Highlander
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When people think of sex work, it inspires images of a criminal and dangerous world. However, sex work is more nuanced than what the public imagines it to be, and the illegality actually heightens the danger of a profession that should be legalized. Prohibition creates criminality and violence where there could be civility and industry. Likewise, government regulations on human rights truly never help, it only causes more pain to those involved.
To illustrate, Abigail Hall-Blanco wrote an article for the Las Vegas Sun entitled “Legalized Prostitution is Safer” in which she points out, “While this suggestion may sound radical, consider that organizations including the United Nations, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International call for the same.” These human rights organizations have published statistics regarding the positive benefits of legalization, pointing out that decriminalization can ultimately stop the spread of disease, violence and save human lives. UCLA public policy professor, Sharon Hong, reported 24% fewer cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) amongst Rhode Islanders after the state briefly legalized sex work between 2003 and 2009. The same study showed a 17% drop in rapes across Rhode Island during this six-year period.