Sex market prevalence attributed to belief that prostitution reduces incidences ‎of rape

The Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (LWDG) stated in its document on ‎‎‘policies regarding trafficking in women’ based on a study by Kafa Enough ‎Violence and Exploitation organization that the widespread belief that ‎prostitution reduces incidences of rape is a main cause for the prevalence of the ‎sex trade. This, in addition to the male chauvinist conviction that sex is a natural ‎and biological right to entertain men and give them a good reason for proving ‎their manliness and enhancing their sex experience, in addition to watching porn ‎films and an associated desire to play-act them. The LWDG paper pointed out to ‎the concentration of prostitution rings along the Lebanese coast, noting that nearly ‎‎70% of those are located in Jounyeh‎‏-‏Ma‏3‏ameltayen area, including the so-termed ‎super night clubs, bars and massage centers. Sex hubs also operate from Byblos, ‎Nahr el Kalb, Safra, Barbara, Kaslik and Hamra and some apartments in Beirut. ‎According to the document, the total number of brothels identified by the security ‎apparatus is 13 brothels, each employing 15 girls on average), aside from the big ‎night clubs (employing at least 60 prostitutes each). It should be noted, that Kafa ‎has earlier revealed in its study that around 51% of the sex clientele in Lebanon ‎are between 22 and 29 years of age; 22% belong to the age group 30-34 years ‎while those above 35 years and under 21 years make 14% of sex buyers each.  The ‎study further disclosed that 35% of the sex clientele (the highest proportion) are in ‎a relationship, followed by those who are not (33%), married customers (24%) and ‎finally, engaged male sex buyers who represent 4%. (Al Akhbar, September 5, ‎‎2016)‎