[Nulgath]

In conjunction with the government’s efforts to close down all red-light districts in Indonesia, the Social Affairs Ministry has started listing districts targeted for closure and in so doing has revealed that East Kalimantan is the province with the largest number of prostitution areas.

There are around 4,000 sex workers spread across 31 red-light districts in East Kalimantan, according to data from the ministry.

"Previously, it was East Java that had the largest number of prostitution locations. But since they were shut down, now East Kalimantan has the largest number of red-light districts. We will close down all 31 districts," Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa said in Kutai Kertanegara, East Kalimantan, on Saturday as quoted by Antara News Agency.

Khofifah said the money involved in the prostitution business was big.

Spending on sex workers could reach up to trillions of rupiah, she said. In addition to that, East Kalimantan has a relatively high number of people with HIV/AIDS, reaching 3,063 people. It is health concerns that have pushed the government to close down red-light districts.

Furthermore, the ministry aimed to conduct a peaceful closure process, Khofifah said.

"I am sure the close down will not cause turmoil. It is a dilemma, but we need to do it in order to give sex workers their social status and dignity back," she said.

The ministry has shut down 68 red-light districts throughout the country and aims to close 100 more as part of its goal of having an Indonesia free of red-light districts by 2019.

Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini closed down Dolly, Southeast Asia's largest red-light district, in 2014 after more than 44 years of operation.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja "Ahok" Purnama also aims to close down Kalijodo, the capital's red-light district in North Jakarta, by the end of this month and turn it into a green space.