The government has decided to review the Anti-Prostitution Law, which was enacted in 1948. The law prohibits the act of prostitution, but some say that the punishment is only for those who provide prostitution, and not for those who buy it, is unfair. The law currently punishes those who manage or run brothels, or who engage in prostitution, with imprisonment of up to 6 months or a fine of up to 1.5 million yen. However, those who buy prostitution are not punished. There are opinions for and against punishing those who buy prostitution. Those who are in favor say that it is necessary to reduce demand for prostitution in order to prevent it, and that it is unfair that only those who provide prostitution are punished. On the other hand, some say that punishing those who buy prostitution would be an invasion of privacy, and that it would be difficult to enforce. There are also opinions that say that prostitution is a necessary service for some people, and that it should be regulated rather than prohibited. The government plans to gather opinions from experts and the public, and to consider the issue carefully. The review of the law is expected to be a difficult and complex process. The issue of whether or not to punish those who buy prostitution is a key point in the review of the Anti-Prostitution Law. The government will need to consider a range of opinions and evidence in order to make a decision. The review of the law has been prompted by concerns that the current law is not effective in preventing prostitution, and that it is not fair to punish only those who provide it. The government hopes to find a solution that will reduce the harm caused by prostitution, while also protecting the rights of those involved.
We haven't written up this one. The Asahi Shimbun has the full story — the link below goes straight to it.
