Throughout its existence, prostitution has gone through many stages of legality. From an accepted social practice to a question of taboo morality, the business of prostitution has worn many masks over its manipulative face.

Most Americans can’t comprehend the idea of legalizing prostitution, yet it exists in our own country and we just look away. Although the moral righteousness of the sex business is underwhelming to say the least, it is clear that we will never be rid of prostitution.

The current laws enforced by the U.S. Government do nothing to curb violence toward sex workers and instead turn victims into criminals. As opposed to the current structure, we need laws that protect sex workers. When looking at the issue of prostitution, one must put moral precognitions in a corner and look at the issue from a real-world standpoint.

You disagree with the work done by prostitutes? Good for you. You would never dream about condoning the act of, or indulging in, sex for hire. That’s excellent, yet no amount of belief or moral righteousness will end the oldest business in the world.

Even current laws do nothing about the actual problems that exist within the sex industry. Problems such as violence toward workers, the spreading of STDs and abuse of substances cannot be solved by banning the business in general.

Current laws focus on the punishment of sex workers. Punishment varies from state to state, but being caught soliciting can earn a person up to 20 years in state prison. Laws are more severe for pimps and traffickers than those being trafficked. But prostitution is completely legal in multiple counties in Nevada.

In those counties, the business is highly regulated. Condoms are required for every “transaction,” and STD tests take place on a weekly basis, with HIV testing done every month. Both the sex workers and the brothel owners are required to be licensed and pass a background check.

Although this isn’t a perfect system, it’s much better than laws branding sex workers as criminal. This way, if a sex worker feels threatened or is mistreated, he or she does not need to fear the possibility of arrest if they go to the police.

Laws like this have also been implemented in countries such as Germany and New Zealand. In both countries, violence toward sex workers has decreased significantly. Imagine if something like this could be achieved in the United States. Not only would we be able to eliminate the real problem — violence toward the workers — but we would be able to get individuals who are forced into the business the help they need.

Even the World Health Organization and Amnesty International recognize the benefits of legal, regulated prostitution.

After two years of conducting social surveys and interviewing sex workers, Amnesty International concluded in 2014 that “The available evidence indicates that the criminalization of sex work is more likely than not to reinforce discrimination against those who sell sex, placing them at greater risk of harassment and violence, including ill-treatment at the hands of police.”

Furthermore, the World Health Organization concludes that “Laws and policies that obstruct prostitutes’ use of health and social services and restrict their control over their own working conditions should be reviewed and repealed.”

The legalization of prostitution will also help eliminate one of the most abhorrent criminal activities — human trafficking. In countries where prostitution is legal, sex trafficking has decreased immensely.

By legalizing the business of sex, we can allow sex workers to work with police to identify underage workers and the sex traffickers who enslave them.

The war on prostitution has failed as badly as the war on drugs.

By creating an atmosphere of illegality and shame, the government has destroyed the lives of millions of sex workers.

The United States needs laws and regulations in place that will protect the dignity and health of sex workers. Prostitution isn’t going anywhere, and the longer we keep sex workers at arm’s length through illegality, the longer the violence toward them will continue.