Prostitution in India: Laws, debates and responses

Gangoli, G.

Abstract

This chapter explains in detail the prostitution in India. The existing national laws and policy regarding prostitution and trafficking for prostitution are discussed. The chapter then examines the implementation of the laws by the police, and judicial pronouncements looking at the extent to which women in the profession have access to rights under the law. Additionally, it investigates the proposals to legalise prostitution in one state in India, and the extent to which patriarchal assumptions about prostitution are challenged or strengthened by the proposed laws. The chapter also probes the policy suggestions made by the central government that seek to combine politically correct language and feminist rhetoric with conservative notions of prostitution and women in prostitution. There is little consensus on whether legalisation or decriminalisation would benefit women and children in prostitution.

Citation

Gangoli, G. (2006). Prostitution in India: Laws, debates and responses. In G. Gangoli, & N. Westmarland (Eds.), International approaches to prostitution: Law and policy in Europe and Asia (114 - 139). Policy Press. https://doi.org/10.1332/policypress/9781861346728.003.0007

• Publication Date: 2006
• Deposit Date: Jul 22, 2020
• Publisher: Policy Press
• Pages: 114 - 139
• Book Title: International approaches to prostitution: Law and policy in Europe and Asia
• Chapter Number: 6
• ISBN: 9781447302612,9781861346728
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1332/policypress/9781861346728.003.0007
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1651208