and values” is to acquaint the people with the consequences of such draft law and with the bitter experience of the countries which have legalized prostitution.

In its open position, the Association together with other NGOs claim that the legalization of prostitution will lead to expansion of sex tourism, human trafficking, illegal and child pornography and will deepen the negative stereotypes of the lowered role of woman.

Earlier this year, the president, the ministers of foreign and internal affairs, health care and justice, the leaders of the political parties, represented in the parliament and the chairmen of five of the parliamentary committees received an open letter against the legalization of prostitution on behalf of 108 representatives of international organizations from all over the world.

One of the initiators of the letter, prof. Dona Hughs from the US university of “Road Island” will be guest speaker at the conference today.

The experience of the countries that have legalized prostitution shows that when the legal barriers for it are removed, the social-ethical ones also disappear. The often mentioned motive for revenues from taxes and charges is utterly unjustified because of the difficulties in collection exactly these revenues.

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