The Moral Circumstance

With the rise of globalization came the rise of human trafficking for sexual exploitations. All over the world, young boys and girls are supplied to pimps and dealers. Demand is increasing and current measures to deal with the matter are ineffective. Recently, however, policy-makers have lobbied for legislation to end all forms of prostitution. Following the motto, “No demand, no supply,” the group is trying to change our “current legal framework – the criminalization of both buying and selling sex,” by adopting Sweden’s legal framework.

In the Swedish model, “selling sex is not illegal, but buying sex is a criminal offense.” Unfortunately, this proposed resolution will only do more harm than good. For example, in Sweden prostitution witnessed a brief decline only to rise shortly after. In reaction to new laws, the illicit business took its way underground. Once underground the trade becomes more dangerous for the victims and more complex for officials to crack down.

The article suggests that a better strategy would be to “seriously investigate and prosecute traffickers and impose harsh punishment on those who rape and assault sex workers.” Furthermore, police departments have to be less corrupt and detach themselves from the trafficking industry so that victims can actively report this injustice. Those who rely on prostitution to meet daily needs require new social services in aid.

You may read more of the article, “A Misguided Moral Crusade” by Noy Thrupkaew, by visiting the New York Times website.