Essay about Criminalizing Prostitution and Buying Sex

This section includes both the criminalisation of prostitution and of buying sex. The benefits of criminalising either of these include public health consideration, reduction in trafficking, and female empowerment. The costs associated with criminalisation include the marginalisation of sex worker, greater risk of violence, less protection for sex workers, and perhaps greater oppression. If selling sex is criminalised, then victims of abuse or trafficking will not report anything to police because they would be prosecuted. Criminalisation of the sex buyers also reduces reporting because sex workers fear their place of work will be targeted by police. In terms of oppression, prostitution is often a last resort in that most are there because†¦show more content†¦It is unlikely that they could leave the industry and find new work. Therefore, it can be speculated if they just went indoors or online. There was also found to be less trafficking in Sweden, however, rates went up d rastically in neighbouring countries, Norway and Denmark. The number of street prostitutes also rose. The goal of the law was to reduce demand, but this is not necessarily a good thing for voluntary prostitutes. Sex workers are generally in the industry as a last resort because they do not have other economic options. By reducing demand, this does not change the sex worker’s life circumstances and opportunities, but merely gives them a smaller pool of clients. This reduction in demand will lead to greater competition if supply does not adjust which leads to riskier behaviour, such as unprotected sex. It has also been noted that street based sex workers will work further away from detection, to avoid arrest. This leads to less time available to assess a client and an increase in assaults and sex offences. Much of the streetwalker trade takes place in their clients cars, which is a vulnerable place if the client is violent. Sex workers are less likely to report attacks because they fear that their address will be targeted by police in the future, to arrest clients. The UNAids Programme stated â€Å"the approach of criminalising the client has been shown to backfire on sex workers†, creating â€Å"an environment of fear andShow MoreRelatedThe Legalization Regulation Of The Sex Trade Essay849 Words   |  4 Pagesargues for the decriminalization plus regulation of the sex trade. 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