Good and bad effects of brothels

 A CHURCH elder and a non-governmental organisation in the highlands yesterday showed mixed reactions over the call made by sex workers in Mt Hagen to legalise brothels.

The sex workers want the government to legalise brothels in the country to minimise the spread of HIV/AIDS and create a conducive environment where proper checks can be carried out to allow people to satisfy their sexual needs.

Head bishop of Lutheran Gutnius Church of PNG David Piso said there were many problems in the country and the government was trying to address it with  tough penalties.

Piso, who spoke on behalf of the churches, said the Bible clearly spoke out against prostitution and the churches in the country would not support the idea.

“If the government listens to the sex workers and legalise brothers, it will clearly show that we don’t care about our people and will add more problems to the existing ones that the government is trying to address,” he said.

Piso said it was an immoral activity which would destroy mental, social, physical and spiritual well-being of the people.

“The Bible clearly states that sex should be used only in marriage and not something to be played around with outside,” Piso said.

He said awareness had been carried out by rhe government, NGOs and other stakeholders about HIV/AIDS and the message had penetrated the rural areas.

He said people knew about the HIV/AIDS but still engaged in prostitution and were risking their  lives.

Anderias Pu, the coordinator of the Foundation of Rural Development (FORD), said there were good and bad sides to the call made by sex workers.

Pu said the good side included the fact that sex workers wanted to earn their living in an honest way, prevent others from being infected and minimise the spread of the serious virus.

The adverse side could destroy families, cause marriage breakdowns and see money spent in brothels instead of family needs, causing the family  to suffer.