Decriminalizing Prostitution - Should buying and selling sex be legal?

Sep 28, 2026

A policy debate examines whether decriminalizing prostitution would improve safety for sex workers or instead expand risks such as sex trafficking. The discussion traces shifting approaches in Europe and the United States, highlighting proposals from Germany and the Netherlands to tighten regulations, New Zealand’s full decriminalization, and Sweden’s Nordic model focused on prosecuting buyers. The report evaluates competing claims about demand reduction and whether controversy will persist.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time1 h 0 min

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Decriminalizing Prostitution

Should buying and selling sex be legal?

THE ISSUES

BACKGROUND

CURRENT STTUATION

OUTLOOK

FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

Bibliography

The Next Step

# Decriminalizing Prostitution ## Should buying and selling sex be legal? mnesty International has spurred a global debateon prostitution with a controversial proposal todecriminalize the sex trade worldwide.The human-rights organization argues that lifting bans onprostitution would make life safer for prostitutes.But critics saydecriminalization would increase global sex trafficking and putmany women at greater risk.Policies on prostitution are shiftingthroughout Europe and the United States.In response to concernsabout trafficking and health risks,the German and Dutch govern-ments have proposed tightening existing regulations that have legal-ized prostitution.New Zealand,on the other hand,has fully de-crininalized the sex trade along the lines supported by Amnesty.Sweden has adopted what is known as the "Nordic model,"in whichonly the buyers of sex are prosecuted.Seattle and 10 other U.S.cities are copying Sweden,hoping to stop prostitution altogetherby eliminating demand for commercial sex.But critics,arguing thatno way exists to halt the world's “oldest profession,"say theNordic approach simply drives the sex trade further underground. CQ Researcher·April 15,2016·www.cqresearcher.comVolume 26,Number 15·Pages 337-360 ⑤SAGE CQPRESS Puokhng LoB Aroet Londor New Cah Sngapore Wasnnglon DC Me bune A17-year-old girl is arrested for alleged prostitution inLos Angeles.The human rights group AmnestyInternational proposes decriminalizing the sex tradeworldwide in an effort to make life safer for prostitutes. # THIS REPORT THE ISSUES.……………339BACKGROUND……………345CHRONOLOGY……………CURRENT SITUATION……352AT ISSLE………………….353OUTLOO.…………………355BIBLIOGRAPHY……………358THE NEXT STEP ………359 RECIPILNT'():SCIIY()F:PRFESSIONA1.JOURNALISTS AWARI)I(REXCELLENCE◆ AMERICAN BAR ASSC)CIATION SILNER(AVEl,AWARI) ## THE ISSUES ·Does decriminalization nmakethe sex trade safer? ·Does legalizing prostitutionincrease trafficking? ·Should more places adoptthe Nordic model? ## BACKGROUND Banning ProstitutionProstitution was not bannedin the United States until 1917. ## Sexual Revolution As attitudes about premaritalsex loosened,men visitedprostitutes less often. ## Trafficking Concerns Worries about women andgirls being forced into prosti-tution led to new lavsagainst sex trafficking. ## CURRENT STTUATION United States Some police departments arecracking down on buyers ofsex. ## Europe European countries areconsidering adopting the“Nordic model”in hopes ofeliminating the sex trade. ## Canada Sex workers are expected tochallenge a new law focusingon arresting prostitutes'clients. ## OUTLOOK Debate to Continue Controversy over prostitutionpolicy is likely to divide theU.S.public for years to come. SIDEBARS AND GRAPHICS Most Countries Ban Prostitution About 70 have legalized it inSome form or in certainareas. Half of U.S.Men Would 341 Legalize Prostitution A minority of women agreethat accepting money for sexshould be legal. ChronologyKey events since 1849. Seattle Shifts Sex Arrestsfrom Sellers to BuyersProsecutors deploy a versionof the "Nordic model.", 350German GovernmentTargets Legal-ProstitutionProblems Only 1 percent of sex workershave signed a work contract. At Issue: 353 Should prostitution bedecriminalized? FOR FURTHER RESEARCH For More InformationOrganizations to contact 357 358BibliographySelected sources used. 359 The Next Step Additional articles. Citing CQ ResearcherSample bibliography formats. CO RESEARCHER PRESS April 15,2016 Volume 26,Number 15 EXECUTIVE EDITOR:Thomas J.Biliteritjb@sagepub.com ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITORS:Kenneth Fireman,kenneth fireman@sagepub.com, Kathy Koch,kathy.koch@sagepub.com, Chuck McCutcheon. chuck.mccutcheon@sagepub.com, Scott Rohrer,scott.rohrer@sagepub.com SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Thomas J.Colin tom.colin@sagepub.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:Brian Beary,Marcia Clemmitt,Sarah Glazer,Kenneth Jost,Reed Karai

FAQs

What is the main question the report asks about prostitution policy?

The report asks whether buying and selling sex should be legal, and whether decriminalization would make the sex trade safer.

What does the Nordic model focus on?

The Nordic model prosecutes only the buyers of sex, aiming to stop prostitution by eliminating demand.

How are approaches changing across different countries and regions?

Policies are shifting, with Germany and the Netherlands proposing tighter regulations, New Zealand moving toward full decriminalization, and other places considering variants of the Nordic model.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Olivia Brown