Christian activists in India who are working for women’s empowerment welcomed a Supreme Court order recognizing sex work as a profession.
John Dayal, a writer and activist, said the court decision, “seen without moralizing or religious glasses, restores dignity to millions of women who live out their lives in the country’s ‘red light’ areas.”
Holy Cross Sister Prema Chowallur, who campaigns against human trafficking in northeastern India, “strongly” supports the court decision that she said favors the voiceless and the marginalized.
“Some of the sex workers are by choice while others by force,” said the nun. “Nevertheless, all of them are victims of sexual abuse and assault and are deprived of basic human rights and dignity of life,” she added.
A three-judge bench led by Justice L Nageswara Rao this week recognized sex work as a “profession” and said their practitioners are entitled to dignity and equal protection under law.
The court also ordered that police not to interfere nor take criminal action against adult and consenting sex workers.
“Sex workers are entitled to equal protection of the law. Criminal law must apply equally in all cases, on the basis of ‘age’ and ‘consent.’ When it is clear that the sex worker is an adult and is participating with consent, the police must refrain from interfering or taking any criminal action,” read the court order.
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