Men who acquire the services of prostitutes in Fiji can also be prosecuted as a result of an overhaul of the country’s 100 year old Penal Code.
The new Crimes Act, which brings about some ground breaking provisions in the criminal justice system in Fiji, will come into effect next February.
Currently, under the Penal Code, it is only the person prostituting themselves that was committing an offence.
Soon the person procuring the illicit service will also be committing a crime.
Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, in announcing the changes yesterday, described it as an “egalitarian approach”.
“Generally of course there are women involved so it was discriminatory, while men were let off.”
The new laws also remove corroboration in rape trials. So a woman who alleges rape does not need to produce supporting evidence anymore.
Also in a rape trial, the defence counsel will no longer be allowed to bring in the past sexual history of the victim, like how many boyfriends she has had.
“That is not relevant to the allegation, so that has been removed,” said Sayed-Khaiyum.
The judiciary, law enforcement authorities and others involved in the criminal justice system have two months to familiarize themselves with the changes before they come into effect.
