Legalizing Prostitution

Introduction

Prostitution has been with us for a long period of time and that is why it is often known as the world’s oldest profession. It is a high time that the world became aware of the activity and made steps towards decriminalizing it. However it is important to note that the activity should not be considered as a legal activity or business. Governments should put programs in place that can help the people engaged in such activities to consider other options through which they can be able to make a living. Clarks (2003) suggests that, “There should be programs in place in which the community can be sensitized on the need of playing a participative role in making sure that the practice is discouraged,” (pg 510). The society also should make sure that it involving those engaged in the practice in societal development, so that they can feel that they are part of the community. Whether we like or not, prostitution is part of the society, and unless the society moves with speed to find a remedy to the solution, the problem will be there to stay. It is also important for the government and key players to make sure that the entire population is educated appropriately. This is because with education, people will be able to learn of both skills and values. They can be able to have the necessary qualifications to securer reputable jobs, which can help them to sustain them.

Decriminalize but Not Legalize It

Decriminalizing prostitution means removing all criminal laws that are related with the operations in the sex industry. The model concerned with the decriminalization is focused on supporting occupational health, safety as well as issues related to the workplace. With decriminalizing prostitution, it would help prevent the mistreatment that the women get from the police. It can be observed that in some countries some of the criminal laws turn out to intimidate the sex workers. There should be that assertion for these people to work as prostitutes. This is because they have a choice of their own kind of management. Often laws against them are often used against the domestic partners as well as children and these are the same laws that prevent the prostitutes from working together and also having the mutual protection that they need. There is a need to repel the current laws that interfere with the rights of freedom of association (rijo, 1991, pg 213). There should be a wide variety of perspectives call for the enforcement of laws against fraud, coercive, violence to protect prostitutes from exploitative abusive partners and management. However there should be efforts to help the prostitutes find an alternative means in which they can be able to make a living. It calls for a participative role, with much emphasis from the government and community.

References

Clark, C. (1993). Prostitution: Will the neighborhood crackdown curb the sex trade. CQ Researcher, 3, 507-527.

Rijo, L.M. (1991). Psychological and sociological research and the decriminalization or legalization of prostitution. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 20, (2), 205-218