Post by Chirusha de Mel
According to Equality Now, trafficking women and children
for sexual exploitation is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the
world. There are at least 20.9 million
adults and children which are being brought and sold worldwide into commercial sexual
servitude, forced labor, and bonded labor. [1]As a result, sex trafficking should be illegal. This is not only a threat to human security but as
well as ontological security and national security to the victims who are being
brought from other countries.
Whether sex
trafficking is within a country or across the national borders, it clearly
violates basic human rights, including the rights to bodily integrity,
equality, dignity, health, security, and the freedom from violence and torture.
[2] If states were permitted to
legalize prostitution, it would only make sex trafficking worse. Brothels do
nothing more than abuse women indoors and give all the complex systemic issues involved
with prostitution a place to hide. Most women become more vulnerable and prone
to addiction, poor physical and mental health. This clearly states as to why
prostitution is morally wrong.
However, some may
believe that calling for legalization or decriminalization of prostitution dignify
and professionalize the women in prostitution. But in fact, dignifying
prostitution as work does not dignify the women, it only dignifies the sex
industry. In addition, the sex industry promotes trafficking. Most sex
traffickers focus on bringing young children, usually under the age of 18 among
specific ethnic groups. For example, Alma from the Philippines shares her story
on sex trafficking and how she was forced into prostitution. She articulates
that, "Society’s
understanding of human trafficking and prostitution needs to change. In my
country, people believe that prostitutes are criminals and buyers are the
victims. This is wrong… Women are human beings, not commodities to be bought
and sold." [3]
In the Philippines, people believed that prostitutes are the criminals, and the
buyers are the victims. Women are not given equal opportunities in these countries.
Their options are limited and many women begin to grow desperate. It is
important to figure out how to combat sex trafficking. Many women are often
defined as powerless sex objects, and do not have any way out in these
situations. Many women begin to think that they only exist to please men. This is a serious psychological issue, which
should be prevented.
Even though it may
be hard to combat sex trafficking all at once, it is important to take a stand by
promoting social services in countries to reduce sex trafficking in developing
countries. Many women are being
exploited and are truly being treated unfairly, therefore promoting these
programs will help benefit these women, and hopefully realize the consequences
in preforming in sex trafficking.
I agree with you that sex trafficking if morally wrong and that it poses serious human security issues. However, I wonder if what you're saying could have unintended consequences for sex trafficking. By cracking down on it and making more regulations I wonder if that would force the industry to just go deeper under ground, making it even more difficult to help the victims. I also disagree about your thoughts on how legalizing prostitution doesn't dignify the prostitute. I think it does in certain situations, where the prostitute has chosen that profession willingly.
ReplyDeleteBrianna Arnold
I agree that legalizing prostitution would not dignify the industry. If prostitution is okay in society, then women will become more objectified. It is demeaning to the individual and society, and legalizing it will only make overall sex trafficking more lucrative. Instead, countries where prostitution is okay should attempt to create more economic opportunities so women do not feel it necessary to become prostitutes or join/become forced to join sex trafficking.
ReplyDeleteAnthony Coppola
I like that your incorporated the story of Alma into your post. I think it is a sad reality that many countries around the world have the mindset that the prostitutes are the criminals and the buyers are the victims. I think in many parts of the world women feel their actions are justified because they need the money, however, like Anthony mentioned in his comment I think it is part of the governments job to provide more economic opportunities so that women don't have to turn to prostitution.
ReplyDeletePost by Hedvig Blanco
I also agree legalizing prostitution would not dignify women or the industry. If we allow it to be legalized, more people will want the services and more people would have to be there to meet the demand. Not everyone is going to want to do it, so in essence it is very feasible sex trafficking would not cease. It is all about the demand that warrants sex trafficking. If the demand can be attacked or decreased, then sex trafficking will die along with it. Instead of legalizing prostitution, they should criminalize the buying of their services (maybe).
ReplyDelete-Dom Dellamano
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