Should We Be 'Rescuing' Sex Workers?

Article: http://www.xtra.ca/public/Vancouver/Stop_rescuing_sex_workers_new_film_says-12628.aspx

In a country where it is becoming increasingly difficult for anyone, let alone young women, to find work, many voluntarily turn to sex work to earn a sufficient living. Ironically, Cambodian policies on anti human-trafficking are causing more harm to many sex workers than the sex they have in their work. A joint endeavor between the Women's Network for Unity and Canadian journalist Paula Stromberg illustrate this point with the aptly named documentary "Sex Workers Hurt by Rescue in Cambodia". Featuring interviews of 'rescued' workers, the documentary presents first-hand evidence of the negative impacts caused by Cambodia's overzealous anti-trafficking policy. 
The influence behind the nation's dogged pursuit of justice in sex work is primarily international pressures on the entire region to basically clean up its act. While intentions are good, the boomerang effect of human rights advocacy networks in the region has negatively affected many voluntary, evidently 'well-treated' and most importantly well-paid individuals who found no better way to make a basic living.
The WNU suggests the best way to help sex workers and combat trafficking is to "decriminalize sex work and give sex workers full human and labor rights,”. I agree. The way the issue of human trafficking is framed is fine to direct international efforts against traffickers, but it ignores and even harms the significant issue of the rights and protections of voluntary sex laborers. A possible solution to this problem is to turn this issue into one as loud and international as that of trafficking. That way, efforts can be made to establish just cause for the reformation of sex work laws in ways that have proven successful elsewhere.