PROSTITUTION LEGALIZATION PRIMER

(A Public Service Announcement from Suburra Publishing.)

Myth #7

Prostitution is illegal everywhere but "freaky" places like the Netherlands.

Many countries regulate but do not criminalize prostitution. Some of these are Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Germany, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Senegal, and Turkey. The United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is a treaty that upholds “the right to a free choice of profession and employment.” The United Nations’ CEDAW committee has determined this right includes voluntary prostitution. 184 countries have signed CEDAW and the United States is the only developed country not to have signed.

In countries like Canada articles can be written about unashamed and proud sex workers because there is no fear of prosecution. For example, Brett Clarkson's article on Anastasia Kuzyk, "I'm Okay With What I Do," Sunday Sun, 24 June 2007.

Information taken from You Will Die: The Burden of Modern Taboos, Book I  by Robert R. Arthur. Detailed documentation of sources can be found therein.

Page last modified August 29, 2007.