Legalising Prostitution in Canada: Arguments and Perspectives

This essay argues that prostitution should be legalised in Canada, primarily for the safety and health of sex workers, as current laws, which criminalise the purchase of sex but not its sale, may inadvertently increase risks. Legalising prostitution could lead to reduced HIV transmission among sex workers and decrease violence and sex crimes, including rape, by providing a safer environment for sex workers to seek help and offering an alternative outlet for sexual urges. Furthermore, state monitoring of legalised prostitution could aid in combating child prostitution and human trafficking. The essay references studies and news reports to support its arguments, advocating for an amendment of prostitution laws to ensure the safety and well-being of sex workers and society.

Running head: LEGALISATION OF PROSTITUTION IN CANADA
LEGALISATION OF PROSTITUTION IN CANADA
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1LEGALISATION OF PROSTITUTION IN CANADA
Tracing the long history of prostitution, one of the oldest professions is prostitution. A
profession that is marked by status, prestige, autonomy and power is the profession of
prostitution (Marcus, 2017 pp 5-6). However, there are constant controversies around the
profession about getting legalised. The recent prostitution law has indeed risen several concerns
regarding the profession. In a similar aspect, the essay aims to argue for the topic that
prostitution should be legalised in Canada.
According to the recent prostitution laws, it is legal to sell sexual services and illegal to
purchase or advertise sexual services. Living on the materials benefits from sex work is illegal in
Canada as well. The main concern in regard to the changes of the prostitution laws was to ensure
security and safety to the sex workers of Canada (Omstead, 2018). The aim of changing the laws
on prostitution was intended to focus on the demand of the sex services to make the profession of
prostitution less risky. However, the law seems to act in differently than expected and might be
worse off under the legislation. The law makes selling sex services legal while purchasing sex
services are illegal. Considering the consequence of the law, the workers are not safe but at risk.
Therefore, the prime reason for legalising prostitution as a profession is for the safety purpose of
the sex workers (Scoular, 2015 pp 155).
Legalising prostitution would make sex workers healthier. According to the recent study
presented at the International AIDS Conference in Australia, making prostitution legal will
reduce the transmission of HIV among sex workers significantly. Sex workers in the places
where it is illegal are at more significant risk of sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore,
prostitution should be legal as it will give the sex workers change of being safer (Bates & Berg,
2014 pp 197). Legal prostitution is essential as it would significantly reduce violence and sex
crimes. According to researches, legal prostitution reduces rape, sexual violence and many other

2LEGALISATION OF PROSTITUTION IN CANADA
sex crimes. There is certainly a relationship between legalising prostitution and reduce in rape
cases. While prostitution is legal, it makes it easier for sex workers to seek help from police
when they are faced with danger or problems. Also, people with the urge to satisfy their sexual
need can approach sex worker rather than committing rape. Therefore, legalising prostitution is
undoubtedly essential in order to help to reduce sex crimes in society (O’Brien, 2015 pp. 197).
An essential reason for legalising prostitution is for it has the potential of solving the
social issue of child prostitution and human trafficking. Since the buying and selling of sex can
be monitored by the state, the illegal act of sex crimes can be controlled. Therefore, the laws
regarding prostitution should be amended and should be legalised.

3LEGALISATION OF PROSTITUTION IN CANADA
References:
Bates, J., & Berg, R. (2014). Sex workers as safe sex advocates: sex workers protect both
themselves and the wider community from HIV. AIDS Education and Prevention, 26(3),
191-201.
Marcus, S. (2017). The other Victorians: A study of sexuality and pornography in mid-
nineteenth-century England. Routledge.
O’Brien, E. (2015). Prostitution ideology and trafficking policy: The impact of political
approaches to domestic sex work on human trafficking policy in Australia and the United
States. Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, 36(2), 191-212.
Omstead, J. (2018, September 30). Prostitution law puts sex trade workers at risk, advocate says |
CBC News. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/prostitution-law-
sex-workers-edmonton-1.4843505
Scoular, J. (2015). The subject of prostitution: Sex work, law and social theory. Routledge.