Should Prostitution Be Legalized?

Should prostitution be legalized? In the USA, prostitution is
illegal everywhere except for ten counties in Nevada yet sex is on
sale from coast to coast. Street prostitutes have a mortality rate
forty times higher than the national average. Many individuals who
engage in sex work do not survive the streets.The mortality rate among
street walkers has led some to call for legalization or
decriminalization of prostitution in the USA. One of the main reasons
is for the safety of the sex worker. If the industry goes down that
path as it has in other countries, can the street prostitutes really
take better care of themselves and would they have the help they need
if something went wrong? In other words, would the regulation of the
industry offer the necessary protection to the prostitutes or is it to
simply legalize violence against the street-walker?In Australia the
states legalized prostitution in an attempt to curb the violence. In
the European countries of Norway, Finland and Sweden it appears that
the selling of sex is not illegal but it is the purchase of sex that
is criminalized. The logic behind these laws is that these European
governments want to stamp out sex tourism, street prostitution and
human trafficking in an attempt to protect the most vulnerable.Sex
workers in the third world are often sold into prostitution as
children. In countries like the USA, many are driven to it by sexual
abuse. Authorities have estimated that up to seventy-five percent of
street prostitutes are molested or victims of incest. Once on the
street it is very difficult or impossible to escape. A street pimp
solicits customers for a 'hoochie' in return for a share of their
earnings but it is often the street pimps who inflict the most
violence. Those selling sex are younger, more than likely victimized
or coerced into the trade to have street pimps, be drug addicted and
to have miserable lives.Drugs are sometimes the only way that street
prostitutes came cope with work on the streets. Authorities have also
estimated that a whopping eighty percent of street walkers are
addicted to crack cocaine, heroin, prescription drugs or alcohol. It
is probably the only way that they can cope the fear and anxiety that
comes with this line of work. What goes through their mind? Will the
next trick turn violent if things do not do go right? What are the
chances of being raped, beaten up, having bones broken, cut up, maimed
or even murdered? While the high-end sex workers or 'escorts' work in
relative safety, low-end prostitutes mainly pick up clients off the
streets, sex takes place in a car or a back alley and an attack can
come at any time and who knows what disease they may contract.In the
United States supporters of legalization are in the minority. They are
up against the puritanical religious groups and it is these people who
wield the big stick. Rather, the trend has been for greater
criminalization with greater penalties against clients and workers.
This means that prostitutes are under attack from the street pimps,
clients and the law. No doubt there are those on the street who
believe that their fate is sealed and written in stone. They probably
have few friends or allies, they face discrimination because of the
stigma attached to prostitution and the lure of the street is always
there... despite the danger. However there is one organization that
offers hope or even a way out.Cyndee Clay is the Executive Director of
'HIPS' - 'Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive'. HIPS mission is to
assist female, male, and trans-gender individuals engaging in sex work
in Washington DC to lead healthy lives. The program is based on a harm
reduction model, Harm Prevention and Support. Those involved with the
program strive to address the impact that HIV/AIDS, sexually
transmitted infections, discrimination, poverty, violence and drug use
have on the lives of individuals engaging in sex work. By helping sex
industry workers recognize the options that they have and the skills
that they need, the organization's goal is to support and assist these
people in overcoming the barriers to finding adequate employment and
leaving the streets altogether.This is an almighty challenge. Street
prostitutes around the world face similar problems. Many are driven to
sell sex against their will and they are rejected by society as a
result. Organizations such as this one must be supported and those who
participate, applauded.