Prostitution in Mexico is legal under federal law β with each of the 31 states enacting its own prostitution laws and policies. The United Nations estimated in that there were , sex workers in the Central American country. Although sex work is allowed in much of the country, states have different and at times unclear rules, which leads to workers frequently operating in legal vacuums that expose them to exploitation and trafficking by crime gangs.
Elvira Madrid, founder of sex work rights group Brigada Callejera, welcomed the change to the law but also called for a legal framework to ensure workers are protected. Eduardo Santillan, also a Morena Mexico City congressman, said now sex work was decriminalised, anti-trafficking public policy should be strengthened.
The leading campaign group argues sex workers often have to choose between keeping safe and possible arrest, or avoiding a criminal record and putting themselves in danger. It is not illegal for individuals to buy or sell sex from each other in the UK, but soliciting and sex workers banding together as a group are illegal.
The Home Affairs Select Committee recommended decriminalising prostitution in The interim report on prostitution said the Home Office should immediately change the legislation so soliciting would no longer be an offence, and change brothel-keeping laws to permit sex workers to share premises without losing the ability to prosecute those who used brothels to control or exploit sex workers.
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