It’s hard to believe that in 2020 the protection and rights of sex workers are still issues. The fact that numerous
governments have not yet developed a bill to protect sex workers is frustrating. There is currently no protection
for sex workers. All humans deserve the right to feel safe at work. As someone who chooses not to participate in
sex work, I believe it is morally wrong and very dangerous to not have any legislation to protect these individuals.
- The Effects Criminalizing Sex Work and the Buyer:
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Most times sex workers are required to put the protection of the buyer before their own safety. This
puts sex workers in danger because they have nowhere to turn to and seek help if something goes
wrong. Usually sex workers are required to meet their clients in obscure places where they can’t be
caught or found; this puts the workers safety even more at risk as it is difficult to access help if needed.
There is a very high rate of abuse and mortality for these workers and their client(s).
- You Can Decriminalize Sex Work While Keeping Trafficking Illegal
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Legalizing sex work does not mean removing laws or penalties around sexual exploitation, forced labor,
trafficking, rape or sexual assault. Anyone who commits these crimes should still be held accountable for
their actions persecuted as necessary.
- This Is a Humans Rights Issue
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It is a basic human right that everyone should feel safe and free from abuse and harm.
Regardless of your area of work, people should always feel safe in their job. Just because
sex work is frowned upon by society does not mean they are less deserving of safety and
protection. These people are living, breathing, human beings with family members and
friends, and they should have the same rights as any employed individual. Thousands of sex
workers are abused and even killed because there is no protection in place for them. Unfortunately,
sex workers can’t report their clients because they could be persecuted, which means the client can
get away with doing this to other sex workers which puts the safety of many people at risk.
- This Is A Medical Issue
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HIV/AIDS and many other STI’s are a high risk in sex work. The fact there is no protection or medical
disclosure for sex workers or their clients is extremely dangerous for them, and the general population.
It can be very easy to catch an STI, and some of these diseases are asymptomatic, meaning they don’t
show signs or symptoms, but can still be passed from partner to partner. Even though there are some
community supports that go out and give sex workers condoms, this is not enough. The fact there is no
medical disclosure for neither the worker nor the client means it is easy to spread the infections from person
to person without knowing who gave what to whom. Sex workers need a system where they and their client
must disclose all infectious diseases and allow withdrawal from sexual activity.
- It’s None Of Your Business Why They Do It
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There are many reasons why sex workers choose to participate in this line of work, ranging from poor income,
not being able to find a job, the hours fitting their lifestyle, needing to pay high tuition costs, etc. Or they could do
it because they simply like it and they want to. It isn’t anyone’s business why they choose to do what they
do. People do not have the right to judge the choices of others, as you don’t know what is happening in their life.
Everyone should agree that regardless of why anyone decides their profession, they are entitled to feel safe and
have protection.