Should Prostitution be legal?

What is prostitution? Should prostitution be legal? Prostitution can be defined as systematic sexual violence and oppression of women and girls. From the dictionary, we understand that prostitution is "an act or practice of sexual intercourse for money." Strip shows, nude juice bars, massage parlors and saunas, brothels, adult book and video stores, peep shows, live sex shows, sex rings, escort services, mail order brides, streetwalking, and pornography are the system institutionalized in the sex industry. Each of these forms of prostitution offers men unrestricted access to women and girls alike, relying solely on their ability to pay. From the dictionary, we learn that prostitution is "an act or practice of sexual intercourse for money. (ProCon.org, 2017).

Prostitution is a complex issue of intense debates in many countries.  Due to the poverty and unforeseen circumstances, prostitution persists and will continue in spite of the ban and its legal status.  In fact, there are 77 countries that have completely legalized Prostitution practice such as New Zealand, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Netherlands and our neighbour country Singapore (Rohit B, 2017).

There are advantage and disadvantage lead to legalized prostitution. In this report, we would like to discuss about the advantage of legalized prostitution and Why prohibit prostitution should legalize. Firstly, legal prostitution reduces sexual and violence crimes. According to John (Haltiwanger, 2017) stated that a study of San Francisco prostitutes found that 82% were beaten and 68% were raped as prostitutes.  Another study of prostitutes in Colorado Springs found that they were 18 times more likely to be killed than non-prostitutes of the same age and race. The Prostitutes who have suffered violence may not want to call the police because their doing is illegal. The prostitutes do not engage in an inherent harmful act so that prostitution should not be a crime. Although the spread of diseases and other determinants may arise in the practice of prostitution, conviction is a sure way of exacerbating rather than resolving this effect. What makes prostitution an "incurable crime" as no one is harmed as a result of the involvement of adults. Once legalized, sex workers are authorized to approach the police if they are at risk or have problems with clients and pimps (Dave Anderson, 2017).

Another important reason for the legalization of prostitution is because it may be a potential solution to the trafficking of human beings. Prohibitionists claim that prostitution and related activities are not criminalized, including pimping and the maintenance of brothels encourage the growth of human trafficking, and are not supported by recent reports and research. In fact, they are against them. In Germany, when prostitution was legalized, the number of human trafficking cases dropped significantly by 10% between 2001 and 2011. The key benefit of their legalization of sex sales is that they allow for an effective relationship between law enforcement officials and sex workers. Legal officials can use sex workers as an important source of information to uncover trafficking. Contrary to what many people think, the prohibition of prostitution can only provide cover for traffickers, as it gives them the right to use the law to threaten women victims, especially young women. Women and children who are forced into prostitution are afraid to go to the police because they think they will be punished and arrested. If the prostitution legal, women and children victims are more willing to report to law officials drug trafficking, abuse of clients and greedy pimps.

Besides that, legalization would make sex workers healthier. Illegal street prostitutes may face pressure from pimps and John and give up their condoms. However, countries that legalize prostitution may require that sex workers use condoms and be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. To make HIV prevention successful, the conditions must be changed. The background of sexual work has to change in legal, social and economic. Abolish criminal law, obtain visas and work permits, freedom of movement and freedom of association, and occupational safety and health regulations to reduce from above. Prior to this, those who insist on safe conduct of the hero, a strong individual, inseparable from the hero, timid people have to bear the consequences of the risk context (Business Insider, 2017).

Legalized prostitution will give the sex workers employment rights. Everyone, who is legally employed, has minimum rights and entitlements given by law, such as safety rights, minimum wage, health benefits, vacation pay, and protection against unlawful discrimination. And since sex workers don’t work legally, especially in countries that do not consider prostitution as a legitimate work, they don’t get any of these rights.

If prostitution will be legalized, sex workers will be able to get access to the rights and services that they deserve. If a sex worker is raped or abused, she can complain to the police and even file lawsuit. Furthermore, she can get access to basic education and health services, just like anyone else. Everyone deserves to be protected by law no matter of type of work people do, and that includes the sex workers.

Legalized prostitution will benefit a government through taxes. Just like in any other industry, legalization of prostitution could lead to a chain effect that would significantly benefit a country – primarily through tax revenue. Once the sex workers and brothel owners obtained a license, they may participate in the business and enjoy their legal income that is taxable. As we already know, prostitution is a lucrative business. According to reports, each sex worker in Nevada earns as much as $3,000 per week. And let’s not forget the fact that there are others who earn more. If all sex workers are licensed and required to pay taxes in the U.S., just imagine how much tax revenue will the country get by this industry.

Furthermore, a government could also charge an annual fee to the license they provide for sex workers, brothel owners, and clients so they can continuously operate their business legally, which is also an additional income. Of course, when prostitution is properly regulated, people who patronize this industry will feel safer and thus, the demand for it will increase, which can also be an added benefit to the economy. More tourists will then visit the country to pay for sex service, which can significantly increase foreign exchange earnings.

Prostitution is a victimless crime, some women in prostitution, particularly those who are kidnapped and held against their will, are victims, but I believe that for the most part, prostitution is a victimless crime. Just like what other people are saying, some women, who are in the business, chose to offer their service willingly and no one forced them to. Just like gambling and drug use, prostitution is an activity that is participated in by adults voluntarily. “What makes prostitution a ‘victimless crime’ in the sense that no one is necessarily harmed by it is that there are consenting adults involved.” (Sherry F. Colb, 2013).

Another important reason why prostitution should be legalized is because it could be a potential solution to fight human trafficking. While prohibitionists claim that decriminalizing prostitution and related activities – including pimping and maintaining of brothels – encourages the growth of human trafficking, recent reports and studies don’t support them. In fact, they oppose them. In Germany, when they legalized prostitution, cases of human trafficking significantly decreased by 10 percent from 2001 to 2011. But what’s better than this is the fact that only a few numbers of children are involved in sex trades because young ones are not forced to join sex trade there. The average age of sex workers in Germany is 31.

They key benefit of legalizing the buying and selling of sex is it can create an effective relationship between the law enforcement officials and sex workers. If there’s a good relation between them, law officials can use sex workers as key information sources to uncover human trafficking. Contrary to what many people believe, prohibition of prostitution only provide cover to human traffickers because it gives them the power to use the law to threaten women victims, particularly the young ones. Women and children, who are being forced against their will into prostitution, are afraid to go to police because they think that, they too, will be punished and arrested. Legalized prostitution will encourage women and children victims become more willing to come forward and report traffickers, abusive clients, and greedy pimps to the law officials.

Criminalization of prostitution, including other things that surround sex work, is not the real solution. Sex trade is here to stay, and by recognizing it as a legitimate form of work, all involved parties can receive guaranteed benefits. It would effectively lessen the burden on the government in terms of executing anti-prostitution laws and paying additional law enforcement. More importantly, legalization of prostitution would protect the rights of sex workers and give these people a chance to live a normal life they deserve. Legalized prostitution maybe not so worst for the society since we had found so much advantages. For sure, legalized prostitution is a very argumentative topic that everyone had their own opinion and belief, we can’t judge it is right or wrong.