It is incredibly difficult to make access to prostitution easier without causing aftershocks among other social phenomena. (Trafficking, Abuse, Laundering)
Historically, making something legal tends to reduce illicit behaviors like trafficking, abuse, and laundering. What makes sex work different from these things?
Society's "special" treatment of sex isn't uniform, nor is it that special.
I think it's important to talk about how it's legalized and what the actual goals are.
You're right, making activities illegal whether it's drug use, alcohol or prostitution seems to exacerbate the problem and hurt the people these laws are intended to help. That said, I don't think there's any reason we can't legalize or partially legalize prostitution while still admitting that it is a net negative for society and it should be discouraged.
> Historically, making something legal tends to reduce illicit behaviors like trafficking, abuse, and laundering.
Not always true. Make ivory trading legal, and people will poach elephants to extinction to get more ivory. Legalize the sex trade, and vulnerable women will be trafficked as sex slaves. It's not always feasible to regulate the supply side of a market and keep it clean; sometimes all you can do is shut it down altogether.
> Society's "special" treatment of sex isn't uniform, nor is it that special
I respectfully and completely disagree.
The 'special treatment of sex' might as well the single most important founding axiom of human society as we know it. Hell, it is one of the few that hold across various species as well.
It is as pervasive as air itself. I am more willing to agree to 'the discovery of fire or agriculture wasn't a big deal', rather than your statement above.
The fact that we're not talking about commodities but vulnerable humans that can be intimidated to silence and suffering by organized crime. The very presence of this space as a racket open to economic exploitation fuels crime and trafficking. The only realistic solution seems (unfortunately) to be reducing the space itself.
There have been plenty of comprehensive reports showing exactly how legalizing prostitution helps organized crime.
Historically, making something legal tends to reduce illicit behaviors like trafficking, abuse, and laundering. What makes sex work different from these things?
Society's "special" treatment of sex isn't uniform, nor is it that special.