Phone Number For Prostitutes? All Answers

Sometimes referred to as “the oldest profession”, prostitution is known by many names, from street walkers and brothels to sophisticated call girls or escort services. Whatever the word, prostitution is illegal in nearly all fifty states.

In its simplest definition, prostitution is the exchange of a sexual act for money. State laws have expanded the definition to make it a crime to offer, consent to, or engage in a sexual act for compensation of any kind.

Prostitution is illegal nationwide except in Nevada

Prostitution is illegal in all states except certain parts of Nevada where it is strictly regulated. Some state laws criminalize the act of prostitution, and other state laws criminalize the acts of soliciting prostitution, organizing prostitution, and operating a prostitution house.

Fees may apply at various stages of a typical “transaction” depending on applicable country law. Law enforcement authorities can bring charges against the provider of services (for “prostitution”), the customer paying for the services (for “solicitation of prostitution”), and any intermediary involved (for “pandering” or “pimping”).

In most states, offering sexual services, or agreeing to provide those services for money, is considered prostitution, whether the services are provided or not. That’s why those sting surgeries you see on TV are successful. The prostitute agrees to perform the service, the undercover police pays for the service, and then handcuffs the prostitute without the service being performed.

Prostitution under federal law

The federal government largely leaves the prosecution of prostitution to the states. However, the federal government is trying to protect minors and is addressing trafficking for prostitution, both interstate and import.

The Mann Act, enacted in 1910, was intended to prohibit the transportation of people across state lines for the purpose of paid sexual activity or debauchery, but over the years the law has changed. It now makes it a crime to carry a person in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent that the person engage in prostitution or other illegal sexual activity (section 2421).

The federal government prohibits prostitution near military installations.

invitation to prostitution

The person paying for the sexual services, sometimes called “Johns,” can be charged with inciting prostitution. Soliciting prostitution is a crime in which a person agrees to exchange money for sex. The agreement does not have to be explicit. A person’s actions may be enough to demonstrate approval. The solicitation charge can be increased by soliciting prostitution with a minor, often resulting in the misdemeanor charge becoming a felony.

The crime of soliciting prostitution occurs the moment you agree to pay for sex and take steps to further that agreement. Solicitation simply means encouraging someone to commit a crime. It does not matter whether the crime is actually committed or not. An act in furtherance of an agreement can be almost any act that shows a willingness to honor the agreement, such as withdrawing money from an ATM.

penalties and sentencing

Depending on the offense and the circumstances of the arrest, incitement and prostitution are punishable in most states with a minimum fine and imprisonment for the first offense. However, penalties for subsequent offenses are increasing and can be significant.

Federal violations of the prostitution trade carry potential prison terms of 5 to 10 years and fines.

Get professional help from a criminal justice attorney

A conviction for prostitution or incitement can carry penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment, but it can also carry a social stigma that’s difficult to shake off. It is important to realize that you are innocent until the government proves your case beyond a reasonable doubt. Defense options are available and an experienced criminal defense attorney can ensure you present your strongest case or review all of the plea options available to you.

Neighborhood in Kolkata in West Bengal, India

Sonagachi is a neighborhood in Kolkata, India, located in North Kolkata near the intersection of Jatindra Mohan Avenue (north of C.R. Avenue) with Beadon Street and Sovabazar, about a kilometer north of the Marble Palace area. Sonagachi is one of the largest red-light districts in Asia, with several hundred multi-story brothels housing more than 16,000 commercial sex workers.[3][4][5]

Etymology[ edit ]

Sona Gachi means “Tree of Gold” in Bengali. According to legend, in the early days of Kolkata, the area was the cave of a notorious Dacoit named Sanaullah, who lived here with his mother. At his death, the grieving woman is said to have heard a voice from her hut saying, “Mother, don’t cry. I have become a Gazi,” and so began the legend of Sona Gazi. The mother built a mosque in memory of her son, but it fell into disrepair. The Sona Gazi was converted into Sonagachi.[6]

Red light district[ edit ]

Current situation[edit]

Several NGOs and government organizations operate in Sonagachi to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including AIDS. The book Guilty Without Trial by the founders of the NGO Sanlaap bases much of their research on human trafficking in India in this area.

The Sonagachi Project is a sex workers’ cooperative that operates in the area and empowers sex workers to insist on condom use and speak out against abuse. Run by the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee and founded by health scientist Smarajit Jana in 1992, it is now largely run by the prostitutes themselves. While some credit the DMSC with keeping HIV infection rates relatively low among prostitutes, an estimated 5.17% of Sonagachi’s 13,000 prostitutes are HIV positive.[7] This rate is close to the average HIV rate for female prostitutes in India, which is estimated at 5.1%, although the HIV infection rate among both prostitutes and the general population in India varies widely from region to region.[ 8th] According to some sources, Sonagachi prostitutes who test positive for HIV are not informed of the results and live with the disease without knowing it “because the DMSC is concerned that HIV-positive women are being ostracized.”[9] Some prostitutes in Sonagachi have said that “the customers, at least three quarters of them” refuse to use condoms and “if we force them to use the condom, they just walk next door. So many women work here and end up all willing to work without protection for fear of losing the trade.”[9]

Besides the Sonagachi project, the DMSC also runs several similar projects in West Bengal, organizing about 65,000 prostitutes and their children. The organization advocates for the recognition of the rights of sex workers and full legalization, runs literacy and vocational training programs and provides microcredit.[10][11] The DMSC held India’s first national sex workers’ congress in Calcutta on November 14, 1997 entitled “Sex Work Is Real Work: We Demand Workers’ Rights”.[12] The book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide reports investigations revealing that the DMSC, contrary to stated policy, allows sex slavery, human trafficking and underage girls in the Sonagachi Project brothels.[13]

Popular culture[ edit ]

The documentary Born into Bordhels: Calcutta’s Red Light Kids won the 2005 Oscar for Best Documentary.[14] It depicts the lives of children born to prostitutes in Sonagachi. Born into Bordhels takes the viewer beyond the well-known streets clogged with prostitutes into the homes of the children living in the so-called worst place on earth. If film has a success story, it’s the discovery of ten-year-old Avijit, whose natural affinity for exciting compositions through the lens earned him an invitation to the World Press Photo Foundation in Amsterdam.

Sahir Ludhianavi wrote

Ye duniya do rangi hai

Ek taraf se resham ode, ek taraf se nangi hai

Ek taraf andhi daulat ki paagal aish parasti

Ek taraf jismoñ ki qeemat roti se bhi sasti

Ek taraf hai Sonaagaachi, ek taraf Chaurangi hai

Ye duniya do rangi hai

Meaning:

This world has two faces

One side covered in silk, the other bare

On the one hand the hedonism of blind wealth

On the other hand, corpses were sold cheaper than bread

On one side is Sonagachi, on the other Chowringhee

This world has two faces

There is also a documentary called Tales of The Night Fairies by Prof. Shohini Ghosh and Dr. Sabeena Ghadioke from Asia’s leading media institute AJK, Mass Communication Research Centre, on the Sonagachi area. It won the Jeevika Award for Best Documentary on Living in India.[15]

Popular actor Kamal Haasan’s film Mahanadhi has a plot based on the area. The Malayalam film Calcutta News tells the story of women who are trafficked in Sonagachi and forced to become sex workers.[16]

In his documentary The Five Obstructions, renowned Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier asks poet and experimental filmmaker Jorgen Leth to name the worst place on earth he has ever visited, and Leth immediately responds with “The Red Light District of Calcutta”.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Further Reading[edit]

This article was written by Prabha Dabral from IMS Unison University, Dehradun. This is an informative article that deals with the prostitution and escort service and their legal status in India.

This article was published by Sneha Mahawar.

introduction

Sex work is considered the oldest occupation in India and remains taboo even in the 21st century. There is a confused sense of morality in this country. The women working in this profession are exposed to social discrimination and ostracism. The main reason for this situation is that the law remains ambiguous regarding sex work and other related activities. Because of this, there is a huge misconception that prostitution is illegal in India. Prostitution is considered immoral but is actually legal. Few related activities such as soliciting in a public place, curb crawling, owning or running a brothel, prostitution in a hotel, child prostitution, pimping and pandering are considered illegal.

On the other hand, the escort services fall into the gray area between legal and illegal. This is because websites and agencies tend to hide between friendships to describe the service. Therefore, the police cannot arrest them. It can be said that escort services are not explicitly illegal in India. Offering a social or conversational service is not illegal, but accepting payment for sex or communicating to enter into a sexual service contract is.

The escort services had begun in antiquity. During this time, the main name of this service was prostitution. However, it is illegal when carried out as a local agreement between parties. Hence, people have come up with escort companies that can do this as a legal business. The main job of these escorts was to entertain people. This practice was widespread in Asia. Only the wealthy people could afford these services and loved educated women as they had a high level of sophistication. There were many women interested in this activity and referred to as escorts.

What are escort services

An escort is a euphemistic term for a prostitute. They are billed as high-end sex workers that offer more than just sex. Technically, an escort is a companion who receives compensation for spending time with a client. Some escorts act like girlfriends or wives etc and accompany high profile clients. They are trained and groomed so they can easily adapt to the luxurious lifestyle. They are also more educated and cultured enough to offer social companionship services, engage in stimulating conversation, and provide a girlfriend or boyfriend experience. Because they provide these additional services, they demand higher payment.

The remuneration mentioned for this escort service is in the form of a donation. The customer undertakes to make a donation for an agreed period of time. There is no mention of sex or any other sexual activity in this order. It’s all about the time spent with the customer. It can be for a social event or dinner etc. What happens between the two consenting adults during that time is between the two of you. As long as money for sex or a specific sexual act is not the subject of the conversation, the mediation only refers to an escort service.

Escorts in this country are mostly struggling actors and models. People from the corporate sector or other industries often enter the escort profession for a limited period of time. This service offers them a quick way to make big bucks. For a simple photo shoot they can earn Rs. 2000 per day but an escort job pays roughly between Rs 20,000 to Rs. 40,000. “This store helps them maintain their lifestyle and buy clothes,” says an agency owner.

Escort agencies have now transitioned from print classifieds to online advertising. Aside from websites, social media is now being used to woo customers. Pictures of escorts used to be sent to the client by mail, but today this is done via Whatsapp and the payment is also transferred online. All of these are the activities included in an escort service.

Laws related to escort services

Sex work in India is mainly regulated by the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA) 1956. The Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 also contain certain provisions dealing with prostitution and human trafficking.

Indian law to date has mainly dealt with human trafficking and prostitution, with an emphasis on women and children. There is still no regulation of escort services. Under Indian law, prostitution by consenting sex workers is not illegal until and provided remuneration is received in exchange for sex with consent and without prior solicitation.

There are some other regulations related to this profession. Section 2(f) of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956 defines “prostitution”. It defines the term as the sexual exploitation or abuse of an individual for business purposes. Section 372 and Section 373 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 also deal with the provisions of prostitution but are limited to child prostitution only.

Some other sections, such as Sections 366A, 366B, and 370A of the IPC deal with punishing offenses of procreating an underage girl, importing a girl from a foreign country for the purpose of sex, and exploiting a trafficked person, respectively. Therefore, the laws related to prostitution under IPC are quite limited.

Article 23(1) of the Indian Constitution prohibits human trafficking, begging and other similar forms of forced labour. Any violation of this provision is punishable according to § 23 paragraph 2.

The need for regulation

Many schools of thought argue that sex work should be treated the same as any other profession and should have the benefits that any other legal profession has. Because like any other profession, this profession also serves as the only source of income for some people.

There is a Delhi based writer and photojournalist named Mayank Austen Soofi. He has written extensively about the GB Road brothels and said that every sex worker he has met wants legal recognition for the same reason. Nearly 7,000 sex workers in Sonagachi, Asia’s largest red-light district in Kolkata, admitted they have no other way of surviving. For some, prostitution was the only source of income. Some women have escaped from abusive marriages, rebuilt their homes, and single-handedly raised their children with the money they made in the profession.

Apart from that, many more problems can be solved by legalizing this profession.

Lalitha Kumaramangalam, head of the National Commission for Women, argues that a regulated industry would help stop forced trade, improve hygiene among workers and customers, and curb the spread of HIV and other diseases. In addition, sex workers live in deplorable conditions and are often exploited by their pimps (men who control prostitutes and find clients for them and receive a percentage of their earnings in return). Very often the sex workers are also physically attacked by their clients. They are very susceptible to diseases from unprotected sex. They do not even have easy access to healthcare and are reluctant to go to doctors or the police for fear of harassment. Legalizing the profession would help prevent this exploitation.

In 1992, to combat the hygiene problems, an NGO called Durbar tried to unionize (get everyone to act together) the sex workers of Sonagachi in Kolkata. The NGO brought all these sex workers together and empowered them to refuse sex without a condom. Currently, all of these sex workers at Sonagachi are part of the union.

For escorts, selling their services in the anonymity of the internet can also lead to fraud. Since there is no telling who is buying services at the other end. You must protect yourself when the law refuses, because escort service is not a legal profession either. This can be proved by an incident in Delhi. In 2016, Delhi Police freed a 26-year-old aspiring escort who was being held captive for money. He was kidnapped by a group of 6 men pretending to run a fake escort company. Preventing more of these incidents requires legislation that protects people in this profession. It’s not about isolating these people, nor about treating them with pity. It’s about directly giving them the rights they deserve and empowering them to protect themselves.

According to Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, the right to life also applies to prostitutes. This was clearly explained in the case of Budhadev Karmaskar v. State of West Bengal (2011). In this case, it was established that the sex workers are human beings too and no one has the right to attack or murder them. The ruling ordered central and state governments to open rehabilitation centers and provide technical and job skills to help these workers find other livelihoods.

In addition, Section 21 was added to the Immoral Intercourse (Prevention) Act. The section gives state governments the power to establish and maintain shelters, which must be regulated by government-issued licenses. Shelters are for those prostitutes who have lost their livelihood or who have been forced into this profession of prostitution but do not want this lifestyle.

How is escort service different from prostitution?

Both escorts and prostitutes spend time with a person in exchange for money. Their activities during the time together determine whether a person is an escort or a prostitute.

Prostitution refers to the act of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for something of value from the customer. In other words, it means paying for sex with something of value. On the other hand, escorting refers to paying someone to accompany the client to an event or on a date. For example accompanying someone to dinner. Unlike prostitution, it does not necessarily involve sex. Some prostitutes often dress up as escorts to avoid trouble. It is a very common practice and the police are aware of this practice. As in many countries other than India, prostitution is illegal, but escort services are not. Therefore, there are a few points that help distinguish an escort service from a prostitution service. They are as follows-

In most cases, an escort will accompany her client to a social event or other engagement, while a prostitute will not attend events with her client and will not leave the premises.

An escort can work under contract for several days or even weeks, while a prostitute is usually engaged for a shorter period of time.

Escorts sell their time. They give the customer support and time. Gender may or may not be involved as that is not the purpose of the agreement. On the other hand, a prostitute is only hired for sexual acts. A prostitute bills by the hour or by the specific sex act.

Escorts are professionals. They must be hired through escort agencies. Some escorts even have their websites. On the other hand, a prostitute can be hired off the street.

Escorts tend to be socially savvy, attractive and presentable. They are a suitable companion for presentations to friends or colleagues. However, this does not apply to prostitutes.

Escort service is legal in some countries as people are not paid for sex while prostitution is illegal. If someone is caught offering sex for money, they will be taken to jail and punished.

Escorts are mostly seen as part of the entertainment industry. You earn a lot of money and get the opportunity to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. On the other hand, employment for prostitutes is a big problem since they perform their services in brothels, which are usually unsanitary.

Are escort websites legal?

Escorts are professionals and must be hired through agencies or their websites. It can be said that an escort agency is more like a virtual brothel or an internet brothel where clients go to a specific website and book their escort.

The law is silent on what constitutes an escort website, Supreme Court Counsel Pavan Duggal said. He refers to the Information Technology Act of 2000 and mentions that if the escort websites use language that is obscene, lascivious or appeals to lustful interests, then that website falls within the realm of illegality.

There are certain laws in our legislature that list illegal activities in this profession that are prohibited by law. Therefore, websites that do not comply with the law are not considered legal. Some of the provisions are mentioned below-

The Indecent Portrayal of Women Act 1986 prohibits the publication of material depicting a woman who indecently or degradingly offends public morals or morals.

Section 67 of the Information Technology Act criminalizes publications that are lascivious or appeal to lustful interests and are morally corrupt.

Section 8 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 speaks about the legal status of ‘public solicitation’. It states that if a person addresses a person in a public place in a way that is contrary to good morals, that person commits a criminal offence. If we look at the entire chain of events that take place in an escort service, it can be argued with a clear conscience that an escort is actually recruiting her clients on the Internet through her profile on the site. Here it can be argued that the Internet is a public place or space.

If any of the sites offering escort services display such materials that are prohibited under these laws, then they would be breaking the law.

Block escort websites

There is a section in the IT Act that deals specifically with website blocking, namely Section 69A. This section empowers the government to issue blocking orders. There are even regulations that detail the procedure to be followed while the government is exercising its powers to block websites. These are mentioned in the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009 or the Blocking Rules.

Under Rule 10 of the Blocking Rules, the Government has the power to take action after receiving a certified copy of a blocking order from a competent court.

In 2019, the Indian government banned a total of 240 websites offering escort services. This was done on the recommendation of an expert committee of the Interior Ministry. However, the industry criticized the government’s move, saying it was directionless. It was said that the order had been given without going into the essential technical details. In addition, the website could work again if the website changes the name or the link slightly. In order to control such activities, mobile phone numbers had to be tracked on the websites.

Provisions of the Information Technology Act that come into force in relation to websites offering escort services

Various laws regulate the functioning of websites. These laws are intended to regulate the content of these websites so that the peace and morality of the public can be maintained. This is important because the wrong content on a website can mislead the public at large. There have been many cases of cyber attacks, which prompted the legislature to enact a separate cybercrime law. Therefore, the Information Technology Act of 2000 came into effect to prevent cyber crimes against humans.

Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000

Section 69 of the IT Act empowers the central or state government to direct any agency to monitor, intercept or decrypt any information generated, received or stored in a computer resource. Section 69A of the Act comes into play when it comes to sites offering escort services. This section allows the government to deny public access to any website or app found to be deceptive and a threat to the national security of the nation. The intermediary who fails to comply with the government order will be punished with imprisonment for up to 7 years and a fine.

Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000

This section is about the Intermediary Liability Act, which protects the service providers from illegal activities by the user (i.e. third parties) on their platform. The section also imposes certain obligations on intermediaries to remove or disable access to the information when notified by the government.

Conclusion

Prostitution is not specifically illegal, although courts have ruled it unethical. Only certain related actions are considered illegal in the eyes of the law. For example, when prostitution is done privately, with one’s consent and without prior request, it is sometimes not illegal. But wielding a sex bat is illegal. An escort, on the other hand, is not a criminal either. He/She has the right to give his/her body to anyone he/she wants to please. In addition, an escort business usually includes accompanying the VIPs to important events. This arrangement may or may not end in sex.

These are the professions that are still frowned upon. Getting rid of these professions is a difficult task as it is an ancient practice that has existed for too long. Obviously these professions still exist because the laws are not enforced. To combat this problem, legalizing this profession may be an option. At least the state will assume some responsibility and be able to issue licenses to authorized persons. This can also weed out sex racket operations and the scams of fake escort websites.

frequently asked Questions

Can I be fined if I simply contact an escort agency?

No, a person who turns to an escort agency cannot be punished as no law criminalizes such an act.

Are newspaper advertisements for the provision of escort services legal?

No, such action is not legal as it constitutes solicitation and it is a criminal offense under the law.

What is the penalty for child prostitution under Indian law?

The IPC of 1860 punishes child prostitution. It grants 10 years imprisonment or a fine to a person convicted of buying or selling children into prostitution.

Is it legal to run an escort website in India?

The answer is no. Operating a website constitutes solicitation, which is a criminal offense under the Prevention of Immoral Traffic Act 1956.

What legal defects are there in connection with accompanying persons?

The laws regarding escorts are not yet fully developed. Furthermore, no law mentions the rights of sex workers.

Is hiring escorts legal in India without third party involvement?

As long as there is no payment for sex or communication to enter into a contract for sexual services, hiring an escort is not illegal.

references

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Just because a beautiful woman is talking to you in heels and a short dress or skirt doesn’t mean she’s for sale (should we say that again?). However, there are some telltale signs that you might actually be conversing with a lady of the night. Have a good giggle, but be careful, something like that can get you in big trouble.

1. She’s clearly out of your league

Unexpected attention from a hot woman can either mean that she works for the casino and is looking for a tip, or that she is looking for some other type of transaction.

2. You get digits without asking

At Turnt Up Tours in Las Vegas, our attractive party bus hostesses will tell you that hot women rarely give out their number without being asked first. And even then, whether you get it or not is a mystery.

3. She is friendly to random gentlemen

While some guys are naturally outgoing, not too many women go to a bunch of random guys to strike up conversations in a crowded casino, club, or bar.

4. She seems impatient if you talk for too long

Ladies of the night tend to squeeze in as many “clients” as possible. If you’re completely missing subtle cues and are talking about the show you saw last night, chances are she’ll grow impatient or just walk away. (Okay, okay, it’s possible you’re just not that interesting. Mostly just kidding).

5. She’s evasive about her “profession.”

It’s not too hasty to ask most ladies what they do for a living when you’re trying to have a polite conversation. If you don’t get a straight answer and she’s clearly not concerned about the cost of anything, consider that a red flag.

6. She loses interest if you decline a connection request

If you’re more interested in a potential life partner than a one-night thing, a “pro” will likely end it right there and move on — likely to the guy right next to you.

7. She gets nervous when security is around

Most women will feel comfortable noticing security guards. A lady of the night is likely to get nervous or suggest moving somewhere else.

It’s fairly easy to spot people in this profession, but if you want one less thing to worry about while in Las Vegas, hop on a Las Vegas Party Bus Tour! All you can drink on the bus rides, no entry and no queues at the club and lots of interesting and fun people who just want to have a good night and turn it up! Learn more by visiting our website or calling us today at (702) 843-0525!

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Not every customer wants sex. One worker (not pictured) told The Telegraph she’s had clients who wanted to be walked on a leash “like a puppy”, while others just wanted to tell her stories about their childhood. “You know, you have to be like gum – malleable. Become whatever they need,” she said.