Chastity Padlocks to Curb Hanky Panky in Indonesia

© HaPe_Gera

An attempt by the local government of an Indonesian province to curb prostitution – by making it mandatory for masseuses to padlock their pants – has come under fire by a women’s empowerment minister who termed the move as “highly insulting” to women.

Batu in Indonesia’s east Java province sees a steady influx of tourists who contribute to the local economy. The government there says the chastity padlock move is aimed at maintaining the clean tourism appeal of the region.

The minister who has opposed the move as “misguided” says there are other ways besides padlocks to curb prostitution, like installing CCTV monitors in massage parlors, for instance.