Prostitution
Decriminalizing sex work 2018
RINJ ,Canada ,RINJ FOUNDATION
Around the world, sex work is done in the dangerous shadows of an underworld that breeds diseases
that threaten public health.
But there is significant evidence to suggest that decriminalizing prostitution substantially reduces rape
and other sex crime and enhances the safety of workers and clients while reducing the spread of
infectious disease.
Regulating prostitution's sex workers would require regulations similar to those used by health care
workers. Infection barriers should be mandatory and consistent with a public information campaign to
promote the use of condoms. Meanwhile, sex workers can be licensed by self-governing associations or
colleges and a regular STI test series set as a pre-condition to licensing. Regulations would seek a strong
adherence to all public health requirements that arise as responses to new microbial threats. 10
The Experience of Government in The Netherlands is Instructive.
Mandatory licencing
Businesses in the sex industry, for instance sex clubs, brothels and escort agencies will only be allowed
to operate with a licence from the municipal authorities. The conditions for obtaining a licence will
include a guarantee of sex workers' health and safety. A commercial sex operation will only be given a
licence if it has a fixed address and a telephone landline. To ensure that the rules are equally strict all
over the country, the same conditions will essentially apply in every municipality.
Screening the owners of businesses in the sex industry
The owners of commercial sex operations will be screened more thoroughly. Municipalities will do
background checks on them. If an owner has previously been involved in human trafficking or if there
are indications that they will probably not comply with the licencing conditions, their application for a
licence will be denied. 20
Raising the minimum age for prostitutes
The minimum age for prostitutes in The Netherlands has been raised to 21. Clients will be liable to
punishment if they engage the services of a prostitute under the age of 21. Business owners will be
punishable if they employ a prostitute under the age of 21. Underage prostitutes themselves will not be
punished.
Prostitution and Exploitation Risks
If you are working as a prostitute, regardless if sex work is legal or not in your country, it may be that
you are being forced to do so, or that you are being exploited. If any of the following situations applies
to you, it is possible that you are being exploited:
You have to do work that is different to what you were promised;
You are aged under *18 and are working as a prostitute *(21 in some countries);
You are being forced to work as a prostitute, for example by someone who has arranged the30
work for you, or by a so-called lover boy (who doesn't love you but just uses you);
The person you are working for is threatening to report you because you are in the country
illegally;
You do not have your own passport or travel documents in your possession;
You have to hand over the money you earn (some or all of it) to someone else;
You have to work even when you are ill;
You have to pay off a large debt to the person you are working for;
You have no say about where you work or live;
You have to work in different places and often do not know where you are;
You are not allowed to go back and forth by yourself between where you live and where you
40work;
You are not allowed to go shopping or buy new clothes by yourself;
You or your family are being mistreated, blackmailed or threatened;
You work in unpleasant or poor conditions;
You are forced to have unsafe sex;
You are forced to perform specific sexual acts;
You are not free to refuse customers;
You have to work long hours;
You are only allowed to finish work when you have earned a certain amount of money, or after
you have had a minimum number of clients. 50
Do any of these situations apply to you, or to someone you know? Then it is possible that you (or he or
she) are the victim of exploitation. Do not allow this to happen. Ask for help from local law enforcement.
Contact us if you need help doing this.
Discussion
Men run most governments. Men of these patriarchs have for eons devoted a large percentage of their
time to legislating what women can and cannot do with their bodies.
This must stop.
For example, legislating against female sex workers is just another folly. It doesn't work. Prosecuting the
clients or the sex workers has had no positive impact. Prostitution still exists but may be more in the
shadows than you realize. Hiding prostitution in the darkness of the underworld promotes exploitation
of women, violence toward women, human trafficking, and the delivery of Human Immunodeficiency60
Virus (HIV) & Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) among a large sector of the client
population without any means for tracking the infected parties.
Consequently it can be accurately stated that public health is endangered by pushing sex work deeper
into the shadows with foolish legislation that outlaws the worker and or client.
Legislating what women can do with their bodies is the folly of a patriarchal governance that has run
amok in misogyny.
Some feminists suggest that many prostitutes don't have a significant range of career choices because of
poverty and lack of education and training for other options. Well, don't remove that choice too. Sex
workers who adhere to safe practices serve a useful function. We will talk more about that in a moment.
Some opponents of sex work suggest that many women are forced into prostitution by men who are
70pimps, who then take their money and coerce them to continue earning. In that case the crime is not
being committed by the woman, and the crime is not prostitution. To suggest that prostitution should be
criminalized because men will exploit prostitutes is the ultimate in misogyny if not just plain dumb logic.
Prosecute the men who imprison, extort, or assault women.
Not all so-called "pimps" are doing crime. Some are defector "bodyguards" and collect a fee for their
work. That's not such a bad thing but pushing sex work into the shadows has also pushed the support
workers into the dark.
Decriminalizing prostitution opens the door to allowing sex workers to hire professional, licenced
security persons. It also helps legitimize a realm of employment that otherwise was living in the shadows
under no scrutiny 80.
Do you really know what a sex worker does?
Howard's wife died a few years ago and since that time he has lived alone. Gina, a sex worker who sees
Howard once a week in his flat, charges him the equivalent of $100.00 USD. Gina has strict rules for
herself as well as clients about hygiene, medical support, and protection for both. Howard is compliant
but according to Gina, they seldom have sexual contact, mostly Howard likes to talk. Because of this,
Gina sought out some training and took a day course in social work. She is a sex worker but she says that
Howard was once suicidal and she believes she has saved Howard's life. They continue to see each
other. Whatever of Howard's needs are being fulfilled, he may someday be able to transfer from a
surrogate to a real partner. He said he never would do that out of respect for his deceased wife but
maybe he will give himself permission to do that. In the meantime, is Howard committing a crime?
Where is the men’s real (criminal intent)? Is he doing something immoral? 90
Gina says she has many clients exactly like Howard. She also says that she has many experiences over
the years with "bad dates", violent men who cause trouble.
Gina pools her financial resources with two other women to hire a driver/bodyguard who takes her to
her appointments and remains on call in the event of trouble. She says she also has police acquaintances
she can call. It's a quid pro quo wherein the police officer gains information about violent sex offenders
or predators in his jurisdiction and Gina has a 'go to person' when trouble strikes.
Sex Work Should Not Be Done in the Shadows
In some countries, lawmakers have decided to not prosecute the women sex workers but instead charge
men who use the services of the prostitute. That has led to harassment of the women sex workers by
police and driven the tradecraft further underground. Moreover, the male clients are the least likely
criminals. 100
"Many are just homely guys why didn't meet a girl, yet. “
"For some men it takes longer than for other men to find the right partner. They still have needs," says
our source, Gina.
Decriminalizing prostitution; taxing the industry; imposing strict public health rules; and policing against
exploitation is the only way ahead.
Not Just Women Are Prostitutes
Many members of the straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and two-spirit (S+LBGT2)
communities choose to become sex workers. When will men learn that legislating adults to compel who
has sex with who is just not practical law making? Already there are sex worker unions and associations
all over the world. These groups have a good understanding of the health and safety issues of both
workers and clients. Where they don't there are many Civil Society organizations willing to share their
110knowledge base and know-how. Perhaps these groups could form an alliance with government for
the purpose of standards implementation and licensing.
A patriarchal approach legislated what women do with their bodies will fail. Alternatively, women and
men working together to bring sex work into a safe, healthy, legitimate service sector will triumph over
the spread of disease and reduce rape and other sex crime significantly.
Sex work (prostitution) is here to stay. It needs to be decriminalized, come out of the shadows, and be a
legitimate part of the public health and safety regulatory regimes. 117
PROSTITUTION
Decriminalizing sex work
GIST : SEX WORK HAD BEEN DONE IN THE DARK SHADOW WHICH MOST PEOPLE IN EVERY
COUNTRY ARE NOT AWARE OF. IN ORDER TO DECREASE THE SEX CRIME, PROVIDE SAFETY TO
THE SEX WORKERS AND REDUCES THE PROBALITY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
Reduces the spread of infectious disease Breeds disease that threaten public health
Enhance the safety of people involved in sex Forced to involve in the prostitution
industry
Reduces rape and other sex crime Promotes violence towards woman
Prevent the abuse of power by the owner Women being discriminate
People that make violence to women will be Victim of exploitation
prosecute
Legitimate a field of employment in sex
industry
