Thai women participating in a press conference stand next to a campaign poster asking for equal rights for sex workers in Bangkok, 27 November 2003. Thailand's justice ministry began 27 November a two-day public hearing to debate whether its famous sex industry should be legalised, with participants including prostitutes, academics and lawyers airing their views. AFP

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai prostitutes and academics on Thursday told a public forum that they strongly opposed legalising the nation's sex industry, arguing it would increase child exploitation and lure more women to the trade.

"To legalise prostitution is like handing human traffickers a gift," Weerada Somsawasdi from Chiang Mai University's women's studies unit said at the debate on legalisation, organised by the justice ministry.

Weerada said the experience of western countries which decriminalised prostitution showed that trafficking in humans destined to be sold into the sex trade had exploded as a result.

"Child prostitutes increased three-fold in these countries," she said.

Some 100 sex workers at the meeting were unanimous in saying they did not want legalisation but did demand improved conditions in return for the taxes they paid indirectly through the bars and massage parlours they worked for.

"We want to have welfare benefits like employees in other businesses. We are paying tax to the government but we do not receive anything in return," said one sex worker who declined to be named.

Prostitutes are also concerned over a proposal to register sex workers, a move they fear will further stigmatise them.

The Thai government, which is keen to stamp out Bangkok's image as a sex tourism destination, has said it wants to garner public opinion before considering legalising prostitution.

"Prostitution is a problem affecting many aspects of society and it is a chronic problem ... so this is a chance for those for and against legalisation to express their views freely," said Justice Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana.

"The government is likely to respond quickly and amend the existing law if a large segment of the public reaches this conclusion," he told the meeting. Pasuk Phongpaichit, author of several well-regarded books on Thailand's underground economy, said legalisation would only benefit the tycoons who own the nation's massage parlours and go-go bars.

"The benefit would not go to the women but to the enterpreneurs and police. Legalising prostitution would boost the commercial sex trade instead of empowering women," she told the meeting.

"It would only encourage more women to enter the sex trade." The most recent legislation governing Thailand's sex industry, passed in 1996, substantially increased penalties for selling children into the trade while reducing punishment for sex workers.

Transcript
This is a transcript from The World Today. The program is broadcast around Australia at 12:10pm on ABC Local Radio. You can also listen to the story in REAL AUDIO and WINDOWS MEDIA formats.