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Prostitution Law Reform: Defining Terms

There has been much debate over the last few decades about prostitution law reform. In the course of discussion, several terms are used to indicate current or preferred situations, alternatives and legal strategies. To understand the definitions of legalized, decriminalized, regulated prostitution, etc., we need to understand the context in which these terms are used.


Definitions Legalisation and Decriminalisation according to Scarlet Alliance, Australia

from PRINCIPLES FOR MODEL SEX INDUSTRY LEGISLATION
Scarlet Alliance and the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations

    Decriminalisation
    Decriminalisation refers to the removal of all criminal laws relating to the operation of the sex industry. The decriminalisation model aims to support occupational health and safety and workplace issues through existing legal and workplace mechanisms.

Legalisation
Refers to the use of criminal laws to regulate or control the sex industry by determining the legal conditions under which the sex industry can operate. Legalisation can be highly regulatory or merely define the operation of the various sectors of the sex industry. It can vary between rigid controls under legalised state controlled systems to privatising the sex industry within a legally defined framework. It is often accompanied by strict criminal penalties for sex industry businesses that operate outside the legal framework.



Defining terms for contemporary discussion

Although there have always been reformist efforts and movements concerning prostitution, the prostitute/ sex worker rights movement, as we know it today, began in the early 70's. The difference between the contemporary movement and previous efforts is that the current movement has been defined in a large part by prostitutes/sex workers themselves. Sex worker activists have defined prostitutes' legal status in specific ways since the beginning of the prostitutes' rights movement. The current movement includes a recognition of the rights of prostitutes to autonomy and self-regulation.

Sex Worker/Prostitute

In the U.S. the term 'sex worker' refers to an individual engaged in a range of forms of transactional sex, working as a erotic performer or as a somatic sexual service provider (prostitute). 'Prostitution' would be considered a form of sex work. Although this term applies broadly, in some international contexts 'sex work' may exclusively refer to somatic services rather than media based services (such as web-cam) or public performance.

Common definitions of legalization

There is no official definition of legalized or decriminalized prostitution. Those who are not familiar with the contemporary discussion about prostitution law reform usually use the term 'legalization' to mean any alternative to absolute criminalization, ranging from licensing of brothels to the lack of any laws about prostitution. Most references to law reform in the media and in other contemporary contexts use the term 'legalization' to refer to any system that allows some prostitution. These common definitions of legalization are extremely broad. Conflicting interpretations of this term often cause confusion in a discussion of reform.

Many (or most) societies that allow prostitution do so by giving the state control over the lives and businesses of those who work as prostitutes. Legalization often includes special taxes for prostitutes, restricting prostitutes to working in brothels or in certain zones, licenses, registration of prostitutes and government records of individual prostitutes, and health checks which often means punitive quarantine. The term legalization does not necessarily have to refer to the above sorts of regulations. In fact, in one commonly accepted definition of legalization, legal can simply mean that prostitution is not against the law.

Legalization

Refering to issues of prostitution, from sociological or activist perspective, the term 'legalization' usually refers to a system of criminal regulation and government control of prostitutes, wherein some prostitutes are given licenses which permit them to work in specific and usually limited ways. Although legalization can also imply a decriminalized, autonomous system of prostitution, in reality, in most 'legalized' systems the police are relegated the job of prostitution control through criminal codes. Laws regulate prostitutes businesses and lives, prescribing health checks and registration of health status (enforced by police and, often corrupt, medical agencies), telling prostitutes where they may or may not reside, prescribing full time employment for their lovers, etc. Prostitute activists use the term 'legalization' to refer to systems of state control, which defines the term by the realities of the current situation, rather than by the broad implications of the term itself.

Because of the range of definitions of legalization, it is difficult to use the term in a discussion of reform. When the general public concerned with civil rights, privacy, etc., call for 'legalization,' they may not be aware implications of that term, or of the problems inherent in many legalized systems.

Decriminalization

Sex workers rights organizations use the term 'decriminalization' to mean the removal of criminal laws against prostitution. 'Decriminalization' is usually used to refer to total decriminalization, that is, the repeal of criminal laws against consensual adult sexual activity, in commercial and non-commercial contexts. Sex worker rights advocates call for decriminalization of all aspects of consensual prostitution. Some documents refer to 'decriminalization of prostitution resulting from individual decision.' Asserting the right to work as a prostitutes, advocates claim their right to freedom of choice of management. They claim that laws against pimping (living off the earnings) are often used against domestic partners and children, and these laws serve to to prevent prostitutes from organizing their businesses and working together for mutual protection. They call for the repeal of current laws that interfere with their rights of freedom of travel and freedom of association. Many sex worker organizations look towards labor laws and anti-discrimination policies to support rights and fair working conditions. Civil rights and human rights advocates from a variety of perspectives call for enforcement of laws against fraud, abuse, violence and coercion to protect sex workers/prostitutes from abuse and exploitation.

Regulation

The 'regulation of prostitution' usually refers to the criminal regulation of prostitution, but sex worker rights advocates also refer to regulation in terms of both civil regulation and self-regulation. They call for sex worker regulation of businesses, and civil codes regulating sex work establishments with regard to the conditions and rights of workers. Those who call for autonomy support solo and collective work arrangements, and sex worker/prostitutes' control of their own lives and businesses. The discussion of regulation is primitive and it is difficult to invoke concepts of self-regulation in a context that presumes police control over prostitutes.

Prostitution Abolitionism

The attitudes of sex worker rights advocates contrast with attitudes about sex work by anti-prostitution or prostitution abolitionist organizations. Prostitution abolitionist movements define prostitution and other categories of sex work as inherently exploitative. Currently prostitution abolitionists define prostitution and other sex work as violence, per se, emphasizing involvement in sex work as a response to childhood sexual abuse. As a reaction to the exploitation fostered by imperialism and military occupations, international anti-prostitution activists oppose prostitution per say, as well as sex tourism and trafficking. Historically, prostitution abolitionists have dedicated themselves to rescuing women from prostitution, and training women to find alternative careers or security in marriage. Prostitution abolitionist groups want to end the institution of prostitution, envisioning a world where no one sells sexual services for any reason. These organizations oppose the 'legitimization of prostitution.' These organizations do not self- define as prostitutes' rights organizations. They work to reduce or abolish the sex business, advocating against pornography, strip clubs, etc.

Summary

Obviously there is much work to be done as we create the framework for a broad discussion of sex workers/prostitutes' rights. Each of the linguistic approaches can be problematic: The term 'legalization' is overbroad. The term 'decriminalization' has not worked its way into a contemporary discussion and can elicit confusion and misinterpretation. Obviously, all the above terms will be evoked in thorough discussion of the issues. Consensus regarding definitions should be established early on. As the discourse develops, it is essential that terms be developed from the perspective of those who will be effected by the legislation.