Contributed by: Vanja Mikulic and Irena Milatovic, Montenegro National VAW Monitors

Montenegrin NGOs – Women’s Safe House and Montenegrin Women’s Lobby from Podgorica, together with European Women’s Lobby from Brussels, have finished the draft Law on decriminalization of prostitution. The core of the law, which, very soon, will be circulated to all political parties in Montenegro and to students’ unions for commenting/on public hearing, is illegalization of prostitution and punishing the users of the prostitutes’ services.

Also, it is suggested to confiscate the property of the persons who are becoming rich by selling female bodies. Claims that legalization and regulation of prostitution is reducing the violence against women who are prostitutes, as well as improving health state in sex industry, are unproven and should be carefully investigated.

Law states precisely that women in prostitution should be decriminalized, while recruiters, pimps, mediators, owners of the bordellos and users should be punished.

Source: http://www.zinecanima.cg.yu/Ebilteni/April2006.htm.