Why We Shouldn`t Legalize Sex Work

Prostitution is morally reprehensible. Reducing sex to a financial transaction undermines normal human relationships, marriage and family. In countries where prostitution has been legalized and taxed, the state has effectively become a pimp. The immorality of sex trafficking has been recognized throughout history and its illegality is essential to protect the sanctity of society`s fundamental values. Prostitution is an affront to the followers of the world`s major religions. It seems highly unlikely that anyone can currently say beyond a shadow of a doubt whether the State Department`s preferred approach to combating the demand for or the legalized prostitution route is the policy that best reduces sex trafficking. However, it seems clear that there are reasons to be concerned about the effectiveness of legalization. Despite all its theoretical complaints, it ultimately cannot function as intended. Meanwhile, the links between organized crime, violence and prostitution in New Zealand have not been broken.

Opinions differ as to whether decriminalization has improved or worsened the situation. A report released five years after decriminalization claimed that it had little impact on the number of people working in sex trafficking, but provided some protections for children and others. But the personal testimonies of women who have been prostituted prove that brothel owners and sellers have benefited more than women. It notes that, contrary to expectations, the decriminalization or legalization of the sex trade in New Zealand, the Netherlands and Germany has not led to uniformly safer conditions, successful unionization of sex workers or destigmatization. She cites economists` analyses showing that countries where the sex trade is legal appear to see a higher influx of sex trafficking. “It is argued that legalizing or decriminalizing sex work is beneficial in containing the HIV epidemic because it allows governments to monitor and regulate sex trafficking. In this way, they can ensure that sex workers are empowered to negotiate condom use, improve their access to public services, and protect them from violence and abuse. Legalizing and regulating prostitution will make life safer for sex workers and help crush the pimps and trafficking gangs they exploit.

Traffickers thrive because the sex trade is driven underground. Legalize it, and they will disappear. Prostitutes will feel safer when they no longer fear prosecution. Police will be able to focus their resources on fighting the real bad guys – the criminal gangs that exploit sex workers. The experiences of countries such as Nevada, Switzerland and New Zealand show that legalized and regulated prostitution works. It is the duty of government to protect property rights and prosecute those who coerce or impose themselves on others. However, the government must stop wasting resources on voluntary sexual exchanges with adults. It is time to end this hypocritical and unnecessary persecution of sex workers and their clients. Research supports this argument. An analysis of data from 27 European countries found that HIV prevalence among sex workers is significantly lower in countries that have legalized some aspects of sex work than in countries where all aspects of sex work are criminalized. “In many areas of work, there is exploitation and dangerous and unhealthy working conditions. Work becomes nothing but work in the presence of these conditions.

Even if it is done in exploitative, dangerous or unhealthy conditions, sex work is still work. Women who lay charges against pimps and clients bear the burden of proving that they were “forced.” How can a prostitute prove that she was forced to be a victim of sexual violence if it happened during her recruitment or if it is part of her “working conditions”? Violence is in the nature of the sex industry. With regard to the authors` first point, although sex trafficking involves violence, fraud or coercion, it may not be easy for consumers or law enforcement to distinguish between those who sell sexual services with their consent and those who do not. Therefore, in a legalized environment, illegal commercial sexual acts can masquerade as legal. Moreover, prostitution has long been a stigmatized practice compared to the researchers` second thesis.