Taiwan News
Date: 2016-10-14
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Judicial Yuan President-designate Hsu Tzong-li said during an interpellation session in the Legislative Yuan Thursday that he supports the legalization of prostitution to curb the illegal sex trade and prevent exploitation and abuse of sex workers from gangsters. Local women’s groups remain divided over this issue.

Hsu, a former Grand Justice, and Supreme Court Justice Tsai Chiung-tun were named early September as the nominees for president and vice president of the Judicial Yuan, respectively. The nominations have been sent to the Legislative Yuan for confirmation.

When asked by a law maker about his thoughts on prostitution during a legislative assembly Thursday, Hsu replied prostitution should be legalized because well-regulated prostitution can be relatively safe and profitable for sex workers, who mostly came from underprivileged backgrounds.

In Taiwan, proponents of legalizing prostitution believe it would reduce crime, help people out of poverty, get prostitutes off the streets, and allow consenting adults to make their own choices.     [FULL  STORY]