Europe without sex workers

[Nate1]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/09/europe-sex-workers

Some European Feminist groups want to "free" Europe from Sex Workers. This seems to be a balanced article reviewing the differing points of view.

 

[canada-man]

There is an alternative, of course, but one that requires even more vision. In July a report by the UN-backed Global Commission on HIV and the Law recommended that all countries decriminalise private and consensual adult sexual behaviours, including same-sex sexual acts and voluntary sex work. It specifically stated that this should also apply to the Swedish model, concluding that criminalising the buying of sex had actually worsened the working lives of prostitutes in that country. Decriminalisation, which is very different to legalisation, has been in place in New Zealand since 2003. Safety has improved, the segregation that occurs with tolerance zones has been avoided, and there has been no increase in prostitution.

 

[Rockslinger]

Decriminalisation, which is very different to legalisation, has been in place in New Zealand since 2003. Safety has improved, the segregation that occurs with tolerance zones has been avoided, and there has been no increase in prostitution.

Sounds good which is why it will never happen in Canada (subject to the SCC ruling on the case currently in front of it). I spoke to an MP once and he said that just because something makes sense doesn't mean it makes good law.

 

[Aardvark154]

While The Guardian's description of the two viewpoints is far from even handed, I would agree with them as to the basics of the two camps.

"A rescuer, for whom one woman's willing wage-earning cannot trump the plight of the exploited, drug-addicted abuse survivor?

Or an enabler, swallowing whole the inevitability of sex work, mythologising the happy hooker, or daring to suggest that in times of recession plenty of working-class women feel themselves but one step away from the oldest profession?"

Hence shockingly enough, I find myself agreeing with C-M!