Amnesty approves policy to decriminalise sex trade

[AdamSmith]

How about that. Rational policy advocacy.

 

Amnesty approves policy to decriminalise sex trade

Rejecting complaints by women’s groups, international rights body approves resolution to recommend decriminalising consensual sex work

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/11/amnesty-approves-policy-to-decriminalise-sex-trade

[Juan Vancouver]

That is fantastic news! Thank you so much for sharing this.

[AdamSmith]

All the more impressive on the part of Amnesty when you see the related stories on the Guardian site about all the lobbying by many different parties to get Amnesty not to take this stand.

[Dave]

I'm surprised about this thread - first of all, that it has received such little commentary from readers. and second, that it's been presented with a link that's got such a negative slant. not meaning to take away from what you did, Adam Smith - I think it's great that you put something up about it. but the Guardian article really focuses on the criticism of the endorsement, as you've noted in your last post here.

 

in fact, this is a historic decision, and very important to anyone who is an escort, or hires escorts. this is the sort of decision that I have personally been waiting to hear about ever since I got into the industry. I am ecstatic over Amnesty International's decision. it became clear to me from the start of my escorting career, that my brothers and sisters in the industry face real risks of violence, abuse, and discrimination. forget about not being paid from a no-show... I'm talking risks of emotional coercion, mental and physical abuse, legal troubles, rape, and murder... some of which I have experienced myself (obviously not murder). I'd like to think that surviving that shit has made me a better escort in the end, but the points here are that a) I did survive it, and b) was it really necessary? a few of you out there may have heard me talk about my full-pot-of-gold-coins as a metaphor for escorts starting out. I definitely lost a few coins from what I had to deal with in Escorting Year One.

 

it's important to realize that there are three main ways people are involved in sex work: through coercion, circumstance, and choice. contrary to what Lena Dunham, Kate Winslet and lesser known people and some groups are opposing, AI has very clearly stated this is not to support coercion (sex trafficking); instead the statement is about those workers who are in it by circumstance or choice.

 

yikes - I could go on and on about this subject. lemme just say one more thing though: if the usa would decriminalize it like new zealand has (even the UN praised it's efforts in a 2012 report), we escorts would be more monitored in terms of income and health status - a small price to pay for the benefits which would ensue.

 

here's a different reporting of the event, along with Amnesty's statement:

__________________________________________________

 

Global movement votes to adopt policy to protect human rights of sex workers

https://www.amnesty.org/latest/news/2015/08/global-movement-votes-to-adopt-policy-to-protect-human-rights-of-sex-workers/

 

12 August 2015, 17:00 UTC

 

A crucial vote to protect the human rights of sex workers was passed today

in Dublin at Amnesty International’s decision-making forum, the

International Council Meeting (ICM). Delegates from around the world

adopted a resolution

<https://amnesty.box.com/s/21qn6mr8m6cktjerzp1wgi5z0auovzmo>which

authorized the International Board to develop and adopt a policy on the

issue.

 

“Sex workers are one of the most marginalized groups in the world who in

most instances face constant risk of discrimination, violence and abuse.

Our global movement paved the way for adopting a policy for the protection

of the human rights of sex workers which will help shape Amnesty

International’s future work on this important issue,” said Salil Shetty,

Secretary General of Amnesty International.

 

Sex workers are one of the most marginalized groups in the world who in

most instances face constant risk of discrimination, violence and abuse.

Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International

 

The resolution recommends that Amnesty International develop a policy that

supports the full decriminalization of all aspects of consensual sex work.

The policy will also call on states to ensure that sex workers enjoy full

and equal legal protection from exploitation, trafficking and violence.

 

“We recognize that this critical human rights issue is hugely complex and

that is why we have addressed this issue from the perspective of

international human rights standards. We also consulted with our global

movement to take on board different views from around the world,” said

Salil Shetty.

 

The research and consultation carried out in the development of this policy

in the past two years concluded that this was the best way to defend sex

workers’ human rights and lessen the risk of abuse and violations they

face.

 

The violations that sex workers can be exposed to include physical and

sexual violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, extortion and harassment,

human trafficking, forced HIV testing and medical interventions. They can

also be excluded from health care and housing services and other social and

legal protection.

 

The policy has drawn from an extensive evidence base from sources including

UN agencies, such as the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, UN Women and

the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health. We have also conducted

research in four countries.

The consultation included sex worker groups, groups representing survivors

of prostitution, abolitionist organizations, feminist and other women's

rights representatives, LGBTI activists, anti- trafficking agencies and

HIV/AIDS organizations.

 

Amnesty International considers human trafficking abhorrent in all of its

forms, including sexual exploitation, and should be criminalized as a

matter of international law. This is explicit in this new policy and all of

Amnesty International’s work.

 

“This is a historic day for Amnesty International. It was not a decision

that was reached easily or quickly and we thank all our members from around

the world, as well as all the many groups we consulted, for their important

contribution to this debate. They have helped us reach an important

decision that will shape this area of our human rights work going forward,”

said Salil Shetty.