General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The unspoken issue at the center of prostitution is causation [View all]jeff47
(26,549 posts)There were similar claims that there was enormous numbers of exploited women and trafficked women.
So the UK authorities conducted a massive sweep of the country. They offered protection to the UK citizens, and a free ticket home to the foreign women. No testimony required, so the women would not be endangered by a pimp. And they interviewed many, many thousands of women.
2 women took the free plane ticket. 0 UK citizens took them up on their offer.
So I have a lot of doubt that the anti-prostitution folks claim that the official stats are massively under-reported are true. Because in the best measure we have so far, they were very, very wrong.
And if trafficking and exploitation is your concern, it's really not that hard to fix.
For example, the Germans are having trouble getting access to brothels? Have the law require inspections. Have the law require private, one-on-one interviews with the women to identify any who are being trafficked or coerced. Have the law give them a free plane ticket home if they're being trafficked, and a witness-protection-like system for German women.
Throwing women in jail for prostitution is a terrible solution to this problem. And throwing only men in jail for prostitution guarantees most of the horrible side-effects will continue.