For the first time in three years, opportunities for women around the world, in terms of education, health and politics, have closed in on those afforded to men, according to a new report released on Monday by the World Economic Forum. At the top of the list is Iceland. Iceland, for 11 years in a row, is elevating women by closing their gender gaps. Iceland has been on my radar for a very different reason: their laws on human rights issues, specifically those that establish a culture free from the sexual exploitation of women.
In Iceland, prostitution is not illegal, but buying sex or profiting from prostitution is. In other words, their law decriminalizes all those who are prostituted, provides supportive services to help them exit, and makes buying people for sex a criminal offense, in order to reduce the demand that drives sex trafficking.
In fact, 4 of the top 10 countries Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Ireland who have closed the gender gap, have this law on prostitution! It recognizes that the person purchasing sex has an economic advantage. The sex buyer uses money, power and privilege to extract sex from someone with less money, power and privilege. Since desire is absent, payment takes its place.
It is 63 percent larger than the next highest state. Sadly, the data also reveals that Nevada is in the top 10 states in the country for trafficked youth. The traffickers brag that recruiting in Nevada is the easiest because the laws have done half the work for them. Pimps can run for office.
In other words, the entire community inadvertently becomes groomed. This man owns 3 strip clubs, and is a local high school track coach. In Iceland, strip shows themselves are illegal. In fact, the promotion of nudity to attract customers to a particular venue or event, private dancing, and the fraternization of clients are also illegal.
