-
Period: 4000 BCE to
Prostitution Used Religiously and Culturally
From the ancient Mesopotamia to the Middle Ages, prostitution was seen as a cultural norm, and many religions had even seen prostitution as a sacred act, if conducted in the right way. -
Jan 1, 1494
Naples, Italy experiences an outbreak of syphilis
A small outbreak of syphilis in Naples, Italy spread widely across Europe as prostitutes, then called "courtesans", provided sexual services for people. This event caused the idea of sex services to lose trust from the people. -
The United Kingdom Parliament Passes the Contagious Disease Act of 1864
The UK's Parliament passed the CD Act in 1864 to combat STD's in the military. The act called for individuals determined to have a sexually transmitted disease to be forcibly instituted into a hospital to cure the illness. -
Period: to
Prostitution is Prohibited Across the United States by Individual States
Prostitution was banned by most states across the US, largely due to the influence from the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. -
Period: to
Prostitution penalties are hardened for individuals who knowingly transmit HIV
The United States court systems decided that knowingly transmitting HIV to others is a criminal act, as it is a deadly disease and will ultimately kill those who have it. Prostitutes who transmit this disease could face up to 15 years in prison. -
International Labor Organization Estimates 20.9 Million Sex Slaves Worldwide
The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated that 20.9 Million people were sex slaves in 2012. The estimated economy of underground sex trafficking is estimated to be as low as $39.9 million in Denver, Colorado, and as high as $290 million in Atlanta, Georgia.