Prostitution is a serious moral issue that greatly affects society at all levels. The legalisation of prostitution is seen by some as a solution to the problem of the global sex market. This is partly based on the false assumption that legalisation of “the industry” will diminish the problems of the current illegal industry, such as, street prostitution, high visibility brothels and related organised crime. However, the legalisation or decriminalisation of prostitution increases, rather than decreases the activity of the sex industry, which in turn devalues and enslaves women. This is essentially a form of state-sanctioned exploitation of women. The criminalisation model, used in countries such as Sweden, Norway and Iceland, is the best way to control the sex industry and is the only model that values, honours and protects women. Legalising prostitution will give the illusion that such activity is acceptable and moral and that brothels are like any other reputable business.
The legalisation or decriminalisation of prostitution is seen by some as a harm minimisation effort. However, the opposite has proved to be the case, such as in Victoria, where prostitution has been legal for over two decades and far greater harm and exploitation of women has resulted. The most effective and morally sensible approach is one which aims for harm elimination, which is best achieved through the criminalization of sexual purchases. This approach best protects and defends the dignity of women and prevents the entry into an industry that greatly damages them and an one in which women find it increasingly more difficult to leave.
“The Victorian experience demonstrates that legalisation does nothing to protect the health and safety of those within the industry.”
[1]
The legalisation of prostitution in Victoria has not seen the disappearance of illegal or street prostitution; rather, it has increased at a rate greater than the legal prostitution industry. In Queensland, brothels were legalised in 1999, however, 90% of the sex trade in that state is illegal. Organised crime, also, has not decreased with the legalisation of prostitution, contrary to the thoughts of those who support prostitution legalisation, and trafficking of women occurs in both legal and illegal brothels.
With the legalisation of prostitution in Victoria, the demand for sexual services has sharply increased. This means that more women and girls enter the prostitution industry in order to support the increasing demand. However, once in the industry many feel they are trapped. “In fact 64% of women in prostitution in Victoria want to leave the industry”
[2].
When prostitution is seen as a legitimate business (this happens when prostitution is legalised), brothel owners and the industry in general, attempt to maximise profits and meet the increasing demands of the male consumers. Unfortunately, the rights and dignity of women is relegated while the increasing of profits and expansion of this lucr
ative industry is promoted. Some argue that with the expansion and legalisation of the industry women “workers” have improved pay and working conditions. This is false, as the Victorian experience shows; the implicit violence of prostitution is in fact very real and remains in the “work” practices of both legal and illegal prostitution “businesses”. Prostitutes continue to suffer long and lasting physical and mental harm. Prostitutes may take illicit drugs in order to numb the physical and psychological pain they experience and some in fact may take their own lives in the tragedy of suicide. Furthermore, a legal prostitution industry in Victoria has not resulted in a proportionate increase in pay over the years :
“At the end of the 1990s,IBIS Business Information Services exposed that fees charged by prostituted women had not changed significantly over the previous ten years. Women on average earned between A$400 to A$500 per week, did not receive holiday pay or sick leave, and worked around four ten-hour shifts per week”
[3]
Overall, the legalisation of prostitution, is essentially state-sanctioned exploitation of women through sexual enslavement and abuse. Once prostitution is legalised demand for “sexual services” will increase and illegal prostitution will increase at a greater rate than legal prostitiution. Legitimising prostitution by its legalisation or decriminalisation will promote and increase human trafficking of both women and children. Prostitution legalisation does not solve any problems of the current situation but rather entrenches them and creates problems of its own. The best way to solve the problems that exist is to criminalise sexual purchases as this protects and defends women from exploitation, by reducing the demand for prostitutes.
[1] What Happens When Prostitution Becomes Work?
An Update on Legalisation of Prostitution in Australia
Mary Sullivan
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, Australia, 2005
p.6
[2] Ibid p.11
[3] Ibid p.9
Further Reading:
What Happens When Prostitution Becomes Work?
An Update on Legalisation of Prostitution in Australia
Mary Sullivan
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, Australia, 2005
http://action.web.ca/home/catw/attach/Sullivan_proof_01.pdf
Learning lessons from legalising prostitution in Victoria
Tasmanian Times.com
http://tasmaniantimes.com.au/index.php/article/learning-lessons-from-legalising-prostitution-in-victoria
Red-Green politics retrograde on prostitution
ON LINE opinion
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=14380
Opinion Piece from Hilary White on LifeSiteNews.com 
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