Legal Prostitution in India

My adversary has requested (by private message) that I begin addressing his points from round 1. I wish to emphasise that he has the full burden of proof in this debate and I thank him for bringing this topic to the debating floor. I note the strangeness of this debate topic, given that prostitution is legal in India. The Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act (SITA) of 1986 does not criminalise prostitution per se, but does criminalise brothel keeping (Section 3), living off earnings of sex work (Section 4), procuring, inducing or detaining for prostitution (Section 5 and 6). I shall assume that my adversary wants to legalise activities that promotes carrying prostitution out on an organized or commercial scale. I will begin by countering my opponent's arguments.CA: 1st and 2nd paragraphsThe first and second paragraphs are just rhetoric and I will not be addressing them."In my opinion government and before that the society should build a public opinion to make prostitution legal in the eyes of law.The reason my thought process keeps revolving around this solution to the problem is because this is something that is prevalent already since ages.It is silently accepted by us all. My question to everyone and myself is why cannot we give it a legal recognition."My adversary argues that since prostitution is widespread, and enforcement is lax, it should be legalised. "A corollary of the above proposition is that it will help in great deal to give better lives to sex workers and prevent them from exploitation at hands of their customers and law.This in turn might help reduce the spread of AIDS as it will definitely lead to better and safer practices among them."While my adversary's intentions are admirable, his claims are untrue. Two studies (with a sample size of almost 200 women in 5 different countries) conducted by The Coalition Against Trafficking of Women International (CATW) have shown that "prostitution establishments did little to protect them, regardless of whether they were in legal or illegal establishments. 'The only time they protect anyone is to protect the customers.'" (Source 2) The source shows us that legalizing prostitution does little to better the working conditions of sex workers. My adversary also claims that legalizing prostitution will lead to much better and safer practices among sex workers. This is also untrue, because the sources of disease are the prostitute's clients. Up to 47% of these women (same source) stated that men expected sex without a condom, and 45% stated that they were abused if they insisted on a condom. Whether or not prostitution is legalized, these pressures will exist. As such, legalizing prostitution is not a viable solution.I am not required to provide arguments against decriminalisation of organized prostitution, but I will make a couple of arguments, one specific to India. Argument 1: Legalization does not improve India's social attitude towards women, it worsens itMy adversary claimed, at the beginning of round 1, that India is facing a social crisis. He feels that the social climate towards women would improve if prostitution is legalized. This is not, in fact, likely. By legalizing prostitution, the country would in fact be feeding the male chauvinism that perceives women to be an object to satisfy male desire. By making it available, India would in fact be giving in to the unhealthy pressures of the country. It would not shrink the sex industry, it would expand it. "Legalization of prostitution in the State of Victoria, Australia, has led to massive expansion of the sex industry. Whereas there were 40 legal brothels in Victoria in 1989, in 1999 there were 94, along with 84 escort services. Other forms of sexual exploitation, such as tabletop dancing, bondage and discipline centers, peep shows, phone sex, and pornography have all developed in much more profitable ways than before."- (Source 3) Argument 2: Legalization increases clandestine and underground prostitution, women trafficking, and child prostitutionMy adversary assumes that it is in the best interests of prostitutes to work under a commercial establishment, such as a brothel. He ignores the pressures, including physical, and the fears that come with working under a controlling pimp's grip. For this reason, many prostitutes remain as streetwalkers. (sources below) Child prostitution also increases. "The Amsterdam-based ChildRight organization estimates that the number [of child prostitutes in Netherlands] has gone from 4,000 children in 1996 to 15,000 in 2001." For the same reasons, women trafficking also increases. This can be seen in studies of legal prostitution in Germany.I have rebutted all my adversary's arguments and provided some of my own, thereby negating the resolution. I remind my adversary that he has the full burden of proof in this debate, and it will not suffice to rebut my arguments; he must defend his own as well. I look forward to receiving his arguments.References:1. http://www.lawyerscollective.org...(ITPA).pdf2. http://www.isha.org.il...;3. http://www.catwinternational.org...;