Prostitution is illegal in most countries, yet the phenomenon may require reevaluation. Several negative aspects correlate with the status that sex workers have when their work is illegal (Sweileh, 2018). Sex work can be an occupation that many women choose voluntarily. Nonetheless, it is essential to mention sex trafficking as this is a violent act that implies that the individual has been forced into the profession. At the same time, denying people who voluntarily chose the profession hinders their rights and opportunities. According to researchers, sex workers are less likely to seek assistance and legal aid from law enforcement in case they experience violence (Crago et al., 2021). Moreover, medical and social services are less accessible due to the status of the job.
Legalizing or decriminalizing prostitution makes women less vulnerable to abuse. Namely, sex workers would be protected, and they would not face repercussions for seeking assistance from the police. Sex workers would have similar labor rights as other occupational groups. For example, they would have access to medical support, which is especially important due to the risk of having sexually transmitted diseases (Ito et al., 2018). Moreover, they would pay taxes, form social groups, and be in an overall safer legal environment. It would, indeed, make women safer both physically, legislatively, and socially.
Legalizing prostitution would also reduce human trafficking. Human trafficking does not correlate with voluntary sex work, which is why decriminalization would not align with this aspect (Horning, 2019). Nonetheless, in an environment in which sex work is legal and more women feel safe engaging in it, human trafficking would be redundant due to the existence of a saturated market. Similarly to punishing sex workers, implementing laws against clients benefiting from said services would not solve the issue but only maximize risks and preventable criminal activity.
References
Crago, A.-L., Bruckert, C., Braschel, M., & Shannon, K. (2021). Sex workers’ access to police assistance in safety emergencies and means of escape from situations of violence and confinement under an “end demand” criminalization model: A five-city study in Canada. Social Sciences, 10(1), 13. Web.
Horning, A. (2019). Quitting the Sex Trade: Keeping narratives inside the debates on prostitution policy and legislation. Victims & Offenders, 14(5), 533–539. Web.
Ito, S., Lépine, A., & Treibich, C. (2018). The effect of sex work regulation on health and well-being of sex workers: Evidence from Senegal. Health Economics, 27(11), 1627–1652. Web.
Sweileh, W. M. (2018). Research trends on human trafficking: A Bibliometric analysis using Scopus database. Globalization and Health, 14(1). Web.