The Praja Shakthi Development Foundation says many young women who leave probation and child detention centres at age 18 are turning to sex work because they have no proper job training or support.
The foundation’s Executive Director, H. A. Lakshman, said most of these young women have faced sexual abuse or harassment before being placed in these centres by the courts. Others were sent there because they had no parents or family to care for them.
He said that when these young women leave these centres, they struggle to find jobs. With no training or protection, many choose sex work as the easiest way to earn money. Some are even abused again after returning to society, which pushes them further into this work.
Mr. Lakshman said the foundation does not pressure these young women to leave sex work but is ready to support any government programme that helps them find safer, better opportunities. Currently, around 10,000 female sex workers are registered with the foundation.
Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs Namal Sudarshana said it is difficult to confirm how many young women take up sex work, but admitted that those leaving detention often have no guardians or support.
He said the government is considering a proposal to allow these young women to stay in probation centres until age 20 or 21, instead of releasing them at 18. The Ministry also plans to offer training in cake making, beauty culture, and provide NVQ certificates to help them find proper employment.
(Source - Dailymirror)
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