NCJ Number
138886
Journal
American Criminal Law Review Volume: 29 Issue: 4 Dated: (Summer 1992) Pages: 1197-1234
Date Published
1992
Length
38 pages
Annotation
This article explores the Soviet Russian policy on prostitution and its international impact, arguing that the Soviet Russian experience may still hold lessons that are useful for the resolution of the current policy dilemma over prostitution.
Abstract
Soviet Russia introduced a new analysis of prostitution, as it reasoned that the prostitute was a victim of economic circumstance and that prostitution could be eradicated by socioeconomic reform. It put that theory into practice by eliminating the czarist system of government-regulated brothels, establishing institutions to help prostitutes into a new life, and ensuring full employment for women. Although this strategy failed to eliminate prostitution, it did reduce it; the lack of economic progress undermined efforts to bring full and lucrative employment to women. The Soviet Russian approach still has much to recommend it. Governments that do nothing about the many women with no alternative to prostitution fail in their duty as defined by contemporary human rights standards. Although the enormity of the task may deter many governments, in a society that values human rights a government should ensure that no woman must engage in prostitution to provide a living for herself or her dependents. 289 footnotes