Legal Prostitution in India

After reading through the debate again, I’ve realised that it is a bit difficult to follow. Since my opponent has forfeited this round, I shall take this round to summarize the debate thus far, and/or add anything that I think I missed out in previous rounds. My opponent has repeated or clarified all his arguments in Round 2, and I will be quoting from there.@karamvirz A1:“The reason being that the SITA act is in no way powerful enough to allow the sex workers exercise the right to equality, prohibition of discrimination, right against exploitation etc.”Counter:Just because the act does not guarantee sex workers certain rights, does not necessarily mean that legalizing prostitution will guarantee them rights. In fact, a study by CATW (an international NGO) has shown that it does not happen. I should remind my adversary that discrimination and exploitation against or of prostitutes is illegal, and legalizing prostitution would have no effect on it. Perhaps my adversary wishes for greater enforcement of the law in favour of prostitutes.@karamvirz A2:“I am not in favor of activities that "PROMOTE" prostitution in any form but , to amend our laws so that the ones involved in this (both sex workers and their clients )can freely exercise the rights and the practices without being criminalised which ultimately will ease out the sexual frustration in the society leading to reduction in rapes and other incidents that I have talked about.”Counter:As mentioned before, legalizing prostitution doesn’t guarantee rights for anyone. My adversary has given no reason to believe that legalizing prostitution will ease out the “sexual frustration” that he perceives exists in society. @karamvirz A3:“The reason I talk about widespread nature of prostitution and lax enforcement of existing laws is to enlighten everyone of the fact that this is something that has been ongoing since ages and never stopped, considering which makes me think that the only reason that it has survived so long is that it is somehow silently accepted by all societies and is a necessity , then why not make it acceptable by law as well.This will help reduce the fear both participants" mind.”Counter:My adversary is aware of how weak this argument is. His use of the word “somehow” implies that even he doesn’t know how or whether prostitution can be accepted by society. I have to contradict him here. A 2011 study on India by the International Center for Research on Women has shown that “upwards of 84 percent of respondents said they thought sex work was morally wrong”. Clearly, Indian society is not as accepting of prostitution as my adversary thinks it is. The study is part of an international, three-year long survey, with a sample size of up to 8000 men spread across various countries. (ICRW isn't very clear on its methodology, but they're an international NGO so I think they are trustworthy).Source: http://www.icrw.org...@karamvirz A4:“I believe that the legalisation will give rights to a prostitute to legal help in such cases and situations and prevent herself from harassment.As a result they can force their clients to use protection else no SEX. An example improvement could be - Sex workers and clients can be made to present mandatory health cards before getting involved in any practice which have the date and status of their last health check and either party can have the right to demand for a health card before the act. So I definitely believe this will improve things and prevent many sexually transmitted deceases.”Counter: Prostitutes already have the right to legal help. If they don’t want to have sex without a condom, all they have to do is say so. In fact, either party is allowed to pose any restrictions they like. If these restrictions are not agreeable and either party forces themself on the other, then the sex becomes non-consensual = rape. (which is a criminal offence) My adversary’s point makes no sense.@karamvirz A5:“It is the thinking of our indian society that we need to change.When laws will be made to recognise prostitution definitely people will start thinking positively towards it.”Counter: Pure conjecture; this point should be ignored. I cannot understand why my adversary is so confident as to say that it will “definitely” happen. @karamvirz A6:“I am not a speaker or supporter of brothels , Pimps and other such organisations neither Do I say these should be made legal.But do you think that any person would feel safe and fearless in a room when even with a prostitute who is not part of a group or network?I would disagree and most of us would.The whole point is to remove the fear from the participants" minds of being caught and charged for God knows what all things.” Counter:I will remind my adversary that prostitution is legal. Organized prostitution, such as under a pimp, in a brothel or prostitution otherwise affiliated with an organization is illegal in India, under the Indian Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act (SITA). If my adversary is not saying that these should be made legal, then he has just conceded the debate. “I would disagree and most of us would” is pure conjecture and should be ignored. I have difficulty following the second part of my adversary’s argument, and I request him to phrase it clearly, with a definite conclusion, so that I can address it in the next round. Conclusion:I have rebutted all of my adversary’s points. I note that he has not rebutted my point that prostitution will worsen attitudes towards women in India and made a ridiculous counter argument against my substantiated claim that legalization increases clandestine and underground prostitution, women trafficking, and child prostitution. The full burden of proof is on Pro, and he has to successfully defend his arguments against my rebuttals to win this debate. I note also that my arguments may not impress him, given that he thinks that I am obsessed with statistics, but I hope it impresses our voters.I request him to post his argument in time this time. Sources used are the same as in previous rounds, except for the link in the earlier part of this argument.