Prostitution Laws

and Enforcement Practices Jean D'Cunha Prostitution as an institution can only be understood by exploring the economic and ideological base on which it rests. In the last four decades not only has the phenomenon reached alarming proportions but the forms of operation have changed as well. Militarisation, global impoverishment, development models pursued, etc, have alt had an impact on its growth. Governments all oyer the world have used the instrument of law as a means to deal with prostitutes and prostitution. This article attempts to examine the ideological underpinnings of these laws and their operation and how they affect all women.