SEX WORK AND THE LAW - HIV/AIDS Data Hub

standard operating procedures of law enforcement agencies that provide for the
closure of entertainment establishments found with condoms, which were considered
evidence of unlawful sex work.
ASEP worked with local government units and NGOs to advocate for ordinances mandating
the implementation of HIV prevention programmes with sex workers. 535
A controversial action research project funded by the Canadian International Development
Agency in Angeles City involved Canadian academics working with police and the courts
to address the legal environment for bar-based sex workers. Educational interventions
involved sensitizing police and judges to the needs of sex workers. 536 The project was
designed with the Philippine National Police and Supreme Court, the Angeles University
Foundation, and two women’s organizations. The project has been criticized for failing to
engage sex workers in the design and implementation of the research, or in the reporting
of the outcomes of the interventions. 537
6.8 Singapore
Legal
SEX WORK IN
PRIVATE
Illegal
SOLICITING
Illegal
BROTHELS
6.8.1 Laws
Sex work is legal but the Women’s Charter criminalizes procuring (Section 140), living on
the earnings of sex work (Section 146) and managing a brothel (Section 148). Soliciting in
public for the purpose of sex work is an offence under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public
Order and Nuisance) Act (Section 19).
6.8.2 Law enforcement practices
In practice, police allow a limited number of brothels to operate in well-defined redlight
districts (Designated Red-light Areas, or ‘DRAs’). 538 There are no officially ‘licensed’
brothels; however police have an approval process for brothels in the six Designated Redlight
Areas. Sex workers in these premises are issued a yellow health card for recording
regular medical examinations. All clients are required to use condoms. 539
535 Linsangan R, Garcia D, Gallo E, Aquino C, D'Agnes L. (2002) Two models of advocacy to legislate HIV
prevention policies, Int Conf AIDS. 2002: abstract no. G12495.
536 Ralston M., Keeble E. (2009) Reluctant Bedfellows: Feminism, Activism, and Prostitution in the Philippines.
Washington: Kumarian Press.
537 See e.g., Delfeld H., (2010) Review of Ralston M, Keeble E, Reluctant Bedfellows: Feminism, Activism and
Prostitution in the Philippines. H-Human-Rights, H-Net Reviews. February 2010.
538 See e.g.,: http://geylangredlightdistrict.com/.
539 Sex business is booming in Singapore, Taipei Times, 5 March 2011; Singapore Clients Will Face Charges if
Prostitutes the Under Age of 18, Jakarta Globe, 13 February 2012.
154