The World Assembly,
UNDERSTANDING that (General Assembly) Resolution #167, "Legalizing Prostitution" attempted to promote sexual freedom;
OBSERVING that there are serious flaws and shortfalls with Resolution #167:
1. OBSERVING that Resolution #167 failed to consider justifiable grounds for outlawing or restricting prostitution - for example:
a) The legalization of prostitution can create a breeding ground for human trafficking for sexual purposes, assault, procuring and drug-dealing - and that legalising it may make the problem worse;
b) Allowing everyone to enter the prostitution industry can compromise the welfare and safety of vulnerable and low-income individuals, including those forced into it by another individual;
c) The profession itself may be considered a form of sexual assault, whereas the client takes advantage of the prostitute;
2. HIGHLIGHTING that the genuine objections to the legalisation of prostitution are not necessarily derived from religious beliefs alone;
3. REGRETTING that Resolution #167 increased sexual objectification in society - the practice of treating or regarding an individual merely as a object or commodity for sexual pleasure - which may compromise the mental and emotional well-being of the individuals involved;
4. NOTING that the allowance of "additional protocol or standards that do not conflict with this resolution" has little meaning because member countries would have no power to restrict prostitution in the interest of public safety: for example, by preventing vulnerable groups of individuals from taking up the profession;
5. WORRIED that Resolution #167 does not specifically require measures to be taken to prevent the spread of venereal disease, which may pose a threat to public health;
HEREBY repeals Resolution #167, "Legalizing Prostitution".
Themes of the repeal: public safety, health, welfare and social justice.
For clause 1a of the repeal, Resolution #167 banned member-states regulating prostitution-based enterprises to the point where it no longer becomes profitable for the enterprise, or its employees, regardless of whether illicit inactivity is epidemic in the business.
For clause 1b of the repeal, Resolution #167 allowed anyone to acquire this profession, even those who cannot make a reasoned judgement. Although children cannot join in due to Resolution #4, it does not have a safety net for vulnerable adults, where the client can easily fabricate their wishes to their advantage and get away with it.
Clause 1c of the repeal is a straightforward argument, where the client may take advantage of a possibly desperate prostitute to commit illicit acts. It is not true that all member states have low crime rates or no crime.
Clause 2 of the repeal is backed by experience: for example, Charlotte Ryberg has no official religion, but still outlaws prostitution on public safety grounds and to protect individuals further from the crimes that prostitution can often breed.
Clause 3 of the repeal is a health-based argument, where Resolution #167 did not acknowledge of the risk of dehumanizing behaviour caused by treating or regarding an individual merely as a object or commodity for sexual pleasure. One of the genuine arguments for outlawing prostitution is on the fact that individuals be treated with respect, and not as a voiceless commodity.
For clause 4 of the repeal, the allowance of "additional protocol or standards that do not conflict with this resolution" had little meaning because of the impact of the ban on preventing vulnerable groups of individuals from taking up the profession, or the prevention of member countries from closing down problematic premises (see clause 1a).
For clause 5 of the repeal, Resolution #167's provisions for STI screening were not mandatory.
For concerns where nations can ban the act of being a prostitute, Resolution #167 never explicitly bans nations from doing so:
The rumour is false because the resolution concerned prohibits any government from stopping a sapient being from acquiring the profession; within the confines of previously existent international law. In addition, we have to consider a scenario where every resolution but the one concerned is struck off.
Proposed telegram text:
Honoured ambassador,
You are strongly encouraged to endorse my proposal to repeal Resolution #167, "Legalizing Prostitution" – the theme of the repeal is public safety, health, welfare and social justice, and the objections to the resolution targeted are secular, i.e. not biased towards any religion.
The problems with Resolution #167, which we are targeting, are as follows:
- It increases human trafficking for sexual purposes, assault, procuring and drug dealing. It has been proven repeatedly that legalising it may make the problem worse.
- It allows anyone to enter the prostitution industry even if an individual cannot make a reasoned decision. Although children cannot join in due to Resolution #4, there is no safety net for vulnerable adults, and the client can easily fabricate their wishes to their advantage and get away with it. In addition, the profession may be a form of sexual assault, where the client takes advantage of a desperate prostitute to commit illicit acts. It is not true that all member states have low crime rates or no crime.
- It is inhumane in the sense that Resolution #167 regards an individual merely as a commodity for sexual pleasure - which may lead to mental health issues for those trapped in the industry.
- It does not even make STI screening compulsory.
It is notable, although not possible to mention in the repeal, that member countries should be free to decide on the legality. As such, we feel that Flibbleites' "replacement" at viewtopic.php?t=147163 would be better. Further, the ambassador who proposed Resolution #167 promoted has been very undiplomatic and hostile, and some of its actions (notably "garish posts") in fact led to moderator action.
Therefore, it is critical that your ambassadors endorse our repeal and vote it into law, so that Flibbleites' minimalist alternative may then be voted on. Thank you.
- Ms. S. Harper, Charlotte Ryberg’s Ambassador.
Now you may comment.
-- The Minoan Ambassador, Ms. S. Harper.
