14 Comments
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Kudanshita's avatar

I didn’t finish reading the article yet because I was so shocked to read that Switzerland legalized prostitution in 1942. You know, thirty years before swiss women gained the right to vote. What a progressive place /s.

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ClemenceDane's avatar

Brilliant reporting. What an absolute catastrophe Switzerland on prostitution. I hope this is being published in widely circulated Swiss publications as well.

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Kara's avatar

Your work has made me change my view on this issue. I had friends/family involved in the sex industry and thought that the Nordic Model/abolition was in some way judgemental of women or paternalistic. I was adamant in my support for decriminalisation, I think I was emotionally responding to other views as if they were insulting to the people I knew. I was wrong and thank you for helping me to see it.

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Julie Bindel's avatar

xxx

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Kate Bromwich Alexandra's avatar

"If a government resists seeing women as full human beings deserving of equal voting rights, it will certainly resist looking at the sex trade as a manifestation of inequality and violence against women."

I'm honestly shocked by your article. Switzerland enjoys an international reputation as a country committed to human rights. I knew about the late arrival of women's voting rights, but not about this approach to making sure that men have safe and legal access to prostituted, and often trafficked women. A few years ago, I had a very heated argument (at a Labour Party conference) with two women, who insisted that women had every right to work as sex workers (sic) and that the Nordic model would deter men from buying sex, thus limiting the market! I'm going to send them this article. I'll let you know if I get a response.

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Observer's avatar

Sex work should be decriminalized and the police should do their job properly. Making prostitution illegal will increase violence against women. USA is a great example.

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Lucky's avatar

Poorly written. Flits between present and past tense and clearly very biased reporting.

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Simone Watson's avatar

Thank you, Sister.

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Observer's avatar

Sex work should be decriminalized and the police should do their job properly. Making prostitution illegal will increase violence against women. USA is a great example.

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Observer's avatar

Sex work should be decriminalized and the police should do their job properly. Making prostitution illegal will increase violence against women. USA is a great example.

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Adam's avatar

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Alfa's avatar

Excellent report on prostitution in Switzerland . Swiss legalisation of prostitution in 1940s raises various questions about sex slaves , human trafficking and human right violations after 8 decades. I went to primary school close to the red lights district in Geneva( Les Paquis) and attended the university of Geneva and vividly remember those ladies on high heels on the streets, but i had no idea back then about human trafficking .I believe nowadays eastern european ladies dominated the sex industry streets in Switzerland , with incentives of more money in Switzerland and weak legal protection may open many doors to humaa right violations ( sex slaves, and human trafficking). Great report

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Octavia's avatar

Wonderful, terrifying, essential reporting.

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Reena Aellen's avatar

Thoroughly shocking to read. I had presumed that Switzerland was a forward thinking country. Never knew that women have only gained voting rights in my own lifetime. It makes sense that where women have been given little advocacy for voting choice that they would be treated as chattel by the Government too. I will never visit such a country. Makes my skin crawl.

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