The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs suggested the National Assembly Standing Committee and the Government send homosexual prostitutes to treatment facilities during a meeting on fighting social ills last Wednesday.
At the meeting, Nguyen Ngoc Thach, head of the department's Social Ills Prevention Division said since 2011 the city has conducted 11,107 checks at recreational facilities and busted 7,252 prostitution-related cases. The agency has issued fines totaling VND15 billion (US$ 720,000).
In recent years, there is a growing trend of homosexual prostitutes, especially male sex workers in disguised places like spas, massage parlors or gyms.
The situation even involves college students and foreigners. Many cases occur in public places like on the streets or in the parks.
The department demanded that homosexual prostitutes who are caught for the second time be sent to treatment facilities for reeducation.
It also suggested adapting ordinances and guidelines against prostitution to the current situation. It is crucial to impose heavier punishment on prostitutes and brothels.
According to statistics released at the conference about HIV prevention and community reintegration held by Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Social Ills Prevention (DSEP) last April, males having sex with males (MSM) have the second highest rate of HIV infection after drug users.
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