Source: Southern Times
Although many societies are becoming more tolerant to prostitution as the years roll by, women remain the primary victims of the violence and degradation that comes with the "world's oldest profession".

Prostitution, by any account, is a "service industry" that has withstood the test of time.

Perhaps it is its longevity and resilience in the face of repeated onslaughts by governments, religion and social activists that is making more and more people believe that it should be legalised.

In simple terms, prostitution is a demand market created by men who buy and sell women's sexuality for their own profit and pleasure.

This is because in many instances it calls for middlemen or "pimps" who lure or search for victims who are used in the business, usually socially and economically vulnerable women and young girls.

At the far end of this industry are businesspeople who buy prostitutes for sex work in their clubs or brothels for financial returns.

So instead of legalising prostitution, legal reforms should create remedies that assist victims and prosecute perpetrators.

As Donna Hughes suggests in her research on prostitution ("Legalising prostitution will not stop the harm"), most existing laws concerning the sector were formulated on the assumption that prostitution is an immoral activity, with women being the most immoral participants.

Therefore, laws that ban prostitution usually criminalise the women involved without considering the inescapable cliche that "it takes two to tango".

By listening to women's experiences of prostitution and moving beyond moralistic analyses, women's rights groups have defined prostitution to be sexual exploitation and a form of violence against women.

Donna Hughes further suggests that all legal reforms should be based on this understanding.

Therefore, she argues, states should decriminalise prostitution, that is, stop punishing women for being prostituted.

Considering the documented harm to women who are trafficked and prostituted, it is only logical that women should not be criminalised for being the victim of those abuses.

Decriminalisation also means that women will not fear arrest if they seek assistance and may be more likely to testify against pimps and traffickers.

In short, prostitution should not be legalised neither should it be criminalised.

Legalisation means that the state imposes regulations under which women can be prostituted.

In effect, regulation means that under certain conditions it is permissible to exploit and abuse women.

What then would be said is, "It is okay to sell women and girls for men's sexual satisfaction and enjoyment if it is done as the state says it should be done."

Research on prostitution is underway in several Eastern European states' "tolerance zones", in other states there are proposals for legalisation.

Legalisation is meaningless to women under the control of pimps or traffickers.

Certainly, the sex industry does not differentiate between "free" and "forced" prostitution.

If prostitution is legalised, traffickers are given the leeway to abduct and illegally lure more women into prostitution.

Legalisation and regulation aim to redefine prostitution as a form of work, indicated by the use of the term "sex work".

But legalisation will not necessarily end acts of violence and exploitation that women and children endure.

As Hughes says, "It only allows criminals and members of organised crime rings to become legitimate businessmen and work hand in hand with the state in marketing women's bodies."

In some countries, it is not by choice that women become prostitutes. Reasons may go beyond looking for quick money in a crippled economy, poverty, hunger and may include women with abusive backgrounds that they have no idea how to run away from.

Prostitution becomes the only convenient "escape" that they know, merely because it is a system they have grown accustomed to.

In any circumstances, what matters is to address the issues behind the increase in prostitution levels and recommend commendable solutions that will stop the exploitation and abuse of women.

As one scholar suggests, "Prostitution is an extreme form of gender discrimination.

"Legalisation of this violence to women restricts women's freedom and citizenship rights.

"If women are allowed to become a legitimate commodity, they are consigned to a second-class citizenship.

"Democracy is subverted."

Educate a girl and you educate a nation, so the saying goes.

Not only do women in many societies represent the vehicle of humanity, morality and valued substance, they are expected to maintain these standards for a habitable environment.

To educate and empower a woman without any form of discrimination, like by telling her that prostitution is viable or legal, will go a long way in addressing the causes of gender violence.

Not only is it feasible to empower women, but also men to make them realise that a woman's body should not be bought or exploited to fulfil male sexual desires.

Prostitution encourages men to be a part of the sex industry, always maintaining that it is normal healthy behaviour for men to sleep around and go out looking for sex from prostitutes.

If prostitution is legalised, where then would women realise their freedom to co-exist without being exploited because of their sex?

Research conducted by Susan Brison suggests that by legalising prostitution, pimps and/or traffickers have their power increased as they are now working more to find women for prostitution and the women are further victimised.

As the demand for prostitutes increases, so do the stakes for making sure the women are lured into the business.

Legalisation would only serve to ensure more prostitution, child exploitation and abuse, more human trafficking and an increase in other illegal activities associated with the industry.

A question to think about, as posed by Brison, is; for women and girls who appear to have chosen to be prostitutes, did they make this choice from a position of knowledge or power and did they make that choice at all?

I wonder too.

In Sweden prostitution is regarded as an aspect of male violence against women and children.

It is officially acknowledged as a form of exploitation of women and children and constitutes a significant social problem.

Gender equality will remain unattainable as long as men buy, sell and exploit women and children by prostituting them.

Another scholar, De Santis suggests that if prostitution is viewed as violence against women and children, which in the majority of the cases it is (just like domestic abuse, rape and child abuse), then society should be forced to examine and dissect this problem and get to the real issues.

In many African cultures, the males have the role to protect, support and provide for the family.

By allowing prostitution to be legalised, one would merely be deterring from protecting the woman or girl child, but playing a huge role in abusing and violating them instead by taking away their freedom and independence to live as an empowered human.

Prostitution has a devastating impact on its victims.

All forms of prostitution influence society and affect how women are viewed.

Once we change our thinking by clearly stating that prostitution is violence against women and children, and not just an "old profession", we will give all women, children and families hope for a safer future.

Prostitution must be kept illegal.

The message must be loud and clear that women and children cannot be bought, sold or traded for sex anymore.

In the words of one former prostitute: "Legalisation will not end abuse; it will make abuse legal."