The Reasons for Legalizing Sex Tourism in Thailand, Caribbean and Latin America

Introduction

Sex tourism involves travel across national or international borders in order to take part in a non-reproductive sexual encounter. The sexual encounter may be with an adult or minor, man, woman, transsexual or transvestite. Seeking sex tourism has increased tremendously in the past, a notorious sex destinations have been mainly the parts of South East Asian countries, today it has spread to other regions of the worlds but much of the sex tour industry revolves around the areas of the Latin America and the Caribbean, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian countries. Sex work is an extremely dangerous profession. Sex workers are exposed to serious harms: drug use, diseases, violence, discrimination, debt, criminalisation, and exploitation. Apart from poverty, the main causes of sex tourism in developing countries are low economic development in communities of origin, gender inequalities, limited employment opportunities, large family sizes, inadequate awareness and education.

Body

A prostitution can be defined as “The act or practice of engaging in sexual intercourse for money and gifts” and is usually provided as an underground service. The legal status of prostitution varies from country to country, from being permissible but unregulated, to an enforced or unenforced crime or to a regulated profession. Throughout modern-day society, the act of prostitution is often seen as controversial with respect to different ethical issues. Although the practice is illegal in most places, it actually becomes a “viable” job source for many men/women. Prostitution raises many ethical issues such as health issues, sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) and the spread of HIV, trafficking lack of legal protection for the clients and the workers. With this case I have chosen to apply sex tourism Is Divine command theory and egotism as my ethical theories.

Thailand- sex Tourism is the country’s highest source of income, tourism is extremely important to Thailand’s growth and emerging economy. It is undeniable that Thailand is linked in with sex tourism and prostitution it’s hardly surprising when it is highly commercialised and easily available to tourists. Thailand is infamous for their red light distracts e.g. Bangkok which offers sexual services, live shows and ladyboys for tourists

Legal Issues- While prostitution is illegal in Thailand, the law is bit unclear for example, The prevention and suppression of Prostitute act of 1996 states “Any person who, for the purpose of prostitution, solicits, induces, introduces herself or himself to, follow of importunes in a street, public place or any other place, which is committed openly and shamelessly or causes nuisance to the public, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand Baht”

While this shows it is illegal to indulge in prostitution, it adds which is committed openly and shamelessly or causes nuisance in public, shows that it is allowed and privately-owned buildings. tourist can abide by local laws and still engage in sex tourism. Thailand’s government don’t support sex tourism, despite the sex tour industry that attracts some 500,000 sex tourists every year. A study by a Thai university estimated the sex sector at around $25 billion, or 12% of the country's gross domestic product. 

Disease-Many sexually transmitted diseases eg, gonorrhoea and syphilis is contracted through prostitution. Prostitutes and clients generally don’t know each other, there is no clear way of knowing who could have a disease. Many prostitutes have multiple partners and don’t use protection or get regularly tested because they can’t afford it or haven’t been educated on diseases. Even if a proper protection is used, transmission is still possible. Without a decent treatment they might cause an inability to reproduce later in life. In the worst scenario, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) might develop into Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and then lead to the death. According to the Centre for Disease Control an estimated 21.8 million people have died from HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, it is estimated that 36.1 million people are living with HIV/AIDS today. Reports that 75-80% of AIDS sufferers are adult males.

Egotism- Describes the theory of the individual self interest is the actual motive of all conscious action, the ultimate goal that a person has are ones that involve themselves and are self-directed. In order for those in poverty to satisfy basic human needs like food and water require money. Earning money is not easy in poverty-stricken areas with low employment rates, lack of education and low socio- economic levels and therefore may turn to prostitution. Positive when applying egotism theory is the individual self-interest is, they are selling sexual services, they a satisfying and fulfilling the needs of the client by proving the sexual service and fulfilling their own basic needs by earning money to buy food, water and shelter in many cases proving for their families. Another positive is that people can pay for it and not have to be involved with another person. As long as its consenting between 2 adults it should be considered moral.

Divine Command Theory states that morality is not based on consequences of action or rules. There are numerous references that expound the sinful nature of prostitute. Followers of the theory accept that all moral judgment is derived from an understanding of God’ and his direct commandments. Holy books of each religion (e.g. The Bible, Koran, and Torah) contain God’s directions. Therefore, they can be used as guides to distinguish between morally good and bad actions. Some religions may consider prostituting a morally good act. Most religions traditionally believe that sexual acts should only be performed as “God and nature intended” and only should between one man and one woman who are married. Sexual activities which is supposed to enhance the intimacy of a relationship between a man and a woman and to create future children. Negative when applying theory to prostitution is seen as extremely immoral in the eyes of god. Sex workers face not only discrimination, but the constant risk of violence and abuse at the hands of clients, pimps, police and denial of legal, health, and public services. Clients have a lack of respect for the prostitute and for the human sexual activity itself. Prostitution limits human to an animalistic act of lust rather than love for that person.

Feasible, workable, and ethical solution

Individuals should be free to have any kind of sex they wish too, by themselves, in or out of marriage as long as they aren’t harming others or themselves. By not criminalizing prostitution or other forms of sex work, allowing individuals who engage in this type of profession have acess to regulated private clean work areas, free testing for diseases, education and cheap contraception for female sex workers. In addition, I think that any sort of sex tourism that operate under a criminal elements or crime syndicates could be eliminated by control and policing. People have sexual needs we should as a society should be helping by preventing more men and woman from going onto the streets and entering the dangerous life of a prostitute, and secondly preventing the spread and contraction of harmful venereal diseases amongst the public. I think by legalizing prostitution; a government can help bring sex workers under protections laws offered like regular workers. Some claim that prostitution is unsafe and so should not be sanctioned by laws. Moreover, I think a legalized form of prostitution will help lessen the incidence of human trafficking through rules and regulations which could be applied to reduce sex trafficking and take prostitution out of the illegal black market.

Reference List

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