Editing Harm reduction (section)

===Legalized prostitution===
{{Main|Legality of prostitution}}

Since 1999, some countries have legalized prostitution, such as [[Prostitution in Germany|Germany]] (2002) and [[Prostitution in New Zealand|New Zealand]] (2003). However, in most countries the practice is prohibited. Gathering accurate statistics on prostitution and human trafficking is extremely difficult. This has resulted in proponents of legalization claiming that it reduces organized crime rates while opponents claim exactly the converse. The [[Prostitution in the Netherlands|Dutch prostitution policy]], which is one of the most liberal in the world, has gone back and forth on the issue several times. In the period leading up to 2015 up to a third of officially sanctioned work places had been closed down again after reports of human trafficking. Prostitutes themselves are generally opposed to what they see as "theft of their livelihood".<ref>{{Cite web |last=AlwaysUnite |date=11 April 2015 |title=Paar honderd prostituees protesteren tegen sluiting raambordelen |url=http://www.parool.nl/parool/nl/4024/AMSTERDAM-CENTRUM/article/detail/3947731/2015/04/09/Prostituees-protesteren-tegen-sluiting-ramen.dhtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331200245/http://www.parool.nl/parool/nl/4024/AMSTERDAM-CENTRUM/article/detail/3947731/2015/04/09/Prostituees-protesteren-tegen-sluiting-ramen.dhtml |archive-date=31 March 2016 |access-date=10 April 2015 |website=National Daily}}</ref>

Legal prostitution means prostitutes can contact police in instances of abuse or violence without fear of arrest or prosecution because of what they are doing being illegal. A legal and regulated system can also provide licensed brothels as opposed to prostitutes working on the streets, in which the owners or staff of the premises can call the police in instances of violence against sex workers without fear of workers or the business facing criminal charges or being shut down. Legal and regulated prostitution can require prostitutes to undergo regular health checks for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by law. Sex workers in Nevada for instance have to get monthly tests for syphilis and HIV and weekly tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fuchs |first=Erin |date=13 November 2013 |title=7 Reasons Why America Should Legalize Prostitution |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/why-america-should-legalize-prostitution-2013-11?op=1&r=US&IR=T |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202003852/https://www.businessinsider.com/why-america-should-legalize-prostitution-2013-11?op=1&r=US&IR=T |archive-date=2 December 2021 |access-date=7 March 2022 |work=Business Insider}}</ref>