Friday, November 2, 2012

Legalize Prostitution

     This is an issue that has been on my mind for months, though it was mostly limited to its ethical aspect. After some research however, prostitution became to my mind an issue of extreme humanitarian importance.

Now some may ask "out of all the problems in the world Ayman, you found nothing to write about other than prostitution?". Because it is a huge problem. The UN global report on trafficking estimates that around 2.4 million people (highest estimate being 9.8 million) are at any given time victims of human trafficking, 79% of whom are women and children. These victims are lured and tricked into what we can only call slavery. Human trafficking is a thriving criminal global industry estimated to be worth 32 billion USD, and prostitution constitutes the biggest share with women being the primary victims. Needless to say, other than being enslaved, these women are mistreated on a daily basis.

This article is not a policy recommendation paper, much more research and time would be required.  It's rather me sharing my thoughts on the issue and expressing the opinion that legalizing prostitution could if handled properly help reduce human trafficking and human rights violations, in addition to making it safer from a health perspective. Of course the solution for such a complex problem needs to be complex in turn, with multiple aspects to it. Pro-legalization proposes that legalizing prostitution is but a part of the solution.



Before I start, I should touch upon the ethical aspect of prostitution. It is not something I would be in favor of on a personal level, as I see the act of sex as being an expression of intimacy and not a commodity to be bought and sold. However, imposing my beliefs on others is not really my inclination; people are ultimately masters of their own bodies and they can do with it as they wish as long as it does not violate other people's rights. That said, there is certainly an element of hypocrisy when judging the phenomenon. Buying and selling sexual services is seen as immoral, but being a mercenary or a "private military contractor", where one kills people for money, is usually seen as fine even heroic. This hypocrisy adds to the stigma surrounding the profession that is not improving the situation.  And in spite of all the criminalization and moral vilification, prostitution is an activity that is going to occur inevitably, as we see today, so might as well accept it and make sure it meets conditions with regards to health and human rights.

Trafficking women as prostitutes is such a thriving industry on a global level because naturally there is demand for it. Criminalizing prostitution has had no effect on it, indeed the industry is still growing. Decriminalizing prostitution could combat it.  People are more likely to avoid the criminal sector, if they can acquire the same service legally, safety being an incentive to pay extra should the costs be that different.

If prostitution becomes legal and practiced openly in establishments known to the government like any other business, it could be regulated. The government would be able to know if the prostitutes are consenting adults who are there of their own volition and make sure that they are treated well like any other citizen and employee.  These establishments would have to conform to labor laws to stay in business. Legalizing prostitution is the best way to protect the employees, who would no longer be considered criminals, from daily abuse and enslavement from both the customers and the owners of the establishment.

In addition, if made legal, prostitution establishments can work closely with the Health department to make sure they meet health conditions and standards, something that is not done if prostitution is criminalized. Availability of condoms as well as basic training for the employees could reduce sexually transmitted diseases.  Having these establishments in public would make it much easier for the government to make sure the health hazards are brought down to a minimum, which is to the benefit of both customers and employees.

All of the above necessitates a competent government capable and willing  to ensure these conditions. The European examples leave much to be desired, but New Zealand sets a positive albeit imperfect example, receiving praise from the UN for the manner in which it decriminalized and regulates prostitution. I believe that this is a model that should be followed and improved upon, as many in the pro-legalization camp point out.

But we should not fool ourselves into thinking that this would entirely eliminate human trafficking and human rights abuses. As mentioned beforehand, this is but one facet of the solution to such a complex and burgeoning human disaster. What it can do is alleviate the situation while other solutions are implemented, such as increased economic opportunities and social welfare to reduce the need of women to go into that business in the first place. And if the very idea of legalizing prostitution offends one's moral or religious scruples, I would ask them to consider how reducing the suffering of millions of women should supersede their personal sensibilities.

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