Prostitution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Prostitution - Essay Example To control trafficking of women, coercion and exploitation prostitution should be decriminalized and the social rights of prostitutes be recognized (Wijer 1998). If prostitution was decriminalized then there would be less chances of abuse and sex related crimes. For example if prostitution is made legal then the victims of sexual crimes would be less hesitant in reporting the criminal activity to the police. This would improve the chances of catching the real perpetrators and prevent them from further victimization. Nevada is a perfect example of low crime rates. Prostitution has been legalized there and this has led to a lower crime rate. In November 2004 a ballot proposal to criminalize prostitution in Churchill County, Nevada, was by a 2 to 1 margin. Decriminalization would mean that all laws related to prostitution be removed. In other words, buying a woman would be socially and legally equivalent to buying cigarettes. Rape and prostitution are almost the same with the only difference between to the two being that in prostitution the prostitute gets paid to be raped. Decriminalizing is not the way to make prostitution a ‘little bit better’ any more than it is possible to make slavery a ‘little bit better’. It is a cruel lie to suggest that decriminalization will protect anyone in prostitution. It is not possible to protect someone whose source of income exposes them to be raped at least once a week (Farley 2004). Prostitution is a profoundly harmful institution where the prostitutes (mostly women and young girls) are hurt the most. They are hurt not only physically but also psychologically. Most of the prostitutes in this industry are there as a last resort. They do not choose to be ‘paid rapedâ €™ like they would choose to be a doctor. Although prostitution has been decriminalized in New Zealand it has brought about an increase in illegal, hidden and street