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In response to claims that decriminalization of prostitution encourages human trafficking, these claims are totally unfounded. Human trafficking also occurs in places where prostitution is criminalized and there is no evidence that trafficking is more common in places where prositution is decriminalized than in places where it is criminalized. New Zealand decriminalized prostitution and a report came out saying that there is no evidence that the decriminalization of prostitution there is linked to human trafficking. If prostitution were decriminalized, then that would free up resources to fight human trafficking. Under the criminalization of prostitution, human trafficking legislation seems more focused on persecuting sex workers than stopping human trafficking. There are sex workers being arrested under legislation that's supposed to be about stopping human trafficking. Since when does persecuting sex workers stop human trafficking?

in the spirit of Justice Douglas's lead opinion in Griswald v Connecticut (the case that struck down anti-birth-control laws as unconstitutional), if the Bill of Rights means anything, it means that the government cannot intrude into the bedroom life of consenting adults.

Our children and adolescents are sexualized at a very early age ..the brat dolls e.g.,,, Prostitution is normalized by academics and the language neutral word "sex worker" legitimizes prostitution.

What adults do with their bodies in private is not the business of the State OR the organized religion.

Age of consent is a factor in this discussion. A teenager who is prostituting thenselves is a victim in what among adults is a victim-less crime.

Exploitation does not disappear with language change.

There is a big difference between “choosing” to be a prostitute and having to be a prostitute because there is not other way to economically survive.

A better approach is to decimalize prostitution and AND apply tax laws to this kind of work like any other kind of work ... this will have a huge impact and open the door to health and safety issues

As the former head of Maternal and Child Health at WHO in Geneva, I represented WHO on the drafting committee for the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (which has been ratified by every country in the world except the United States and Somalia)and on the UN Committee on the CRC. I was also involved in the early discussions drafting of the UN additional Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. (http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/crc-sale.htm). The US ratified the optional protocol on December 23, 2002, thus obligating national and local authorities to take appropriate action to protect, support and rehabilate children covered by Optional Protocol. The Governor's proposal is an appropriate response to the issue of child prostitution. The apparent opposition by the Mayor is not consistent with the international legal of governmental authorities in the United States.

Decriminalization empowers sex workers to work on their own terms, with safer health practices, to unionize, and protect each other from pimps, johns, and corrupt police. Child prostitution would remain illegal under existing law, statutory rape.

I used to be in favor of decriminalizing prostitution, mainly on the basis that sex work IS work, ie, prostitutes are simply performing a specific form of physical labor.

But I'm now less sanguine about the consequences of such decriminalization. It might still make sense to do so, but the more information I read about the actual practices and conditions of prostitution (effects on trafficking, who becomes a prostitute and why, what happens as the person ages), the more it seems that it ought at least be highly regulated.

Thus, the focus ought to be less on the issue of 'free labor' and more on what is best for those who do work as prostitutes. If decriminalization will help, then proceed with that. But if not, find out what does help.

In the late 70's when the WTC was having problems finding tenants and Times Square was out of control, Councilman Henry Stern suggested that the top ten stories of the twin towers be designated official red light districts, that medical services be provided for the workers and the proceeds taxed. We need more thinking like this.

In ALL of Europe, prostitution is not merely legal it is a RIGHT. This is from a decision of the European court of Human Rights. Not sure exactly when, but in the past 10 years. There may be restrictions (time, place, and manner) but the fundamental right to sell your body is established there.

Your guest should really know this.

Prostitution is legal in parts of Nevada and RI. has civilization collapsed there?

maybe the divorce rates in this country would fall if men could just pay for what they need.

Providence.

re: SanFran - I recently read an article in Wilson's Quarterly about modern-day slavery which claimed that places that have decriminalized prostitution have suffered by becoming targets of human traffickers who send their slaves there to work. They claim that even Amsterdam is trying to reduce the size of its "red-light" district.

Are you sure this person is awake!

it would be interesting to see if the libertarians can get anything done. they seem to be held hostage by the calvinists in the bible belt and the pro big business types.

This is great material for educational classes about sex in the law for legal teachers.