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What should the legal status of prostitution be? What should the legal status of prostitution be?
Prostitution should be illegal Prostitution should be illegal
Prostitution should be decriminalised Prostitution should be decriminalised
Prostitution should be legalised Prostitution should be legalised
We should adopt a Nordic Model We should adopt a Nordic Model
Prostitution encourages sex trafficking Prostitution encourages sex trafficking
Prostitution sets the stage for violence against women Prostitution sets the stage for violence against women
The oldest oppression The oldest oppression
Economic coercion into prostitution Economic coercion into prostitution
Long-term consequences Long-term consequences
Sale of the body is immoral Sale of the body is immoral
Prostitution and marginalisation Prostitution and marginalisation
Prostitution is no different from other capitalist exploitation Prostitution is no different from other capitalist exploitation
The sale of sex is not inherently impermissible The sale of sex is not inherently impermissible
Decriminalisation protects sex workers Decriminalisation protects sex workers
Decriminalisation would relieve prostitution's stigma Decriminalisation would relieve prostitution's stigma
Sex Work is the choice of the Sex Worker Sex Work is the choice of the Sex Worker
Prostitution can help women celebrate their sexuality Prostitution can help women celebrate their sexuality
Decriminalisation enables sex workers to unionise Decriminalisation enables sex workers to unionise
Government oversight of prostitution would improve all outcomes Government oversight of prostitution would improve all outcomes
Penalising buyers Penalising buyers
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What should the legal status of prostitution be?
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Prostitution should be decriminalised

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Decriminalisation protects sex workers

Decriminalisation of prostitution ensures that sex workers can access assistance to promote safety.
Amnesty International ABC News
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Context

Sex workers are often at higher risk of disease and violence (both from police and clients). The majority of sex workers suffer from some form of violence, and the death rate for prostitutes is much higher than that of the general population. [1][2]

The Argument

By decriminalising prostitution, sex workers are able to get help if they are the victims of violence without fear of persecution. Sex workers in illegal systems suffer violence not only from clients, but from law enforcement themselves, and criminalising prostitution, therefore, amounts to a state failure to safeguard human rights.[3] Most importantly, sex workers themselves state that decriminalisation increases feelings of safety. Unlike in other systems, where many sex workers are afraid to even carry condoms lest they be used as grounds for arrest, systems which feature decriminalisation offer sex workers a feeling of safety knowing that they are free to go to the police, refuse clients, and request clients use protection.[4] A study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that the criminalisation of sex work has been linked to increased levels of violence and sexually transmitted infections.[5] Additionally, decriminalisation has been found to actively decrease HIV infection rates among sex workers.[6]

Counter arguments

‘Safer sex’ programmes for sex workers simply ensures they are healthy for male buyers.[1] The state condoning and accepting prostitution will cause rates of prostitution to increase, meaning corresponding rates of violence and infection will also increase. Instead, a no-tolerance system should be put in place to eradicate prostitution from the fabric of society.

Proponents

Premises

[P1] A punitive approach to prostitution means that sex workers are unable to access necessary health services or report incidences of violence. [P2] Therefore, decriminalisation is necessary to safeguard the health and wellbeing of sex workers.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] Decriminalisation increases demand, therefore increasing risk for sex workers.

References

  1. http://www.catwinternational.org/Content/Images/Article/234/attachment.pdf
  2. http://sexworkersproject.org/downloads/RevolvingDoor.pdf
  3. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(14)60800-X/fulltext
  4. https://www.otago.ac.nz/christchurch/otago018607.pdf
  5. https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/news/2018/criminalisation-and-repressive-policing-sex-work-linked-increased-risk
  6. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)61460-X/fulltext
This page was last edited on Thursday, 23 Jan 2020 at 12:57 UTC

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