Indonesia to close all red light districts by 2019

Published on 28 Feb 2016 10:17:36 PM

The woman on the right is learning how to give a manicure at this rehabilitation and vocational center in Jakarta.

She is a former sex worker, and like many women here is learning a trade with the hopes of getting a job.

It's all part of a sweeping nationwide plan to close down all of the country's red-light districts by 2019.

Some demolition has already begun. Here in the Kalijodo district, workers are removing beer signs from store fronts.

The 3,000 or so residents living in the neighborhood have been given seven days to pack up their belongings and leave.

Some have been relocated to new apartments but remain perplexed about how to move forward.

48-year-old Amsiah used to rent out her house for money.

I'm confused and upset, she said. Where can we find money without jobs?

Back at the rehabilitation center, women do their best to change their lives.

Despite what might be noble attempts by the government to eradicate the world's oldest profession, the director of the program says about 60 percent of the women here end up going back to their old jobs.