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Prevention and awareness in the domain of prostitution |
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Author : Carole Wahnoun, translation by Marie-Claire Verniengeal
Prevention and awareness regarding prostitution are two paramount actions to combat both exploitation of prostitution and human trafficking with the purpose of sexual exploitation.
revention consists of anticipatory actions and “all preventative measures against danger, risk and nuisance in order to prevent their occurrence.”1
Awareness deals with making someone or a group of people sensitive to someone or something: “Apply concretely the arousing of interest (of someone, of a group)”2
The modes of prevention are visible since they aim to combat the motivations for prostitution. However the causes are actually more diverse though they are often akin to social marginalisation linked to destitution or drug addiction. The point is to put an end to silence and taboos through awareness and prevention. Getting to know prostitution in a more objective way allows one to consider the question in a more effective and realistic way, as it should be.
Awareness and prevention are as necessary as reintegration. Although awareness and prevention are different stages in the domain of prostitution , nevertheless they occur most of the time simultaneously:
actually it is difficult to increase awareness whilst leaving aside prevention; similarly there is no good prevention in the absence of previous awareness. Thus prevention and awareness go hand in hand as
dissemination of the knowledge necessarily comes before prevention. They will therefore be addressed jointly herein.
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1. The people involved
If we consider that prostitution is “ the magnifying mirror of men’s domination over women”,1it is necessary to fight the all the causes which lead some persons to become prostitutes, clients of prostitutes or pimps. To become a prostitute, or even a client or a pimp is due to social and psychological factors( see files: Prostitutes, Pimps).
Prevention and awareness initiatives should concern all members of the public, from children to adults, particularly the high-risk groups (youth, delinquents….)The types of awareness methods will differ depending on whether they focus on men, women, children, adults, the victim’s social class. Thus ways of thinking and mentalities have to be changed in the domain of prostitution.
“Governmental and UNESCO decision-makers should be advised to develop programmes aimed at schools and the media, intended to restore the image of women in society, to erase prejudices towards women and to promote full gender equality through concrete measures.”2
It is obvious then that “regular information campaigns”3 should be launched.
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