Condoms no longer to be considered a proof of prostitution in China

According to an official with the AIDS prevention committee under the State Council of China, condoms will no longer be considered as an evidence of prostitution by Public security departments.

New Delhi, Dec 1 : According to an official with the AIDS prevention committee under the State Council of China, condoms will no longer be considered as an evidence of prostitution by Public security departments.

Han Mengjie, also secretary of the National Center for AIDS Control and Prevention, said that from now on police departments at all levels will not use condoms as evidence of illegal sex activities.

"Now police departments at all levels no longer use condoms as proof of illegal sex activities in entertainment venues," China Daily quoted Mengjie, as saying.

Han said that the change has gradually been adopted by police departments after the health authorities' obligation of condoms to be provided in public places to prevent the spread of HIV/ AIDS.

According to national surveillance figures, the rate of regular condom use among prostitutes in China rose from 14.7 percent in 2001 to 41.4 percent in 2006.

Therefore, The Regulation on AIDS Prevention and Control, issued by the State Council in January last year, urged all public places designated by provincial or municipal governments to provide condoms or condom-vending machines.

"Sex has become the main channel through which the HIV virus is contracted," said Minister of Health Chen Zhu.

ANI