Rule sought on condom use in sex industry

JAKARTA (JP): The government is giving consideration to issuing a regulation requiring the mandatory use of condoms in the sex industry in a bid to curb the spread of venereal diseases as well as the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Minister of Health and Social Welfare Achmad Suyudi said on Thursday that the spread of HIV/AIDS is concentrated in the sex industry and, for the last few years, has affected intravenous drugs users who used unsterile syringes.

"If we had such rule, it should be strengthened by law enforcement to slow the acceleration of HIV/AIDS," he said, during a briefing on the government's plan to be represented at the United Nations General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS in New York from June 25 to 27.

Suyudi expressed concern at the actual number of those infected by the deadly disease which he believes has reached between 80,000 and 120,000 cases.

Deputy of Family Planning and Reproductive Health to the National Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN), Siswanto A. Wilopo, said the board already had a campaign in place to promote condom use, primarily for the purposes of family planning.

According to Siswanto many men object to the use of condoms.

"Condoms can prevent conception, and can also help increase sexual pleasure as there are now various types of condoms," he contended.

The Board also carries out a program to increase the awareness of sexual workers who are liable to infection and therefore must insist that their customers use a condom.

However, unlike the experience in Thailand, many here already doubt if the plan could work.

HIV/AIDS activist Firman Lubis from Yayasan Kusuma Buana pointed out that the sex industry in Thailand was centralized and tightly controlled by the government.

If one sex worker was found to be infected, the place where he or she worked would be closed down for violating rules on condoms. "But here, the business is underground, as the government does not officially recognize any centers of prostitution. It would be difficult to control the use of condoms or the spread of HIV/AIDS," he told The Jakarta Post by phone on Thursday afternoon.

Also attending the media briefing was UNAIDS Theme Group chairman for Indonesia Georg Peterson, who revealed that the special session at the UN was aimed at intensifying action to combat the disease and mobilize other resources needed.

He said that the special session would produce a declaration of commitment which would be its members' blueprint for future action and could be used as a framework by all concerned sectors.

UNAIDS is the leading umbrella organization advocating worldwide action against HIV/AIDS.

It works with the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank and the United Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP).(bby)