Conclusions: How to Curtail the Legalised Prostitution Rates and Protect Sex Workers’ Rights

In this chapter, the author revisits Thailand’s latest drafted law on legalising prostitution. The author explains how legalising prostitution is inequivalent to encouraging commercial sex activities. The legalisation of prostitution is a legal action to mitigate the problem of underage sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Over the past six decades where prostitution and child prostitution have been criminalised, many (child) sexual exploitation and sex trafficking have been occurring in the underground, unregulated economy. By legalising those aged 20 or above to work in the sex industry voluntarily, the Government aims to reduce the rates of victimisation of forced prostitution and sex trafficking. Also, the age requirement of prostitution ensures the minimisation of the practice of child prostitution, in order to better protect the children’s rights and safety. While Thailand is planning to legalise prostitution, the Government is expected to continue delivering comprehensive policy development plans and applying multifaceted interventions in curtailing the prostitution rates—as discussed in Chap. 5 —in order to eradicate the root causes of prostitution in phases. When more effective, holistic intervention packages have been continually delivered to empower disadvantaged women and children and discourage them from entering the sex industry, Thailand will be enjoying a shrinking market of prostitution in the long term.