A pimp is a man who forces or pressures women into prostitution, often street prostitution, in order to profit from their earnings. Typically, a pimp will protect and in other ways manage a prostitute in exchange for a commission on her earnings. Pimps also often solicit and procure clients for the prostitute, though this is rare in Western countries today. Pimping is a sex crime in most jurisdictions.
Often, pimps will initially present themselves as lovers or father-figures to women before introducing them to prostitution and drug addiction. Most pimp-prostitute relationships are abusive, using psychological intimidation, manipulation and physical force to control the women in their "stable". Some pimps may not beat their prostitutes, as marks and bruises bring down both the price of a prostitute and the social status of her pimp.
In 1949, the United Nations adopted a convention stating that prostitution is incompatible with human dignity, requiring all signing parties to punish pimps and brothel owners and operators, and to abolish all special treatment or registration of prostitutes. The convention was ratified by 89 countries, with the exception of Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, the United States and others.
In the Netherlands, Germany and several other countries, prostitution is legal, though pimping is not. (See Prostitution in the Netherlands and Prostitution in Germany for more information.) Managing a brothel is not classified as pimping in these jurisdictions.
In the United States, prostitution is illegal except in licensed brothels in certain counties of Nevada; pimping is illegal everywhere. Some municipalities, such as the city of Chicago, have made it legal for female prostitutes to take legal action against their pimps without the danger of being prosecuted for prostitution.
The number of pimps and the prostitutes' level of dependency on them is usually higher in areas where prostitution is illegal or heavily restricted. In places where prostitution is largely unrestricted, the power of pimps seems to decrease, since the prostitutes are less in need of protection.