Why is prostitution illegal?

It isn't illegal in the UK. It is merely the offences connected with it -- kerb crawling, brothel keeping, pimping, etc. which are illegal.

Prostitution was not illegal in the US until the period between 1910 and 1915 (an era when not enough was known about STD's and cures were not readily available). The state governments made prostitution illegal in the interest of public health to prevent the spread of (at that time) incurable and deadly STD's. The temperance movement and christian coalitions helped to make this illegal due to moral outrage. But the bottom line was in the interest of public health and safety.

Fast forward to our current situation in which there are more non-prostitutes than prostitutes with STD's and most STD's are curable and education has done it's job of spreading the word about safe sex and the "in the interest of public health" no longer applies. Yet we still have groups who want to keep it illegal by pushing their moral standards onto the general populace. The current hysteria is human trafficking in which there are some cases, but not as many cases as there are adults who willingly choose to do this.

Governments ban prostitution because of the associated activities. It is perceived, accurately or not, that many prostitutes are alcoholics or drug addicts, and commit crimes such as theft to fund these habits when they cannot pay for them via prostitution. Banning prostitution also hopes to prevent sex trafficking, exploitation, and the abuse and attack of the prostitutes (there are plenty of examples of prostitutes being attacked or even killed by their clients). It's not about banning the simple sale of sex, but the associated criminal activities.

It's illegal in most countries, but legal in others or turned a blind eye to.

Most governments see it as immoral and a danger to women.

It's currently legal in: Austria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Mexico, Panama, United States (Nevada), Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Australia, New Zealand, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and Lebanon.

Actually prostitution per se is seldom illegal, although often brothels and solicitation are illegal.

What laws do exist are religious and moralistic in nature. There is no logical need for such laws. If a ditch digger can 'sell his body' via his labour, why cannot a woman sell hers? I sell my mental effort each day, why can't the prostitute benefit from her skills or effort?

The concept that women need to be 'protected' is nonsense, since a properly regulated business can be inspected and records kept to protect against exploitation, whereas a black market cannot. The same argument goes for spread of disease. Food service is the most potent place for disease spread, simple processes and inspections ensure that it does not result in such spread.

It's all because religion and the accompanying concept of 'morals' defines one type of labour as being 'better' than another.

I really don't know why, I'd like to know though.

Those countries that have legalised prostitution are also able to regulate and tax it. They also have lower sex-crime rates.

Just think about it, instead of buggering the alter boy, a priest could just stick on his jeans and a t-shirt and go and pay for it, cool!

Oh yeah, you'd be more likely to catch an STD from having casual unprotected sex than from a prostitute, her body is after all her business.

Make prositution legal now!!!

In the UK it is NOT illegal.

There are aspects which go along with it which are illegal but prostitution or being a prostitute in itself is not illegal.

I would say the whole big chunk consists of Soliciting, Brothel operations, pimping activities are the core that makes it illegal..

Prostitutes itself is not illegal though..

- From a financial point of view; extremely difficult to regulate tax.

- From a moral point of view; It creates a climate in which sexual and physical abuse is not only possible but prevalent. Studies show that a high percentage of sex workers report having been abused/assaulted in relation to their work.

Prostitution in a way degrades women, not neccesarily though