By — P. J. Tobia P. J. Tobia Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/should-sex-work-be-legal Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Should sex work be legal? World Sep 3, 2015 3:05 PM EDT When Amnesty international put forward a resolution calling for the decriminalization of consensual sex work by adults last month, it sparked a vigorous–at times vicious–debate. Two of the most vocal antagonists (among many): sex workers who applaud the move as a validation of their way of life and anti-human trafficking activists who say decriminalization leads to an increase in all kinds of terrible behaviors toward the most vulnerable women, men and children. Both claim to have data, human rights and the best interests of sex-workers on their side. This week, the debate continues on Shortwave, with Maxine Doogan, President of the Erotic Service Providers Network in San Francisco. She says she’s worked as a prostitute for the past 20 years and would like to keep “working for another 20 more,” in what she hopes will become a legal line of work We’re also joined by Taini Bien Aime, Executive Director of The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women. She calls Amnesty’s proposal “not only a tragedy, but a failure to uphold the missions that they were created to support.” By — P. J. Tobia P. J. Tobia P.J. Tobia is a Foreign Affairs Producer at PBS NewsHour, covering the Middle East and North Africa. He is also the host and producer of the foreign affairs podcast "Shortwave." Prior to this Tobia spent two years in Afghanistan covering Afghan politics, life and the U.S.-led war. @PJTobia
When Amnesty international put forward a resolution calling for the decriminalization of consensual sex work by adults last month, it sparked a vigorous–at times vicious–debate. Two of the most vocal antagonists (among many): sex workers who applaud the move as a validation of their way of life and anti-human trafficking activists who say decriminalization leads to an increase in all kinds of terrible behaviors toward the most vulnerable women, men and children. Both claim to have data, human rights and the best interests of sex-workers on their side. This week, the debate continues on Shortwave, with Maxine Doogan, President of the Erotic Service Providers Network in San Francisco. She says she’s worked as a prostitute for the past 20 years and would like to keep “working for another 20 more,” in what she hopes will become a legal line of work We’re also joined by Taini Bien Aime, Executive Director of The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women. She calls Amnesty’s proposal “not only a tragedy, but a failure to uphold the missions that they were created to support.”