The Netherlands has thus succeeded in reducing the number of people at risk of forced prostitution and trafficking in human beings. The Netherlands imposes severe penalties on anyone who contributes to human trafficking, with up to 18 years in prison. Although this has not completely freed the country from forced prostitution, it has become much easier to regulate the illegal exploitation of minors. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that sex work can only be legally performed by people over the age of 21. Illegal street prostitutes could be pressured by pimps and clients to stop using condoms. But states that legalize prostitution can force sex workers to use condoms and get tested for sexually transmitted diseases. The desire to protect women from sexual abuse will always be valid, and if anything is a desire that should be more prevalent in the United States. What is dishonest is the rejection of legalized sex work on grounds that claim to be women`s safety, but actually stem from a place of discomfort towards women who openly engage in sexual interactions for financial gain. If you are not comfortable with the idea of women having sex for money, then you should also have a problem with pornography, exotic dances, and dating for money. If you don`t have a problem with all these socially accepted practices, but a problem with prostitution because it is «morally questionable,» then you have lost your right to any forum where decisions about women`s safety and rights are made. Before the beginning of the 20th century.
In the nineteenth century, the Netherlands abolished prostitution through national legislation. Everyone involved has been criminalized. Public opinion and implementation gradually became more lenient, which led to a more acceptable attitude towards prostitution as a way of life. The tension between national law and local politics has led to an increasingly contradictory system. This eventually led to the passage of a law in 1983 that gave municipal authorities the power to regulate prostitution. Brothel owners have a clear interest in maintaining their image as law-abiding and trouble-free businesses in order to keep their licenses and maintain good relationships within their communities. The landlords we interviewed make sure of this by making it a policy to call the police at the slightest sign of trouble to send the message that they will not tolerate bad behaviour. «The whole name of the game is control. But that control also allows us to get along pretty well with the sheriff`s office,» one owner told researchers.
There are two reasons for this, first, the sheriff`s office, but also the personal safety of the girls. However, the legalization of prostitution has had positive benefits for sex workers across Europe. The best-known country that has legalized prostitution is the Netherlands, where sex work has been legal for nearly two decades. Taking the industry out of the black market and imposing strict regulations has improved the safety of sex workers. Brothels must obtain and renew safety and health licenses to operate, and street prostitution is legal and highly regulated in places like the Red Light District. Not only does sex work become safer when regulated, but legalization also helps eliminate the black market in prostitution and make women safer overall. In addition, sex workers are not labeled criminals, so they have better access to the legal system and are encouraged to report behaviours that pose a danger to themselves and other women in the industry. Finally, the legalization of sex work will bring many other positive externalities, including tax revenues, the reduction of sexually transmitted diseases, and the redistribution of law enforcement resources.
Legalizing and regulating prostitution will make life safer for sex workers and help crush the pimps and trafficking gangs they exploit. Traffickers thrive because the sex trade is driven underground. Legalize it, and they will disappear. Prostitutes will feel safer when they no longer fear prosecution. Police will be able to focus their resources on fighting the real bad guys – the criminal gangs that exploit sex workers. The experiences of countries such as Nevada, Switzerland and New Zealand show that legalized and regulated prostitution works. An April 2012 study by the Urban Justice Center found that New York City police officers had actually used women`s condoms as evidence in criminal prostitution cases against them. It is easy to imagine how this practice could deter sex workers from wearing protection. Prostitution is a sensitive issue in the United States. Often, arguments against prostitution focus on concerns about women`s health and safety, and these concerns are not unfounded. Prostitution is an incredibly dangerous profession for the (mostly) women involved; Sexual assault, forced drug abuse, physical violence and death are common in the industry. For women working in this field, it is often very difficult to get help or get out of it.
Many sex workers were trafficked for sex at a very young age and lack the resources to escape forced prostitution, or voluntarily started as sex workers, only to become victims of sex trafficking later. Because prostitution is illegal in most places in the United States, there are few legal protections for prostitutes. Many fear that seeking help will only lead to arrest, and many of those who seek help are arrested and then have to contend with the stigma of a criminal record as they try to reintegrate into society. As Cornell law professor Sherry Colb wrote, «Prostitution should not be a crime.