Should Prostitution be Legalized?

Prostitution is not called the oldest profession for no reason.

Throughout history there have been accounts of prostitutes. They exist in all countries on earth, legally or illegally.

They are ridiculed and despised openly by most: yet provide services, in private, to many.

Although they are illegal in most countries, authorities often know of their existence and turn a blind eye to their activities. Town councils will not allow brothels in their towns but do nothing if they are situated just outside. Cities councils let brothels exist in poor areas but not in expensive neighborhoods.

These councilors know that these establishments will exist, one way or another, so they just ensure that they do not exist in influential areas, God forbid it should be next door to them.

Because prostitution is illegal, it also attracts other illegal activity.

Prostitution is probably the biggest contributor to slavery, human trafficking today.

As I have said, prostitution has taken place for thousands of years and authorities have either been unable or unwilling to stop it.

If authorities were to legalize it, they would be in a better position to at least control it.

They could put in place regulations for which the establishments should follow. They could, as with any other profession, set up employee rights.

These regulations would obviously contain strict health and citizenship policies for the employees. They would more easily be able to control where the establishments were situated.

Taxation rules could be applied and proper auditing and compliance to rules could be enforced.

The health of both the employees and clientele could better be protected.

With the acceptance of legal places for these activities, harsh and swift punishments should be placed on illegal ones.

The obvious advantages to legalizing prostitution are that of collection of revenues, protection of health and a defense against illegal human trafficking.

The less obvious may be that some sex offenders may find a legal solution to their hang ups.

With brothels being legal, it may discourage other illegal activities taking place within them. Law enforcement officials can inspect at random without pretence.

Authorities may not be happy with these establishments becoming legal. Is this because with a legal status, observations of who enters and exits may become better known? If so they should gain some solace from knowing that their activities were, for once legal.

No body would lose from legalizing this profession.

The employers would not be intimidated by authorities, though they would have to pay tax.

The employees would be better protected by having legal rights.

The clients should expect higher health standards.

Communities should be better, as criminal activity should no longer be attracted to one place.

There may be people who would object to the legalization of brothels on moral and religious grounds.

These people though, should not throw the first stone and accept that just because they do not see something, it doesn’t happen.

I am not suggesting these activities be promoted, advertised or in any way encouraged but if they are to exist let us at least try and have some controls upon them.