The concept of prostitution has been debated throughout history and has many

aspects. It is a sophisticated social phenomenon where people trade their sexual

services for cash or goods wherein one party, usually the one providing the sexual
services, voluntarily performs sexual acts on another person in exchange for payment.
However, it is essential to recognize that prostitution's aspects differ across various
cultural, social, and legal contexts, making it difficult to establish a widely accepted
definition. People who engage in prostitution may experience severe physical,
emotional, and psychological effects. Sexual service providers may be more likely to
experience violence, STDs, drug abuse, and mental health problems. Additionally, they
frequently experience social stigma, discrimination, and exclusion, increasing their
vulnerability and making it more challenging to access support services. For the safety
of prostitutes, it is critical to acknowledge and mitigate these risks.

Prostitution, the trade in sexual services for cash, has long been controversial
and heated. It is essential to approach the subject with an open mind and consider the
potential benefits of understanding and regulating the practice because it is frequently
viewed through moral and ethical concerns. The structured movement influenced by
multiple social, economic, and personal factors is at play in prostitution. People often
mention poverty, a lack of educational opportunities, drug use, and human trafficking as
causes of the increasing incidence of prostitution. It is crucial to understand that not
everyone who engages in prostitution does so out of sheer desperation; some people
may choose it to make money or take control of their bodies. Therefore, it is crucial to
consider the varied experiences and motivations of those working in the industry.

When performed freely and voluntarily, prostitution should be seen as a matter of

individual independence and liberty of choice. Without excessive interference from the
government or society, people should be free to make choices about their bodies and
work. People should be free to perform mutually agreed upon adult sex work as they
can select their careers and engage in other types of labor.
 By making prostitution illegal, we drive it hidden, leaving sex workers open to
abuse, violence, and stigma. Sex workers would have more opportunities to take control
of their own lives, obtain legal protection, access healthcare, and pursue justice when
their rights are violated if prostitution were legalized and regulated. By doing this, we
enable people to decide what to do with their bodies and jobs.

Prohibitionist tactics for preventing prostitution miss the actual complications and
dangers involved. By making sex work illegal, we drive it underground, making it
challenging to put safety precautions in place and ensure the welfare of sex workers.
On the other hand, legalization and regulation make it possible to establish health and
safety standards, improve working conditions, and lower the risks related to prostitution.
For instance, regulated brothels can offer a controlled setting where regular health
examinations, access to contraception, and instruction on safe sex practices can be
guaranteed. Additionally, legalizing prostitution makes it possible to include sex workers
in public health campaigns, which makes it simpler to address problems like HIV/AIDS
and STDs. We can minimize harm and safeguard workers and the general public by
treating sex work as a legitimate occupation.

According to antitrafficingreview.org. Women Hookers Organizing for their Rights

and Empowerment (WHORE), established in 1989, was the first sex worker-led
organization in the Philippines. WHORE publicly demanded for sex work to be
recognized as work and was condemned by the Catholic Church. The Collective holds
that 'truth claims' about sex work as violence against women, the 'evil nature' of men
who buy sex, and the alleged exploitative relationships between sex workers and third
parties[8] need to be contrasted with women's own accounts of their experiences in sex
work and viewed in the context of the alternatives available to them.
 In one of the interview, Collective leaders recognized that poverty and a sense of
obligation to one's family frequently limit a person's ability to choose to work in sex. Still,
they disagreed with further limiting the options available to women in these
circumstances. Working as domestic helper abroad is one of the state-encouraged and
-regulated alternatives to sex work for underprivileged Filipinas. However, there is a
genuine risk of physical and sexual abuse from foreign employers when working as a
migrant. Many of the members of the Collective were formerly employed as domestic
helpers, factory workers, salesgirls, and sewists. Many of them worked in jobs that paid
barely enough to support themselves and were mistreated by their employers or
required them to spend a lot of time away from their families.

The ethical and moral consequences of prostitution, frequently viewed as a

controversial subject, have long been a source of discussion. In addition to
acknowledging the myriad of complex problems that the sex industry raises, it is critical
to understand the potential economic benefits that decriminalized prostitution can bring
to those who are impoverished. The current research aims to examine how regulated
and legalized prostitution can benefit the poor by empowering marginalized
communities, enhancing safety and health standards, and providing economic
opportunities. 

According to one mother from thespinoff.co.nz, "Being a sex worker means I can
work when I am able and have days off when I'm not. I can fit my work around my
disability, I choose when and how I work, and there is no pressure from my workplace. I
never have to do more hours than I want to, so I can spend lots of time caring for my
daughter." This individual tells us how being a sex worker helped her and her daughter
through the pain of living in a blur.
 According to another mother from the same site, "After struggling for years in a
desperate situation of poverty and pain, being failed by social welfare and lacking safety
nets, I finally found sex work. It's a job I can do, it enables me to work and save, and it's
making my life a lot better. Sex work buys me mental health and happiness, because it
buys my daughter a future, and every day that me and my clients aren't being arrested
is a day that my life gets a little easier" This shows that being a sex worker can benefit
us.

Legalizing prostitution can improve health standards in the country.

Comprehensive health and safety regulations are established with the assistance of
prostitution laws that prioritize the welfare of sex workers. Governments can protect the
physical health of those working in the sex industry by requiring condom use, access to
regular health examinations, and protection against sexually transmitted infections.
Additionally, it is simpler to monitor and regulate the prostitution industry when it is legal,
which lowers the risk of abuse, violence, and the spread of diseases. These actions
improve the quality of life for sex workers while also promoting public health and easing
the strain on healthcare systems.

According to Int J Environ Res Public Health. Public health officials prioritize the
health of sex workers, and there is growing support for occupational health and safety
measures that support sex workers' well-being. Many health problems, including those
relating to mental health, sexual health, substance abuse, and interpersonal violence,
can make sex workers more susceptible. According to a recent study, sex workers
experience more violent incidents, alcohol use, and illicit drug use than the general
population. Similar findings have been found in other studies, raising questions about
the sex workers' human rights in light of rising levels of violence, alcoholism, and drug
abuse. The experience of prejudice and stigma in this population gets worse health
problems and discourages use of health services. 
 According to the same site, Recent research has shown the connection between
regulations and positive outcomes for sex workers' health. Decriminalization is growing
in recognition among the general public, and evidence that it is a successful regulatory
strategy for enhancing the health of sex workers is still being mounted. Numerous
countries, including Australia, are thinking about changing the laws governing the sex
industry as a result of findings to date that have shown the advantages of
decriminalization at the study level. This systematic review aimed to locate and evaluate
international research on the health outcomes of sex workers in high-income nations
with various regulatory frameworks.

Legalization would enable sex workers to assert their rights and obtain necessary
services, which would give them power. The decriminalization of prostitution would open
the door for the protection of labor rights, allowing sex workers to organize unions,
bargain for fair pay, and create certain working conditions. This change would give sex
workers control over their own bodies and decisions, challenging the ongoing stigma
and prejudice attached to their line of work. Additionally, legalizing prostitution would
promote educational and skill-building opportunities, facilitating alternative career paths
for those who wish to leave the industry. 

According to Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, Sex workers all over
Europe have benefited from legalizing prostitution. The Netherlands, where sex work
has been permitted for almost 20 years, is the most well-known nation to have legalized
prostitution. Strict regulations and removing the industry from the black market have
improved the safety of sex workers. Street prostitution is legal and strictly regulated in
places like the Red Light District, and brothels must obtain and renew safety and
hygiene licenses in order to operate. In addition to making sex work safer when it is
regulated, legalizing prostitution also helps to weed out the underground market,
making women in general safer. Additionally, because sex workers are not stigmatized
as criminals, they have easier access to the legal system. They are encouraged to
report actions that endanger them and other female workers in the industry. The
legalization of sex work will also have numerous other positive externalities, such as
increased tax revenue, a decrease in the incidence of STDs, and better use of law
enforcement resources. 

The underlying reason that people are uncomfortable listening to sex workers
about legalizing prostitution has nothing to do with concern for the health and safety of
women. If that were the real worry, prostitution would already be accepted in the nation.
People's opposition to legalizing prostitution stems from the perception that it is immoral
because it involves people selling their bodies for money. However, dictating to women
what they can and cannot do with their bodies comes from a place of control rather than
morality. 

On a daily basis, individuals, primarily women, legally commercialize their bodies

for the purpose of earning money. Exotic dancing is also acceptable, as is pornography.
People frequently engage in sexual relationships with wealthier partners in order to
profit from their resources, whether through formal dating arrangements or the less
formal but rapidly growing trend known as sugar dating. People frequently stay in
unhappy relationships because they do not want to compromise their financial security
or incur the cost of a divorce.

A significant transformation in how societies approach this complex issue is

represented by the legalization of prostitution. Societies can promote the safety and
empowerment of sex workers while addressing public health issues by embracing a
regulated system. Protection of individual rights, exploitation prevention, and offering
support and rehabilitation services are all made possible by recognizing sex work as a
legal profession. In the end, legalizing prostitution presents a chance to build a more
compassionate and open society that respects the freedom and well-being of every
member.

The idea of prostitution is not what we want for our country. However, many
people are struggling and have no choice but to be a prostitute. What they become is
not what they wanted for themselves either. We need to understand that they would if
only they had found other solutions. The only thing we can do to help our society in this
topic is not to judge them. Let us help people understand that they are also human
beings surviving in this economy. Remember that it's important to handle these
discussions with generosity and be willing to listen to criticism or other issues.
Recognize that people's personal beliefs, values, or cultural backgrounds may influence
their differing opinions. I can encourage understanding and support the notion of
legalizing sex work to protect and empower sex workers by participating in informed
discussions and disseminating information backed by evidence.
References:

https://antitraffickingreview.org/index.php/atrjournal/article/view/377/311

https://rinj.org/prostitution/?gclid=CjwKCAjw67ajBhAVEiwA2g_jEPyL00ZkOq_mF1zz-
jcYy2m0FBlO3jNODgphShcAv_McuHeiSsg99BoCcs4QAvD_BwE

https://thespinoff.co.nz/parenting/04-09-2017/sex-work-is-how-i-support-my-family

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8070506/

https://harvardcrcl.org/to-protect-women-legalize-prostitution/