Prostitution Legalization

I firmly believe that decriminalizing prostitution is a good idea. Several thorough and logical arguments that aim to further the legality of commercial sex are in favor of that position. On May 26, 2016, Amnesty International published a strategy paper that sought to assist and protect sex workers. According to the statement, it is urgently necessary to safeguard the rights of sex workers by removing or revising the law that makes it illegal for two consenting individuals to buy and sell sex. The policy also aims to overturn rules that forbid renting out spaces for commercial sex (Rothman, 2017).

Prostitution decriminalization will aid in lowering crime rates. Many nations have criminalized commercial sex work and for that reason, prostitutes are not allowed to report crimes they see or experience on streets while undertaking sex work endeavors. Therefore, legalization of prostitution will improve the working relations between the law enforcers and the sex workers (Raymond, 2004). Thus, this will help to combat crime.

The Canadian Women Health Network is also of the opinion that decriminalizing commercial sex will contribute to improving the health of sex workers. Although there is still no consensus on this matter, there is a strong presumption that giving sex workers the freedom to conduct their affairs without harassment will assist in reducing the rates of HIV infections and other STDs (Benoit, Jansson, Smith & Flagg, 2017). Legalized sex work will also eliminate human trafficking, which is the result of the forbidden open practice of commercial sex. (Albright & Adamo, 2017).

Legalized sex work will also permit consenting adults to make choices regarding their bodies. Such a move will also assist in removing sex workers from the streets. They will be free to buy or sell sex at any place without the need to flood the streets with the aim of attracting sexual suitors (Marshall, 2016).

Therefore, it is possible to conclude that prostitution needs to be decriminalized as there are sufficient grounds to justify the validity of this argument.

References

Albright, E., & D’Adamo, K. (2017). Decreasing human trafficking through sex work decriminalization. AMA Journal of Ethics, 19(1), 122.

Benoit, C., Jansson, M., Smith, M., & Flagg, J. (2017). “Well, it should be changed for one, because it’s our bodies”: Sex workers’ views on Canada’s punitive approach towards sex work. Social Sciences, 6(2), 52

Marshall, R. (2016). Sex workers and human rights: A critical analysis of laws regarding sex work. Wm. & Mary J. Women & L., 23, 47.

Raymond, J. G. (2004). Ten reasons for not legalizing prostitution and a legal response to the demand for prostitution. Journal of Trauma Practice, 2(3-4), 315-332.

Rothman, E. F. (2017). Should US physicians support the decriminalization of commercial sex?. AMA Journal of Ethics, 19(1), 110.