PAYING FOR SEX IN THE "CITY OF JOY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000090 SENSITIVE SIPDIS G/TIP FOR MARK TAYLOR; SCA/INS FOR SABA GHORI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SOCI KTIP KWMN KHIV IN SUBJECT: PAYING FOR SEX IN THE "CITY OF JOY REF: NEW DELHI 394 KOLKATA 00000090 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Kolkata's red-light district, one of the largest in Asia, provides a real-life case study of the intersection of the policy debates on the legalization of prostitution, trafficking in persons, and human health. Working in a nebulous legal environment where sex workers, but not their clients, may be arrested for public solicitations of sex, the relatively liberal city of Kolkata has tacitly acknowledged the existence of "red-light" districts and focused its law enforcement activities on the involvement of minors in the sex industry and trafficking in persons. In West Bengal a sex worker association advocates for legal protection and increased social recognition on behalf of its predominantly female membership. Government health agencies and donors have used this organization as an implementing partner for HIV prevention programs. Kolkata's experience suggests that governments and agencies interested in effectively combating trafficking and preventing the spread of disease would benefit from considering sex worker associations as legitimate stakeholders and solution providers in the process. End Summary. ¶2. (U) This cable is part of the Mission's "Women in India" reporting series (Reftel) and draws on field visits and conversations with government health and police officials, journalists, and NGOs in Kolkata. Sonagachi - Kolkata's Largest Red-Light District ¶3. (U) Sonagachi (Bengali for `Golden Tree') is the largest red-light district in Kolkata and one of the largest in Asia. The district's images and stories were captured in the Oscar-nominated film "Born into Brothels" about the children of Kolkata sex workers. Approximately 12,000 active sex workers and a supporting maze of pimps, madams, brothel-owners and middlemen work in the dilapidated buildings spread over four square kilometers in this North Kolkata middle-class neighborhood. More than 300 years old, the neighborhood currently caters to middle-class men who pay anywhere from USD 2 to 40 for an "encounter." According to police and NGO contacts, the industry has recently begun moving away from established brothels, such as those in Sonagachi, to public solicitations for travel to, and performance in, establishments located outside of the city. ;Prostitution's Legality ¶4. (SBU) The Indian penal code is intentionally vague on the "legality" of prostitution. The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act of 1986 permits consensual, voluntary, private arrangements between adults for sexual acts; however, the Act prohibits brothel-type arrangements and public solicitation. Current debate is centered on whether or not the act of soliciting sex for cash, for the provider or solicitor, should be a punishable offense. According to city and state criminal investigators, the red-light districts are "tolerated" so long as there is no minor involvement, trafficking, or violent crime. According to contacts, business owners operating in or near red light areas, as well as local residents, have a vested interest in keeping the district "clean" from violent crime so as not to invite government raids in the area that would interfere with legitimate business (there are shops and snack stands in the area) or "legal" prostitution. Prostitution's Cultural and Historical Roots in Kolkata ¶5. (U) Most residents recognize prostitution as a part of the complex fabric of life in Kolkata. While the foreign influences in this cosmopolitan city explain in part the development of several of the red-light districts in the former British capital, the roots run much deeper. For instance, the clay idols used during the Hindu festival of Durga Puja, which has particular importance in West Bengal, are formed with materials from various sources, including clay taken from the doorways of prostitutes. Historically, courtesans were accorded a special place in the past courts of former Hindu and Muslim rulers. In a religious context, the tradition of "deva dasis" (servants of the divine) has its roots in the Vedic past of India. Young girls were "consecrated" to the divine idol in a temple and made to dance and sing there in order to please the divinity. According to historians, the tradition degraded over time and many young girls ended up being exploited by Hindu priests and wealthy temple patrons. Sex Workers' Association ¶6. (U) Since the organization's founding in 1995, Durbar Mahla Samanwaya Committee (DMSC),has advocated for legal and social KOLKATA 00000090 002.2 OF 002 recognition of sex workers in the state of West Bengal. While legally organized as a union, it operates more as an association (no collective bargaining) to promote the interests of the 70,000 male, female and transgender workers. While it has made little progress in its quest to legalize prostitution, it reports having made inroads in furthering the social acceptance of sex workers. ¶7. (SBU) NGO contacts disagree on the value of DMSC's work and possible collaboration with the organization, mainly due to ideological differences on whether to legalize prostitution. Contacts from a prominent women's rights organization, Apne Aap Worldwide, ardently oppose all forms of prostitution and criticize DMSC for its unapologetic vested interests in improving the industry. Contacts from the Christian organization International Justice Mission told PolOff that while they appreciate DMSC's work in Sonagachi, they prefer not to work with them because of differences in core values. In contrast, in March, a wide range of personalities, including the Kolkata mayor, attended DMSC's annual Sex Worker's Day activities. DMSC has also worked with the West Bengal State AIDS Control Society to improve hygiene in brothels and encourage the use of condoms. They successfully partnered with the society to encourage association members to utilize the HIV testing and counseling centers in Sonagachi and other red-light areas. Comment ¶8. (SBU) In West Bengal, sex workers are viewed by most people as a natural part of society and legitimate stakeholders in the debates surrounding trafficking and HIV prevention. DMSC has clearly raised the profile of sex workers in the city and while the debate on whether prostitution should be legalized continues, it is worth considering how organizations such as DMSC can assist in efforts to combat child prostitution, trafficking and the spread of HIV/AIDS. PAYNE