20180412 《經濟學人》論道－塞內加爾風俗業另闢新徑

來自專欄 LynnTra 經濟學人翻譯4 人贊了文章

原文鏈接：

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/04/12/senegals-innovative-approach-to-prostitution

The Economist explains

《經濟學人》論道

Senegals innovative approach to prostitution

塞內加爾風俗業另闢新徑

Its HIV prevalence rateis lower even than Washington, DC

該國艾滋病毒感染率比華盛頓特區還低

The Economist explains

Apr 12th 2018 by W.B. DAKAR

VIOLENCE against women, anti-prostitution laws and poor health-care systems all make sub-Saharan Africa an appalling place to be a sex worker. Criminalised by many African states and exploited by corrupt officials, many women are forced into the world of organised crime. Worse still, they have been at the forefront ofthe continent』s ongoing AIDS epidemic. One study in 2013 found that in 16 African countries, an average of 37% of sex workers were HIV positive. Yet one African country does things differently. Senegal is the only place in Africa where sex workers are regulated by the state. Identification cards confirm the women as sex workers and give them access to some free health care, condoms and education initiatives. Why is this small west African state so different?

對女性施暴、反賣淫法案以及不健全的醫療體制使撒哈拉以南的非洲地區讓性從業者望而生畏。許多非洲國家判定性工作非法，腐敗官員剝削性工作者，因此不少從業女性被迫進入有組織犯罪團伙。更糟糕的是她們一直身處非洲大陸艾滋流行病現狀的風口浪尖。2013年的一項研究發現：在16個非洲國家，平均有37%的性工作者攜帶陽性艾滋病毒（HIV）。然而有一個非洲國家獨樹一幟：塞內加爾——非洲唯一一個性工作者受國家監管的地方。該國用身份證確認從業女性的性工作者身份，並為其提供一些免費醫療保健、避孕套和教育。為什麼這個西非小國如此不同呢？

The Senegalese system has its roots inthe country』s colonial legacy. French legislation that regulated prostitution in order to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases was kept on the books after independence in 1960, when many other Francophonecountries dropped it. In the 1980s Senegal responded to the HIV epidemic sweeping across the continent by establishing a range of policies to counter the threat, and to target vulnerable populations. One measure involved revamping the regulationof sex work, which under the French had required sex workers to register with the authorities. The system was reinforced after the HIV epidemic and the authorities tried to get as many women as possible to sign up.

塞內加爾體制源於該國的被殖民歷史。法國在其殖民國家為預防性傳播疾病的蔓延對風俗業進行法律監管，很多非洲法語國家獨立後即廢除相關法律，但塞內加爾於1960年獨立後仍將之保留在案。1980年代，塞內加爾制定了一系列對抗威脅的政策並瞄準弱勢群體，用以回擊彼時肆虐非洲大陸的艾滋流行病毒。其中一項措施是改善性工作法規，此前法國規定性工作者必須在當局機構登記。這套體制在當時的艾滋病疫情後得以強化，當局設法讓儘可能多的從業女性登記在案。

Today, the law enshrinesa woman』s right to work in the sex trade if she is over 21. Health check-ups are mandatory every month a woman wants her sex worker identity card to stay valid (women found without one can be arrested or fined). If a sex worker contracts HIV, she will not have her license revoked completely, and so will not be forced underground. Such women are given free antiretroviral drugsthat decrease infectiousness and prolong life. Crucially, once they are on the treatmentthey are allowed to continue practising. The country』s different approach means that between 2002 and 2016 the prevalence of HIV among sex workers fell by 21 percentage points to an impressive 7%.

如今塞內加爾法律保護21歲以上女性從事性交易的權利。如果從業女性想要保證其性工作身份證的有效性，則有義務每月體檢（一旦被發現沒有相關證明會被逮捕或罰款）。如果一名性工作者感染上艾滋病毒，也不會被完全吊銷執照，這樣就不會被迫進入黑市；而是會拿到免費的抗反轉錄病毒藥物，用以降低感染強度和延長生命。關鍵是一旦她們開始治療，就可以繼續執業。塞內加爾的另闢新徑意味著該國在2002至2016年間，性工作者的艾滋病毒感染率降至令人吃驚的7％，降幅21%。

The system is far from perfect. Senegal』s regulated system is a long way from, say, Sweden』s decriminalised model. Many sex workers do not sign up to the initiative because they face discrimination and marginalisation. Many also fear that registration could count against them in future. NGOs say police officers often abuse their power, demanding sex and money from prostitutes. The fact that the system only caters forwomen is another flaw, with no apparent acknowledgement many sex workers are male. Nonetheless, in comparison withother African nations, Senegal』s system is impressive and has contributed to low HIV prevalence rate of 0.4%. The average in sub-Saharan Africa is 4.3%. In Washington, DC the rate is 1.9%.

當然該體制遠非完美。比如相比於瑞典的除罪化模式，塞內加爾的監管體制還有很長的路要走。很多性工作者因為害怕受到歧視、被邊緣化，不去當局登記；不少也擔心登記在案會對自己的未來不利。非政府組織稱該國警察經常濫用職權，強迫妓女性交並索要錢財。此外還有一個缺陷就是該體制只適用於女性，它沒有明確承認不少男性從業者的事實。但較之非洲其它國家，塞內加爾的風俗業體制可圈可點，它讓全國的艾滋病毒感染率低至0.4％，而撒哈拉以南的非洲地區平均為4.3％，華盛頓特區1.9％。

譯註：

Antiretroviral抗反轉錄病毒藥物：一類治療逆轉錄病毒（主要是HIV）感染的藥物。

Decriminalization除罪化、非刑事化

指將原本被刑法所處罰的行為變成刑法不處罰的行為。

一般而言，除罪化是經由修改法律、對法律加以解釋或由法院停止適用某一法律而達成，由與刑法對於人民權益的侵害甚鉅，因此部分不涉具體法意侵害的行為也常有除罪化的呼聲。除罪化往往僅指免於國家施以的刑罰，不等於合法化，並不必代表免除全部的法律責任，就算除罪化，該行為通常還是必須面對民事的損害賠償責任，或改用行政罰，特別在有懲罰性損害賠償制度的國家，刑罰系通常是被高額的損害賠償所取代。