The number of countries where legal prostitution is treated as a controlled industry is astounding. In fact, there are 77 countries that have completely legalized it and 11 that have limited prostitution but still allow it. Some places, like the United States , have made it illegal with a few exceptions. In the US, prostitution is legal in some rural counties in Nevada, but sex workers are required to register with the state and undergo regular health checks.
Many countries have cut down on prostitution in a roundabout way by confining it to red light districts or by making it extremely difficult for sex workers to actually get clients. This list explores the ins and outs of legal prostitution around the globe. Third-party activities such as coercion, procuring, trafficking, and the solicitation of minors remain illegal. Apparently, in Denmark, local authorities compensate those with disabilities for extra costs that are related to their disabilities⦠which opens the door to whether or not needing a prostitute is related to having a disability.
The case of Torben Hansen has raised questions about exactly what kinds of extra costs the government is willing to pay for. He believes his local government should be paying the extra charges he incurs for needing to hire sex workers. His request to have the costs covered was denied , but Danish government workers are allowed to arrange meetings between sex workers and disabled people, should the disabled person request it.
Prostitution is legal in Finland, but selling and purchasing sex in public is illegal, as is purchasing or pimping a trafficking victim.
Prostitution pretty much exploded during the recession in the s, although it was mainly limited to private apartments, erotic restaurants, and nightclubs in larger cities. Street work is banned, but like many industries nowadays, the Finnish "red light districts" are all accessible through the Internet and personal ads.
