Prostitution is the act or practice of engaging in promiscuous sexual relations especially for money.The situation of prostitution and the law changes generally around the world, reflecting contrasting conclusions. Some view prostitution as a type of abuse of or savagery against women, and kids, that assists to a new crime of human trafficking. The trap of money causes many individuals to dwell in this type of exploitation. Causes of prostitution There exist many reasons which compels a woman to take up prostitution out of which poverty and unemployment are two major influential factors that causes women to engage in commercial sex. It has been seen that women of the remote areas fall prey to unscrupulous intermediaries who gives them assurance of decent job opportunities and then sells them as sex workers. The most fundamental reason which drives the needy and helpless women towards prostitution is due to lack of money. It is accepted that among all the components answerable for prostitution, poverty is supposed to be the significant explanation that brings individuals into prostitution. Unemployment is yet another reason due to which individuals indulge in such acts.The increasing rate of poverty has driven numerous individuals especially the young people into the urban territories where they consider prostitution to be a brisk method of addressing their necessities and those of their families.The procedure of urbanization has prompted a significant move in the structure of our reality. Urbanization has prompted the development of free enterprise which has offered an ascend to the polarization of classes, aggravating the frequency of destitution, joblessness, crime and estrangement. This situation has prompted a more noteworthy pervasiveness in prostitution as a way people particularly females attempt to adapt with the grim economic realities. Also some women are led into sex-work due to unemployment. The lack of job opportunities had compelled women to desperately resort to illicit deals as a way of generating income. Around 6 percent of the women entered prostitution after the occurrence of rape. And many a times the sexual assault survivors are victimized by the shame and stigma imposed on them by the society who blames these women for being raped. And in certain cases the family itself neglects them to live in the family. Prostitution related laws in India As per Section 2(f) of The Immoral Trafficking Act (1956) gives the definition of “prostitution” as sexual exploitation or misuse of any persons for any business purpose. Section 372 and 373 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 also deals with prostitution but it is restricted to child prostitution only. Though under sections 366A, 366B, 370A of the IPC deals with punishing for offences of procreation of minor girl, importation of girl from foreign for sex and exploitation of a trafficked person respectively. Thus under IPC laws related to prostitution is quite limited. The legislation which put restrictions on prostitution is The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (Act/ITPA). And some of the sections related to prostitution are discussed below. Section-3 of the act prescribes a punishment for keeping a brothel or allowing premises to be used as a brothel. ‘Brothel’ has been defined in section 2(a) of the act which states that it can be any house, room or place which is used for prostitution. Section-4 of the act penelises any person who is living on the earnings of prostitution. This section does not even exclude the family members. Section-5 of the act penalises the procuring, inducing or taking person for the sake of prostitution. This section targets the pimps, brothel owners and traffickers. Section-6 of the act penalises the people who detains a sex worker in the brothel or any premises where prostitution is carried on. This section specifically targets the middle men and the brothel owners Section-7 of the act penalises the prostitution when it is carried out in or in the vicinity of public places. Public places include any densely populated area, hostel, public religious worship, educational institution, hospital, nursing home or any other place which is notified by Commissioner of police, Magistrate and the state government. Vicinity refers to as two hundred meters. Section-8 of the act penalises the sex worker for seducing or soliciting a person for purpose of prostitution. According to this section a sex worker cannot do any gestures to invite someone for the purpose of prostitution. Punishable activities that are related to prostitution under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act,1956 The Immoral Traffic(Prevention) Act, 1956 has stated the following acts to be illegal and imposes heavy penalties accordingly: 1. Anyone who keeps or manages, or assists in keeping or managing a brothel will be punished with imprisonment for a term not less than one year which can extend to three years and also a fine of up to two thousand rupees must be charged. 2. Any person who is living on the earnings of a prostitute shall be punished with an imprisonment which may extend to two years, or with a fine up to two thousand rupees, or both. 3.Any person who induces, procures or kidnaps a girl for prostitution shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not less than seven years which may extend to fourteen years and also with fine up to two thousand rupees. 4.Any person who is detaining girls in brothels shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term not less than seven years which may extend to ten years. To conclude-- As regulation will help to safeguard the sex workers and their children from getting exploited. Not only this it will ensure protection of the health of the sex workers and the society at large. Thenceforth a set of rules and regulations should be established
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