The decriminalisation of prostitution is associated with better coverage of health promotion programs for sex workers

Abstract

The legal context appeared to affect the conduct of health promotion programs targeting the sex industry. Brothel licensing and police-controlled illegal brothels can result in the unlicensed sector being isolated from peer-education and support.

Strategies and Challenges in Preventing Violence Against Canadian Indoor Sex Workers

“…Independent business models were mostly Internet-based through the use of online classified advertisements and personal Web sites, a situation similar to indoor marketplaces in many industrialized nations. 19,20,25,26 Although all participants worked as independents, we noted variations in financial security, degree of autonomy in setting conditions on services provided, fees charged, and condom use. These variations affected people's experiences of violence and their prevention strategies.…”

“…3,4,13,14 However, it is estimated that 80% of sex workers work in indoor settings, [15][16][17] with many working independently via the Internet. [18][19][20] Emerging research estimates that the prevalence of violence among indoor workers is between 25% and 66%. 1,12,21 Robbery, nonpayment, physical and sexual assault, deceptive condom removal, and exploitation by landlords and police are among the most common forms of violence in indoor settings.…”

Sex Workers as Safe Sex Advocates: Sex Workers Protect Both Themselves and the Wider Community From HIV

“…The Victorian legalisation with licensing approach was also found to be a threat to public health because it created a twotiered system, in which unlicensed premises and many sex workers, including those working from home or the street and unregistered escort workers, remain criminalized. These criminalized sex workers are much harder for peer educators and sexual health services to reach (Donovan et al, 2012;Harcourt et al, 2010).…”

Improving the health of sex workers in NSW: maintaining success

“…As one of the few truly community-based sex worker organisations remaining in Australia, SWOP enjoys the trust of every part of the NSW sex industry and has unique access to virtually every establishment and a close working relationship with public health services. 5 Policy responses NSW took its first steps toward reform of the laws affecting sex workers in 1979 in the context of the reform of public order offences and 'victimless' crimes that was promised by the Wran opposition in 1976. However prostitution laws were deeply embedded into the statutes, so it was not until The Disorderly Houses (Amendment) Act in 1995 that all forms of adult sex work were effectively decriminalised.…”