Prostitution decriminalised in Taiwan

via Mistress Aliya - Taiwan OKs legalized prostitution zone.

Taiwan began a process of legalizing prostitution Wednesday making the island the latest place in the world to decriminalize the world's oldest profession.

In six months, authorities will stop punishing Taiwan sex workers after prostitutes successfully campaigned to be given the same protection as their clients, a government spokesman said. [Reuters]

This after much campaigning by The Collective of Sex Workers and Supporters. Why?

'Premier Liu Chao-shiuan has decided in principle to decriminalize sex workers based on upholding the working and human rights of those people,' said Jiang Yi-huah, minister of the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission, at a news conference. [Asia-Pacific News]

Imagine.

And at The Straits Times -

Sex workers' opinions should be included in the law-making process while the health department can offer them free screening for sexually transmitted diseases, a cabinet statement said.

Taiwan's listened to it's sex workers. When are we going to listen to ours?