KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- Stringent laws are needed to stem the growing child prostitution in the country, Datin Seri N.Saraswathy Devi, president of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida) said Tuesday.
"Malaysia has seen an increase in child prostitution with an average of about 150-160 local girls being detained annually for participation in immoral activities," she said in her paper at the five-day Fida XXXII International Convention here.
Pushing for the death penalty for human traffickers, like drug traffickers, she said: "We need a deterrent legislation. Men using these women must be punished and hotels involved in these activities must also be penalised."
She said children around the region were also facing the dangers of being smuggled for begging and prostitution in countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.
"Malaysia has, over the years, been a choice location for both trafficking women and girls in and out of the country, which is considered an optimal transit point," she said.
Saraswathy said Malaysia received women and girls from countries like Indonesia, Thailand, China, India, Russia and several eastern European countries.
In Malaysia, approximately 150,000 women are in prostitution and they are mainly adult women.
"Combating trafficking and prostitution of women and girls requires the cooperation of legal systems, governments, non-governmental organisations and the private sector. Only then we can further the aim we share.
"Combating corruption is a major part of fighting trafficking of women and girls and governments should set up specialised means of dealing with corruption," she said.
Saraswathy, the wife of former Selangor police chief Tan Sri P. Alagendra, said the law must ensure the protection of victims and witnesses as well as prohibit illicit work and exploitation of women and girls.
She said the flesh trade was a flourishing industry, growing along with the expanding global trade and tourism sectors, with lucrative source of income.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Bar Council called on the government to act promptly to formulate laws to protect the victims of human trafficking.
Its president, Yeo Yang Poh, said such crimes had reached critical proportions due to the lack of such laws.
"The victims are forced and some are even abducted to carry out immoral activities like prostitution. So, the syndicates using these victims should be punished," he said when asked to comment on former lord president Sultan Azlan Shah's statement that victims of human trafficking should not be treated like criminals.
"For starters, the government should hold a forum with the non-governmental organisations (NGOs), consultants and the relevant ministries to come up with a law that will protect victims of the flesh trade," Yeo said.
The country's legal system would be tested with the formulation of the new law, he added.
2012 Hotel Corporate Rates Attending seminars? Going for a holiday? Click on the link above to check out the list of hotel corporate rates for Members of the Bar, which is updated regularly.
Talk on Intellectual Property Law (10 Feb 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, the talk on “Intellectual Property Law” will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 10 Feb 2012 (Friday). The talk will feature Bahari Yeow Tien Hong. Click on the link above for more details.
The Case of the Missing Penang Lawyer: Charity Treasure Hunt 2012 (12 Feb 2012) Organised by the Penang Bar Committee Social Subcommittee in aid of the National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM), this event will take place at Straits Quay, Penang, on 12 Feb 2012 (Sunday). Deadline for registration is 6 Feb 2012 (Monday). Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings (21 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, the seminar on “The Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings”, featuring Sanjeev Kumar Rasiah, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 21 Feb 2012 (Tuesday). Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Conveyancing (24 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar featuring Jeremiah R Gurusamy will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 24 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Mediation Skills Training Course (29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012) Organised by Bar Council, the Mediation Skills Training Course will take place at 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, at Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012 (Wednesday to Sunday). Deadline for registration and payment is 17 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on “Land Fraud: An Australian Perspective” (13 Mar 2012) Organised by IGIL, GSGSG and UUM COLGIS, this free talk featuring Quintin George Rozario of Delta Law, Brisbane, Australia, will take place at 9:00 am, at Dewan Seminar A, Pusat Konvensyen, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah, on 13 Mar 2012 (Tuesday). To RSVP, contact Mr Abutt (04-928 4397; abutt@uum.edu.my).
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KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- Stringent laws are needed to stem the growing child prostitution in the country, Datin Seri N.Saraswathy Devi, president of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida) said Tuesday.
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Circular No 019/2012: Change of Address for Pejabat Pengarah Tanah dan Galian Wilayah Persekutuan
