Amnesty International`s policy supporting legalization of sex trade

Amnesty International`s policy supporting legalization of sex trade. August. 14, 2015 07:13. mskoh119@donga.com.

The ancient Roman town of Pompeii was wiped out by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24 in 79 A.D. The city, which was revealed in the 18th century, has numerous places, including bakeries and public bathhouses, providing a peek into the daily lives of Roman citizens. One of the spaces was a hotel used exclusively for prostitution. Stepping into what is left of the hotel located in a narrow alley, visitors would find murals depicting sex in the ancient city`s buildings lining narrow alleys. There are even graffiti complaining about taxes, indicating that prostitutes were engaged in their jobs paying taxes to the state.

Human rights group Amnesty International, which received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977, is facing a backfire from its decision that it would not consider consensual sexual conduct between adults a crime. The group voted to support a policy that calls for decriminalization of the sex trade on the grounds that sex workers are one of the most marginalized groups in the world who face constant risk of discrimination, violence and abuse.

Women`s rights groups around the world are strongly protesting the move, arguing that sex trade is sexual abuse and violence and asking how such an authoritative human rights organization could make a decision decriminalizing pimps and sex traders exploiting sex workers. The U.S. Coalition against Trafficking in Women-International protested the decision in an open letter joined by some 8,500 people, including Hollywood stars such as Meryl Streep. Sweden`s foreign minister Margot Wallstrom said, "It is a myth about the happy prostitute who does this as a free choice. Unfortunately, I can now hear people saying `hurrah` - all those johns and pimps who run the brothels."

Regarding sex trade, Korea punishes both sellers and buyers of sex. Germany and the Netherlands have legalized prostitution, while Britain and France punish only corporate brokers. Some Northern European countries punish only sex buyers and brokers. Different countries have different standards toward sex trade, and sex workers are in different realities. The renowned international human rights group`s argument for the legalization of sex trade will likely spark new controversies over a law banning sex trade.