BEIJING - Chinese police have taken strong exception to an AIDS prevention lecture that was given to Chinese prostitutes. The police objected to the distribution of free condoms after the event. The Center for Disease Control in China had conducted this AIDS prevention lecture last week in the northeastern region of Harbin.
Beijing News reported that the group of over 50 sex workers who attended the lecture was addressed as "sisters." Local police deemed that such a lecture was unacceptable to them.
"The usually underground prostitutes labeled their profession on their foreheads this time. Being unable to crack down, the police were really upset," the newspaper reported. Police detained the sex workers and said the presence of condoms in their handbags was proof that their detention was justified.
"Education can be carried out in various forms," the Beijing News quoted a Harbin police officer as saying. "But it is hard for us to accept this kind of public lecture." Wen Yingchun, an official with the center's AIDS prevention segment said it was necessary to educate sex workers since they are prone to AIDS as well as other sexually transmitted diseases. "If we neglect this group of people, it's irresponsible," Wen said.
Following the Communist revolution in 1949, prostitution was banned in China, but has made a comeback after reforms were introduced in 1980s.
In China it is estimated that 650,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS. The infection is primarily transmitted through sexual contact although drug users are not far behind as a cause. China has been slow to admit that there is an AIDS problem in its society. However recently it has increased measures to step up the AIDS fight.
