title: Immorality Amendment Act (No. 2 of 1988), 25 February 1988.
abstract: The major change made by this South African Act is the removal of gender-specific definitions of offenders and victims, so that offenses can now be committed by either sex with respect to victims of either sex.  Thus, it is now an offense for a woman to have sexual intercourse or commit an act of indecency with a boy under the age of 16; it is an offense for a woman to have sexual intercourse with a male "idiot or imbecile"; it is an offense for parents to procure male children for sexual purposes; it is an offense for a male to be a prostitute; and lesbianism is an offense.  The Act also 1) makes it a crime for any person to have unlawful sexual intercourse or commit an act of indecency with any other person for reward; 2) makes it a crime for a person negligently to perform for reward any act that enables a person to communicate with another person for the purpose of carnal intercourse or the commission of an act of indecency; and 3) establishes a presumption with respect to 2) as well as similar acts done with intent that, if certain facts are established, the accused will be presumed to have committed the act and contravened the law "unless the contrary is proved beyond a reasonable doubt."  The latter two provisions are directed in part at escort services.
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000353:Africa, Southern; D001519:Behavior; D003415:Crime; D003906:Developing Countries; D004467:Economics; D006716:Homosexuality; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007878:Legislation as Topic; D011287:Prejudice; D011902:Rape; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012940:Social Problems; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa; D014933:Women's Rights
keywords: Africa; Africa South Of The Sahara; Behavior; Crime; Developing Countries; Economic Factors; English Speaking Africa; Gender Issues--legal aspects; Homosexuals--legal aspects; Legislation; Prostitutes--legal aspects; Rape--legal aspects; Sex Behavior--legal aspects; Sex Discrimination--legal aspects; Social Discrimination; Social Problems; Socioeconomic Factors; South Africa; Southern Africa; Women's Status--legal aspects