A public hearing on the regulations for prostitution has been held by the Ministry of Interior. The Ministry intends to propose relevant management amendments before the current regulation expires next year.

During the public hearing, a prostitute discusses her experiences and feelings about her trade.

Although a high percentage of prostitutes are disadvantaged women, current laws punish only prostitutes and not johns.

Some that attended the hearing expressed hopes that laws can be amended to fine both parties or only johns, while others called on the government to help prostitutes transition to other industries.

The Collective of Sex Workers and Supporters feels that fining johns is equivalent to fining prostitutes, and that the sex trade should be legalized.

Current regulations will expire on November 6th, 2011, and the Ministry of the Interior will be holding two public hearings on the issue before finalizing a proposal for the Executive Yuan.

The second hearing will be held at the end of the month in Kaohsiung.