Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Taiwan to scrap law punishing prostitutes

Updated at 10:25 am on 8 November 2009

Taiwan's constitutional court has said it will scrap a law that means prostitutes can be punished but allows their clients to go free.

The court said the law violates the principle of equality in the Taiwanese constitution and will be invalidated within two years.

At present, prostitutes face fines or detention for three days.

Taiwan's sex industry is estimated to generate annual revenues worth more than $US1 billion.

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