And the radio interview I did on the piece: Evidence shows that it would protect sex workers, reduce violence, cut down on sex trafficking, and more. There’s no good reason not to. A prostitute has a 45 percent to 75 percent chance of experiencing workplace violence at some point, according to recent research indicates, and … [Read more…]
On the last day of my recent trip to Germany, I’d wanted to check out Deutschland’s brothels. The focus of my writing on sex work has been U.S.-centric thus far. So I wanted to speak to someone participating in sex work in a country where it’s legal. I was running out of time and euros, … [Read more…]
Just as the internet has revolutionized nearly aspect of everyday life, it’s revolutionized the so-called informal economy as well. Online marketplaces have made life far safer for people whose desires take them outside the bounds of legal protection. Which is why it’s so disturbing that government agencies are effectively turning back the clock, and shutting … [Read more…]
It seems like “sex trafficking” is all the rage these days, even though it makes up a tiny percentage of human trafficking worldwide. I guess ladies giving forced blowjobs is more exciting than a guy picking cotton under threat of death or torture, even though the latter is far, far more common. While everyone wants … [Read more…]
Recently the Virginia House of Delegates passed two bills ostensibly aimed at stopping human trafficking in Virginia. HB 235 forces people convicted of soliciting an underage prostitute to register as sex offenders. HB 660 enables prosecutors to seize the earnings of sex workers. The bills were submitted by Del. Rob Bell, (R-Albemarle, pictured) who in … [Read more…]
It just couldn’t be clearer. “Amnesty International is opposed to the criminalization or punishment of activities related to the buying or selling of consensual sex between adults.” Thus begins a recently leaked document from the famed human rights organization calling for an end to prohibitions on sex work. Ironically perhaps, the most important, and controversial … [Read more…]
The UN Human Rights Council just published a report from the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women which criticizes demand-based anti-trafficking measures and calls for countries to consider decriminalizing sex work, among other individual-liberty-supporting measures. The report calls for countries to: Consider the potential of decriminalising sex work and practices around it, as a strategy … [Read more…]