Rule sought on condom use in sex industry<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government is giving consideration to
\nissuing a regulation requiring the mandatory use of condoms in
\nthe sex industry in a bid to curb the spread of venereal diseases
\nas well as the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired
\nImmune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).<\/p>\n
Minister of Health and Social Welfare Achmad Suyudi said on
\nThursday that the spread of HIV\/AIDS is concentrated in the sex
\nindustry and, for the last few years, has affected intravenous
\ndrugs users who used unsterile syringes.<\/p>\n
\"If we had such rule, it should be strengthened by law
\nenforcement to slow the acceleration of HIV\/AIDS,\" he said,
\nduring a briefing on the government's plan to be represented at
\nthe United Nations General Assembly special session on HIV\/AIDS
\nin New York from June 25 to 27.<\/p>\n
Suyudi expressed concern at the actual number of those
\ninfected by the deadly disease which he believes has reached
\nbetween 80,000 and 120,000 cases.<\/p>\n
Deputy of Family Planning and Reproductive Health to the
\nNational Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN), Siswanto A.
\nWilopo, said the board already had a campaign in place to promote
\ncondom use, primarily for the purposes of family planning.<\/p>\n
According to Siswanto many men object to the use of condoms.<\/p>\n
\"Condoms can prevent conception, and can also help increase
\nsexual pleasure as there are now various types of condoms,\" he
\ncontended.<\/p>\n
The Board also carries out a program to increase the awareness
\nof sexual workers who are liable to infection and therefore must
\ninsist that their customers use a condom.<\/p>\n
However, unlike the experience in Thailand, many here already
\ndoubt if the plan could work.<\/p>\n
HIV\/AIDS activist Firman Lubis from Yayasan Kusuma Buana
\npointed out that the sex industry in Thailand was centralized and
\ntightly controlled by the government.<\/p>\n
If one sex worker was found to be infected, the place where he
\nor she worked would be closed down for violating rules on
\ncondoms. \"But here, the business is underground, as the
\ngovernment does not officially recognize any centers of
\nprostitution. It would be difficult to control the use of condoms
\nor the spread of HIV\/AIDS,\" he told The Jakarta Post by phone on
\nThursday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Also attending the media briefing was UNAIDS Theme Group
\nchairman for Indonesia Georg Peterson, who revealed that the
\nspecial session at the UN was aimed at intensifying action to
\ncombat the disease and mobilize other resources needed.<\/p>\n
He said that the special session would produce a declaration
\nof commitment which would be its members' blueprint for future
\naction and could be used as a framework by all concerned sectors.<\/p>\n
UNAIDS is the leading umbrella organization advocating
\nworldwide action against HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
It works with the United Nations International Children's
\nEmergency Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Program
\n(UNDP), the United Nations Fund for Population Activities
\n(UNFPA), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
\nOrganization (UNESCO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the
\nWorld Bank and the United Nations International Drug Control
\nProgram (UNDCP).(bby)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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