ACDP Calls on Government to Protect Woman and Children

Wednesday, 8 August 2001

Cheryllyn Dudley MP - ACDP


Cheryllyn Dudley MP for the African Christian Democratic Party today
welcomed, Frank Kahn, Western Cape Director for Public Prosecutions'
announcement of the appointment of a public prosecutor who will deal
exclusively in the eradication of child prostitution. Mrs Dudley said
that she agreed with Mr Kahn, saying that the fight against prostitution
is the fight to protect our children. She said, "In Thailand, where
prostitution is legal, there are more brothels than schools. 70% of
Northern Thai girls over the age of 11 are recruited into the sex
industry in Bangkok. Children are far too precious for us to allow
crimes like these to occur here."

For this Woman's Day Mrs Dudley called on government to put a stop to
any further attempt at legalising prostitution, saying that a just legal
system never grants people freedom to harm others and it is beyond doubt
that pornography and prostitution are harmful. Mrs Dudley said that
pornography and prostitution play a significant role in the occurrence
of rape and sexual assault against women and children, by promoting and
reinforcing sexism. Statistics reveal that a woman is raped every 26
seconds and studies show that 75% of prostitutes in escourt agencies
have attempted suicide. Broken families and devastated lives are a
bitter reproach to those who say pornography and prostitution are
harmless or victimless crime.

Mrs Dudley said that despite having one of the most so-called
"progressive" constitutions in the world or perhaps because of it,
liberal and humanistic legislation has accelerated the breakdown in
family values and this has resulted in more rape and violence against
woman. Mrs Dudley said that it was time for government to protect all
women and not promote degrading and destructive lifestyles which lure
and trap the vulnerable and poor.

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For more information please call Cheryllyn Dudley MP at 082 8906520 or
ACDP Media Liaison Liza Lambert at 082 4781037