Protitutes of Surabaya Verified for Assistance Economic Creative Fund

Jakarta (Antara) - Former commercial sex worker in Dolly area, Surabaya, East Java province will be verified for assistance economic creative fund, UEP, related to the closure of the prostitution area. "1,080 prostitutes who are registered with the regional governments, will be verified next week," confirmed Director of Social Rehabilitation, Ministry of Social Affairs, Sonny W Manalu in Jakarta, Wednesday. Surabaya local government is planning to close Dolly localization in June, and all registered prostitutes will return to their hometowns. The economic creative fund exists to help prevent former prostitutes from falling back on similar jobs. In order to be able to make former prostitutes be independent, the local government will coach and train them to start a creative business. For about three months, former prostitutes are hoped start a new life; they will be mentored to ensure that they get to be independent. According to Sonny, most of the former prostitutes are hoping to go back to their hometown and not do similar jobs. "It is not out of desire that they are entangled in prostitution; most of them are trapped in debt and are then are forced to take this up as a job," explained Sonny. Surabaya local government is planning to close Dolly localization before the fasting month of Ramadan this year, and it will be turned into a center for street vendors and creative business units.(*) Journalist: Desi Purnamawati Translated by: Maria Rosari