How is the international sex i
"Prostitution- the world's oldest profession". Although this statement contains an element of truth, the effect of globalisation has seen the sale of women move from the sale of the individual woman's body to an organised and systematised global industry. Consequently, sex work, which has always been an issue of unequal gender relations, has arrived as one of the most profited international markets; may they be called go-go dancers, mail order brides, massage girls or prostitutes, they are in effect but commodities in a multi-billion dollar transnational sex-trafficking industry, which profits from the sale of women and children within and across borders. While all those with vested interest in the industry may benefit financially, the women who are merely commodities in this international market find little or no benefits from the economical development that follows its success. Their situation is on the contrary perpetuated by the structural patriarchy of society, which pays little attention to the development of women's opportunities for economic independence, leaving prostitution as the highest paid job or only job available to many women in South East Asia or in the states of the former USSR. Subsequently increasing the vulne
Meanwhile the subordinate situation of the sex workers is perpetuated and seemingly ignored as economic interests are allowed to predominate those of human rights. Even tough one hundred and sixty five countries of the members of the UN ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which defined trafficking of women to broadly include "sexual slavery, generally and by the military, the deception of migrant women, and "mail-order" and false marriages", most countries have significantly failed to ensure effective legal protection of women and children within the sex industry. Out of 17 ratifying countries in the Asia Pacific region alone, 14 yet have extensive operations of sex trafficking. This even though the convention clearly states that "State Parties shall take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to suppress all forms of traffic in women and exploitation of prostitution of women."(Part 1. Article 6). In written history, there are references to slave auctions of women who were bought either for domestic labour or brothel bondage. Traffic in women and children have since not only persisted but also increased in magnitude. "In South East Asia, the sex industry prostitutes between 0,25 and 1,5 per cent of the total female population in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and accounts for between 2 per cent and 14 per cent of the gross domestic product."" The United Nations estimates that 4 million people (men and women) are trafficked each year, resulting in $7 billion in profits to criminal groups. Many countries have weak, unenforced or no laws against trafficking in human beings, often making it less risky and more profitable to criminal groups than drug or arms trafficking. Consequently, the bodies of women and children are continued to be exploited in a two folded oppression which not only uses them for the sexual pleasure of men but also for the financial gain from what predominantly is a male run industry. An oppression that is maintained by the existing patriarchal structure of society which ignores the importance of sound economical alternatives for women, making sex work a much despised but at times only financial option. Studies on the health of women in the sex industry indicate that many women have serious health problems and are exposed to life-threatening risks. Sex workers suffer from infectious diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, injuries from violence, drug and alcohol addictions, depression and other mental health problems as a result of trauma. The question of AIDS is increasingly alarming and affecting a growing number of women within the industry. Hence an examination of the nature of sex work; its health effects,
Some common words found in the essay are:
United Nations, Foreign Affairs, Women United, USSR Subsequently, , Watch/Asia Burmese, Asia Pacific, Women CEDAW, HIV-positive Adding, East Asia, sex workers, sex industry, women sex, women children, human rights, trafficking women, situation sex workers, south east, east asia, traffic women, protection women, south east asia, women sex industry, sexually transmitted diseases,
Approximate Word count = 1844
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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