> legalizing prostitution would have a hugely detrimental effect on the fight against human trafficking The opposite is potentially true, because if it's decri

> legalizing prostitution would have a hugely detrimental effect on the fight against human trafficking The opposite is potentially true, because if it's decriminalized, it will also be regulated. Which means that everyone involved could be required to have their IDs on file, and could also require medical exams where doctors could ask whether they are there against their will. When it's underground, it's less visible, and therefore easier for human trafficking to go undetected. [1] Human trafficking is clearly not a victimless crime, and all attempts should be made to stop it, but keeping prostitution illegal doesn't help, and probably instead hurts, that cause. >Women are forced into prostitution, either by being literally enslaved, or by economics. "Forced" means they had no other options. You'd rather they or their families starved, then? Work on fixing the underlying economic realities that are "forcing" people into a profession against their will. Don't try to outlaw something that will continue exist no matter what laws are passed. It's as futile as the War on Drugs. [1] It's also worth noting that human trafficking doesn't always involve sex work. There was a case in Boulder, Colorado a few years back where people were lured to the US under false pretenses and they were forced to work in a chain of Thai restaurants without pay.