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This is one of those issues where there isn't a perfect solution.

A drives the industry underground and increases the risk of STDs, violence, ownership of people and organised crime.

B would do the same, although at least it doesn't criminalise the least vulnerable people in the system.

C. There are places where it is decriminalised, and my general understanding is that safety is increased. Plus the internet is rapidly changing how the industry operates giving workers more control - they can advertise the way they want, choose their clients, better identify bad clients, etc. But I'm also uneasy about giving it a permanent place in our society - most workers are women, and essentially we'd be endorsing a system that says sexual services have commercial value.

Also, "regulate it" is a bit of a cop-out - it implies there is a perfect solution with no repercussions, but what does it mean in practice? Do workers have to be licenced? With what conditions - medical checks every week? Limited # of working hours? In a licenced place - i.e. not a hotel? Do clients have to be registered too? etc... Regulating would have its own unforeseen consequences.

I lean towards C as being the least bad option, but I'm not 100% comfortable with it.


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