Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BISHKEK392
2008-04-22 05:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
Kyrgyz Women Debate Merits of Legalized Prostitution
how-toVZCZCXRO4121 RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHPW RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHEK #0392/01 1130551 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 220551Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0942 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2499 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0893 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2892 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2277 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000392
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KWMN PREF KG
SUBJECT: Kyrgyz Women Debate Merits of Legalized Prostitution
BISHKEK 00000392 001.2 OF 002
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000392
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KWMN PREF KG
SUBJECT: Kyrgyz Women Debate Merits of Legalized Prostitution
BISHKEK 00000392 001.2 OF 002
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
1. (U) SUMMARY: The Women's Political Discussion Club, which wields
increasing influence in Kyrgyz politics, held a heated discussion on
prostitution in Kyrgyzstan and plans to raise the issue in
Parliament. Widely reported as an effort to "legalize"
prostitution, it is, in fact, an effort to raise awareness of
prostitution and possibly regulate the industry, which is not
illegal in Kyrgyzstan. The Club's efforts are noteworthy as the
first widespread attempt to address a problem which is pervasive but
largely ignored by mainstream Kyrgyz society. END SUMMARY.
PROSTITION: WIDESPREAD BUT UNADDRESSED IN KYRGYZSTAN
-------------- --------------
2. (U) Prostitution in Kyrgyzstan is not illegal, but there are
three statutes which indirectly regulate prostitution. The statutes
forbid recruiting women into prostitution, corrupting minors, and
opening a brothel. The statutes are largely ineffective because the
laws are seldom enforced and the fines are small. Prostitution is
widespread in Kyrgyzstan, with thinly-disguised brothels, called
"saunas," on nearly every city block. The classified ads in
Kyrgyzstan's largest newspaper contain advertisements for over forty
saunas, with names like "Romance," "Incognito," and "Mirage."
Besides saunas, there are dozens of classified ads for so-called
"relaxation" or "relaxing massage," which is prostitution in local
parlance.
DIVERSE GROUP DISCUSSES PROBLEM OF PROSTITUTION
-------------- --
3. (U) The Discussion Club meeting was attended by approximately 100
representatives - male and female - of political parties, NGO's,
mass media, sex workers, and the clergy. The primary topic of
discussion was police corruption and complicity in prostitution.
Sex workers complained that the standard bribe that police demand
from them has increased from 50 soms ($1.38) to 300 soms ($8.33)
over the last year. Police demand bribes often and arbitrarily,
posing a threat to the sex workers' livelihoods. Police often
demand "subotniki," or free Saturdays at the saunas. NGO
representatives recalled a case when a pregnant sex worker was
forced to provide free sexual services to a large group of students
from the police academy. A representative from Center for Police
Reform vowed that he would investigate the incident if the victim
files a formal complaint. The most emotionally charged discussion
centered on the role of religion in addressing societal ills and
helping victims of prostitution. The discussion leader expressed
disappointment that the Mufti and the head of the Russian Orthodox
Diocese turned down invitations to attend. However, a
representative of the Church of Jesus Christ said that AIDS was a
punishment from God for the sin of prostitution and that the sin
would be punished for ten generations. The representative of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community expressed a more tolerant view and his
willingness to help ex-prostitutes rebuild their lives.
4. (U) One outcome of the meeting is that a leader of the Social
Democratic Party and member of Parliament, Bakyt Beshimov, vowed to
raise the issue in Parliament. Galina Kulikova, a deputy from the
majority party, Ak Zhol, said that legalization would benefit sex
workers by establishing a safe work place, trade unions, and regular
medical care. Somewhat inconsistently, she noted that legalized
prostitution should include "tougher penalties for men who go to
prostitutes." It would appear Kulikova was referring to the
so-called "Swedish model," in which it is legal to sell sex but not
to buy sex.
5. (SBU) Comment: The Women's Political Discussion Club, which was
established in 2006 with support of the National Democratic
Institute and is supported in part by a grant from the Democracy
Commission of the U.S. Embassy, is unafraid to ask tough questions
about the often-taboo topic of prostitution. The Club has wielded
its influence in the past in defeating a bill that would have
legalized polygamy. The Club is a good example of civil society in
BISHKEK 00000392 002.2 OF 002
action in Kyrgyzstan and of the role of strong, opinionated women in
Kyrgyz society.
YOVANOVITCH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KWMN PREF KG
SUBJECT: Kyrgyz Women Debate Merits of Legalized Prostitution
BISHKEK 00000392 001.2 OF 002
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
1. (U) SUMMARY: The Women's Political Discussion Club, which wields
increasing influence in Kyrgyz politics, held a heated discussion on
prostitution in Kyrgyzstan and plans to raise the issue in
Parliament. Widely reported as an effort to "legalize"
prostitution, it is, in fact, an effort to raise awareness of
prostitution and possibly regulate the industry, which is not
illegal in Kyrgyzstan. The Club's efforts are noteworthy as the
first widespread attempt to address a problem which is pervasive but
largely ignored by mainstream Kyrgyz society. END SUMMARY.
PROSTITION: WIDESPREAD BUT UNADDRESSED IN KYRGYZSTAN
-------------- --------------
2. (U) Prostitution in Kyrgyzstan is not illegal, but there are
three statutes which indirectly regulate prostitution. The statutes
forbid recruiting women into prostitution, corrupting minors, and
opening a brothel. The statutes are largely ineffective because the
laws are seldom enforced and the fines are small. Prostitution is
widespread in Kyrgyzstan, with thinly-disguised brothels, called
"saunas," on nearly every city block. The classified ads in
Kyrgyzstan's largest newspaper contain advertisements for over forty
saunas, with names like "Romance," "Incognito," and "Mirage."
Besides saunas, there are dozens of classified ads for so-called
"relaxation" or "relaxing massage," which is prostitution in local
parlance.
DIVERSE GROUP DISCUSSES PROBLEM OF PROSTITUTION
-------------- --
3. (U) The Discussion Club meeting was attended by approximately 100
representatives - male and female - of political parties, NGO's,
mass media, sex workers, and the clergy. The primary topic of
discussion was police corruption and complicity in prostitution.
Sex workers complained that the standard bribe that police demand
from them has increased from 50 soms ($1.38) to 300 soms ($8.33)
over the last year. Police demand bribes often and arbitrarily,
posing a threat to the sex workers' livelihoods. Police often
demand "subotniki," or free Saturdays at the saunas. NGO
representatives recalled a case when a pregnant sex worker was
forced to provide free sexual services to a large group of students
from the police academy. A representative from Center for Police
Reform vowed that he would investigate the incident if the victim
files a formal complaint. The most emotionally charged discussion
centered on the role of religion in addressing societal ills and
helping victims of prostitution. The discussion leader expressed
disappointment that the Mufti and the head of the Russian Orthodox
Diocese turned down invitations to attend. However, a
representative of the Church of Jesus Christ said that AIDS was a
punishment from God for the sin of prostitution and that the sin
would be punished for ten generations. The representative of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community expressed a more tolerant view and his
willingness to help ex-prostitutes rebuild their lives.
4. (U) One outcome of the meeting is that a leader of the Social
Democratic Party and member of Parliament, Bakyt Beshimov, vowed to
raise the issue in Parliament. Galina Kulikova, a deputy from the
majority party, Ak Zhol, said that legalization would benefit sex
workers by establishing a safe work place, trade unions, and regular
medical care. Somewhat inconsistently, she noted that legalized
prostitution should include "tougher penalties for men who go to
prostitutes." It would appear Kulikova was referring to the
so-called "Swedish model," in which it is legal to sell sex but not
to buy sex.
5. (SBU) Comment: The Women's Political Discussion Club, which was
established in 2006 with support of the National Democratic
Institute and is supported in part by a grant from the Democracy
Commission of the U.S. Embassy, is unafraid to ask tough questions
about the often-taboo topic of prostitution. The Club has wielded
its influence in the past in defeating a bill that would have
legalized polygamy. The Club is a good example of civil society in
BISHKEK 00000392 002.2 OF 002
action in Kyrgyzstan and of the role of strong, opinionated women in
Kyrgyz society.
YOVANOVITCH