LEGALISING PROSTITUTION IN INDIA: MYTH OR REALITY

Abstract

India has ratified many international conventions on women rights. The Constitution itself condemns discrimination and exploitation on the basis of gender. Overall the judiciary and the Indian Constitution have shown its soft side towards the issues related to women. But, is that enough? The truth is that it has not been successful in promoting human rights of one such section which is in dire need of realization of its rights. The pity state of women engaged in prostitution is evident from the violence they are subjected to every day, every night. They are for their customers nothing but a piece of meat. They are bound to consume them as they are ‘men’. Prostitutes are discriminated at the hands of police, courts and employers. Even if they want to get out of the caucus, they are forced back into there as now she is ‘impure’ and a hurt to the society. She will not be given any decent job as she is deemed to be capable of only one job, the job of entertainment in the bed. Lately, concerns relating to health, safety and security of the sex workers and their children have come up. Extortion, pimping and coercion force them into the industry. Many a times, poor parents who could not repay a loan send their minor children to the industry.  Redefining prostitution as ‘sex work’ and further on legalizing and decriminalizing sex work in order to protect the human rights and health of sex workers in India is a new idea emerging.