Summary of the Article
Swanson explores various arguments concerning the legal aspects of prostitution and its impact on human trafficking. The author posits that one of the primary arguments is that prostitution gives women their freedom of expression and agency. On the other hand, some arguments suggest that prostitution legalization is a human rights violation that results in human trafficking due to the increased demand for sex workers (Swanson, 2016). The article indicates that human trafficking is a global problem requiring a collective approach, thus it is unethical to legalize prostitution, which can increase cases of trafficking. The author further reveals that local legal structures can result in global criminal activities (Swanson, 2016). For instance, legalizing prostitution in America can result in crimes in the United Kingdom. The prostitution laws in the U.S., U.K., and Netherlands differ widely, causing various challenges in law enforcement. The paper further compares the prostitution and human trafficking laws in countries that legalize or criminalize prostitution, concluding that human trafficking is more evident in nations that outlaw prostitution. The article suggests that policy changes can help reduce the issues associated with prostitution and help victims of human trafficking.
Thoughts on the Article
Prostitution is a global issue that has been equally legalized and criminalized in different parts of the globe. According to Doezema (2018), prostitution has been considered by many as a personal choice and a way that makes one happy and satisfied with life, hence should not be denied. Prostitutes are adults who can live with the consequences of their actions, can protect themselves, and know the choices they make regarding their aspirations. Those who are against the legalization of prostitution also have a strong ground on which they build their positions. For instance, there are organizations registered by the local and state governments as agencies of the prostitution business, though these organizations abuse their mandates as they traffic women from poorer countries (Van Wijk & Mascini, 2022). This has led to prostitution-based human trafficking in several countries where it is legal. Consequently, prostitution legalization remains a big challenge, which requires more informed interventions to ensure the protection of all humans and give people the freedoms they deserve.
References
Doezema, J. (2018). Forced to choose: Beyond the voluntary v. forced prostitution dichotomy. In Global sex workers (pp. 34-50). Routledge.
Swanson, J. (2016). Sexual liberation or violence against women? The debate on the legalization of prostitution and the relationship to human trafficking. New Criminal Law Review, 19(4), 592-639.
Van Wijk, E., & Mascini, P. (2022). The responsibilization of entrepreneurs in legalized local prostitution in the Netherlands. Regulation & Governance, 16(3), 875-891.