prostitution

Protesters gather in New York City in February 2019 to advocate for the decriminalization of sex trades in the city and state. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office announced more than two years later it would stop prosecuting prostitution and seek the

National

A 'Relic' And 'Burden': Manhattan District Attorney To Stop Prosecuting Prostitution

6:12pm April 21, 2021

by Rachel Treisman

Cyrus Vance Jr. announced the new policy on Wednesday and appeared virtually in court to seek the dismissal of more than 5,000 prostitution-related cases dating back to the 1970s.

The entrance to Herbertstrasse, the heart of the red-light district in Hamburg, Germany. Prostitution is legal in Germany, but the coronavirus pandemic prompted lawmakers to ban sex work in March.

World News

Germany Bans Prostitution During Pandemic. Sex Workers Say That Creates New Dangers

9:03pm August 26, 2020

by Rob Schmitz

Prostitution is legal in the country, but lawmakers have banned it to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Sex workers say that has put them at risk, and they want to work legally again.

LGBTQ, immigrant rights and criminal justice reform groups, launched a coalition, Decrim NY, in February to decriminalize the sex trade in New York.

Should Sex Work Be Decriminalized? Some Activists Say It's Time

5:29pm March 22, 2019

by Jasmine Garsd

Opponents of decriminalization say the multi-billion-dollar industry exploits sex workers. But activists and academics say legalization would protect workers and benefit public health.

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Alika Kinan was one of eight international activists honored at the State Department for their work against human trafficking.

State Department Honoree Was Trapped In A Brothel For Nearly 20 Years

3:02pm June 29, 2017

by Sasha Ingber

Alika Kinan, a victim of sex trafficking in Argentina, made history when she sued her captors — and won. This week, she was honored as a "hero" for her activism.

The Underage Girls Of Mexico's Sex Trade: Hope Amid The Horror

2:55pm August 18, 2015

by Nadia Whitehead

A new study finds that one in four of the sex workers in Tijuana and Juarez started as minors. A safe house is helping some of them find a new life.

World News

Sold Into Sex Slavery: The Plight Of African Women Migrating To Europe

7:03pm July 15, 2015

by Lauren Frayer

They travel for months, even years, from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe, hoping for a better life. But many thousands are forced into prostitution to pay for the journey.

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Irene lives in a fishing village in Uganda where the rate of HIV infection is 43 percent.

Irene, A Ugandan Prostitute, Explains How To Use A Condom

8:05am May 08, 2015

by Marc Silver

With her shy charm and sunny smile, she makes viewers realize that behind the label "sex worker" there's a sweet young mom, just trying to feed her kids.

Police help a potential victim of trafficking as they raid a brothel in west London in 2011. Note: the victim's face is obscured to protect her identity.

World News

13,000 Modern Slaves Working In U.K., London Says

10:13am November 29, 2014

by Scott Neuman

The Home Office says a re-analysis of its statistics shows more trafficked individuals — including women and children forced into prostitution — than previously thought.

On Lumley Beach, after day trippers have headed home, prostitutes look for customers along a 100-yard stretch of road near some of the nicer hotels as well as near the bars and restaurants along the beachfront.

Hissing And Sighing: The Lament Of Sex Workers In Sierra Leone

3:15pm November 26, 2014

by Graham Smith

Ebola has made it harder for the prostitutes who issue a come-hither "hiss" along Lumley Beach. Customers are hard to find, pay is down, and, like everyone, the women are scared of the deadly virus.

A prostitute in Johannesburg waits for a client on a street corner. An estimated two-thirds of sex workers in South Africa are HIV positive.

In South Africa, A Clinic Focuses On Prostitutes To Fight HIV

9:25pm August 28, 2013

by Jason Beaubien

Treating sex workers infected with HIV can save their lives and reduce the odds that they will spread HIV to clients. To make it easier for prostitutes to get care, a university-run clinic in Johannesburg is located in a neighborhood where they work.

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