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Beyond criminalization: Public policy innovations in sex work governance and the reform readiness index
Vol 4, Issue 1, 2026
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Abstract
The governance of sex work remains a highly contested domain within public policy, fundamentally impacting sustainable social development and public health. This study presents a comparative synthesis of twenty-first-century sex work governance models through documentary research and a systematic literature review (2001–2025). A comparative analysis of models in New Zealand, the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden reveal that successful policy outcomes depend less on mere statutory legalization and more on collaborative governance, human rights infrastructure, and mitigating the intentions-realities gap. To systematically evaluate national capacity for policy transitions, this article conceptualizes the Sex Work Policy Reform Readiness Index (SPRRI). Developed utilizing OECD composite indicator methodologies, the SPRRI encompasses five non-compensatory dimensions: Rule of law, gender equality, public health infrastructure, civil society participation, and policy maturity. Initial conceptual testing across six nations confirms the index’s diagnostic validity in predicting the efficacy of reform. Ultimately, this article posits that the SPRRI is not merely a methodological tool, but a crucial “public policy innovation”. It facilitates a paradigm shift from evidence-resistant policymaking toward data-driven governance, serving as a fundamental foundation for achieving sustainable development goals, fostering equitable societies, and tangibly advancing health-oriented outcomes.
Keywords
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Copyright (c) 2026 Puthisat Namdech, Kittisak Wongmahesak, Pyali Chatterjee
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Prof. Kittisak Wongmahesak
North Bangkok University (Thailand)
It is with deep regret that we announce the cancellation of the Forum on Sustainable Social Development & Computing and Artificial Intelligence, originally scheduled for June 15, 2025.
