Wednesday 2/12/09 DLT2 6pm
We picked a classic motion for this week’s beginners debate which also happens to be the first one we ever ran at UKC. It’s also one of my favourites because I’m not sure myself where I stand on the issue.
The debate is winnable for the proposition provided the first speaker is careful with their defintion so make sure you have your KDS handbooks to hand to help you. Remember, look at your definition from your opponents’ perspective, what arguments could you eliminate by covering them in your defintion? It will also be important for both sides to look at countries where there are more relaxed approaches to prostitution, don’t get too caught up in the Amsterdam model, there are plenty more.
The proposition will need to demonstrate the inadequacies of criminalisation. They will need to demonstrate that this Draconian approach endangers the very people the law is designed to protect, think Peter Sutcliffe, think about the recent events in Ipswich. That by criminalising the ‘world’s oldest profession’ it forces the practice underground when it would be more sensible to regulate it. The proposition may also want to introduce the idea of freedom of choice and emphasise some of the more ‘glamourous’ forms of prostitution, quite topical given the recent unveiling of the author of the famous Belle du Jour blog.
The opposition will want to make it very clear that these latter examples of prostitution are the exception rather than the rule. They may want to refer to the statistics which show the majority of prostitutes are also drug addicts and a disturbing number of those in this illicit trade have been trafficked. There is also the important morality arguments about how the purchasing of sex is amoral and that the legalisation of this trade would have dire implications for society.
Here’s some links to get you started with any research you may want to conduct:
http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=25 a summary of the issues
http://www.prostitutionreform.co.uk/ a pro-legalisation lobby group
http://www.fcap.btik.com/p_Home.ikml one for the opposition from a feminist organisation