The limitation of women’s autonomy, equality and freedom over the centuries, to make their own decisions on their personal sexual and reproductive rights has always been justified as "for their own good."- That that they need protection from themselves or others –Paternalism (Maternalism?) has no place in the consideration of women's rights least of all from feminists, and I believe the argument for women’s autonomy and freedom are paramount.

Feminists are right to defend a WRTC – from the right to vote and own property; about ‘if, when and who’ to marry, or have sex with; the obligation to comply with a husbands ‘marital rights’, to divorce, to rely on fathers or husbands for their upkeep, or to be independent, having their own income, equal pay and pensions; and have full reproductive rights – to contraception, abortion, sterilisation, even to sell sexual services if that is their choice and the education and information on which to make those decisions. These and the decisions on all forms of sex within marriage or outside it; for procreation or pleasure, with men or women, even masturbation; across religious or racial barriers, have either been made illegal or curtailed by threats of punishment.

Prostitution is not just sex - it is one of the many forms of traditionally defined 'illicit sex' –i.e. any sex outside marriage, for procreation and not for satisfaction - all of which must be punished - by stigma, pain and poverty; STDs, unwanted pregnancy and motherhood, even maiming and death. (At least for women!) Unwanted sex is unwanted sex, but not all unwanted sex is prostitution and not all prostitution is unwanted

"Working indoors is no safer" ? It is not true to say that prostitution under the control of women themselves working together in a safe environment with health protection is no safer than street prostitution controlled by pimps and organised crime. And while prostitutes have to work under the fear of police action, they will always be more subject to intimidation and violence, and unable to report violent men who abuse them.

Coercive sex - sex for money is but one aspect of sexuality that has been illegal, stigmatised and punished in the past. We all want to stop the coercive sex trade, but it should not be at the expense of women’s safety or freedom IF that is their choice. Any clamp-down on criminal activity in one country will displace that activity, but it does not  make it go away, or make it safer, in fact it makes it less safe. The priority is to  address the reasons why women turn to prostitution from necessity not choice.

Just another Job? That is not the alternative - presumably only women who do exercise their freedom of choice would choose it as a 'option' ! (even over leaving their children at night or early mornings to work long hours cleaning office floors for the minimum wage!). And it is easy for the matrons to dismiss the stigma of poverty and the lack of autonomy and freedom that goes with the harassment of prostitution.

Poverty and drug addiction can lead to prostitution but we must be clear what we are talking about - what is cause and what is effect. Unwanted sex, drug addiction, STDs, psychological damage, poverty, violence and crime are all aspects of coercive sex - whether it is caused by, or is a cause of prostitution or by a regular coercive partner and violence, inside or outside the family.

Five years on, the New Zealand de-criminalisation has not resulted in the problems predicted.

Safety First Coalition (Google)

http://www.prostitutescollective.net/

‘Illicit Sex and the God Machine’ by A.Shaw (Google)

www.feminism.freeuk.com