Selling sex shouldn't be made illegal

I read in the paper today that there are government plans to cut phone links to call girls and maybe even outlaw paying for sex. This is utterly stupid.

It is an oft-cited fact that prostitution is the world’s oldest profession – I have no idea whether this is true or not but it’s got to be up there in the top five. No matter what your moral views are on the matter, it is a fact that there will always be a demand for prostitutes. If we make it illegal for people to pay to have sex with others, the already dangerous trade will be driven further underground and become even riskier for those working in it.

Having studied several aspects of the sex industry in quite some depth as part of my first degree, I’ve read a variety of opinions on the pros and cons of the legalisation of prostitution. One particularly eminent authority on the subject is an Australian sex worker (I’ve forgotten her name) who chooses to remain in her profession, despite having published several academic works on the issue. She is a radical feminist who believes that sex trafficking statistics are vastly exaggerated, arguing that the majority of these women are fully aware of what they’re signing up to and, even when they’re not, they choose to remain doing it when they’re free to go. She says this is because it’s good money, and as long as they’re working in a brothel where they’re protected by their pimps it’s not actually that dangerous.

While this does seem to be a somewhat rose-tinted view of the murky world of prostitution, she makes some valid points and it’s important to remember that there are at least two sides to every story. By outlawing a practice that is ingrained in society the world over, we will drive prostitutes onto the streets where they’ll have no choice but to get into the cars of strangers, taking their lives into their hands with every tenner they earn. Surely it would be better for everyone if it was legalised – this has worked well in the Netherlands, where prostitution is made much safer with free sexual health services and brothels are regulated, where the women (and men) who work in the industry can join unions and are liable for income tax. By adopting a fresh approach we could reduce STI rates, tackle the stigma and taboo surrounding this subject and make things safer for everyone involved.