Regulating Sex Work Under International Law

Prostitution has always been contentious. Over the past decades, public policies and legislations on prostitution have been increasingly contested, both in academia and public realm. Academically, there has been a debate between liberal and radical feminists, which diverge distinctively in philosophical understanding of consent and coercion. Around the world, different countries adopt different legal approach to regulating prostitution. Several UN agencies, such as World Health Organization, International Labor Organization, United Nations Development Programme etc.,also stated their position about sex work in reports issued in recent years.This Thesis is divided into for four chapters. The first Chapter displays the philosophy of liberal and radical feminism in detail. Then, by providing critique of both groups, this thesis addresses that the philosophical debate not only disregards women’s rights to health but also lacks the evidence-based research methodology. Chapter 3 analyzes several UN agencies reports, which deal with sex work issues in a way distinctive from the philosophical debate. In Chapter 4, this dissertation calls for connecting the philosophical debate with UN practice to regulate sex work under international law. Despite the deep gap between the two feminists groups, both groups should support decriminalization as the only acceptable short-term option promoted by UN agencies reports. Coupled with decriminalization, measures should be taken to reduce the vulnerability and discrimination that surround sex work and promote a supportive and enabling environment by focusing the underlying gender inequalities within societies as long-term option to address sex work.