In response to the growing number of women and girls forced into prostitution by military services members, government contractors, and international peace keepers in places such as Eastern Europe and South Korea, defense officials have drafted an amendment to the manual on courts-martial that would make the use of services of prostitutes an offense for service members. The amendment is a part of a larger initiative to ensure that American service members do not continue to contribute to the problem of human trafficking. Currently, new arrivals to duty receive instruction against participating in prostitution and human trafficking and the military is collaborating with South Korean law enforcement agencies. In addition, officials are in the process of developing a training program for service members that will explain trafficking, the Department’s policy on it and the possible legal repercussions for violation of the policy. Further, the military the ways in which it might restrict servicemen from frequenting businesses where prostitution and like activities take place. Finally, the military is making efforts to make on-base military life more tolerable by providing more evening and weekend education programs, band concerts, sports leagues and chaplain services.
Compiled from: "Anti-Prostitution Rule Drafted for U.S. Forces," Pauline Jelinek, The Washington Post, 22 September 2004.