Does Legalization of Sex Work Create Trafficking and Sex Tourism?

Image: Martha Rosenberg.

With sex work (prostitution) legal in some parts of Europe, one place in the US and many parts of the world, questions about legalization abound. Will decriminalization help women who are just trying to make a living or create victims from trafficking and sex tourism? The revival of Jeffrey Epstein’s deeds heightens and crystallizes such human rights questions.

Recently, New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s pro-sex work legalization stance was highlighted–replete with its possible drawbacks.