“When I first came to this country I was forced to come, forced to be a sex-worker. I suffered violence every day, and drugs and alcohol. I was being watched 24 hours. I was begging police officers to come to ask me if I was OK — they never did, it never happened.After a year […]
Dear Friends, The English Collective of Prostitutes is holding an evidence gathering symposium on decriminalisation of sex work in the House of Commons on November 3rd. We have found that the most effective way of informing MPs about events and encouraging them to come is for their constituents to invite them. Can you please invite […]
“Unless we are aware of what we have in common as women and as workers, we tend to be complicit in the myth that social status equals human value. Our prejudices can reinforce the hierarchy of whose struggle is valid and central and whose is unworthy and marginal: who are “real” women and “real” workers […]
The English Collective of Prostitutes and the US PROStitutes Collective welcome Amnesty International’s vote to approve their draft policy calling for decriminalisation of sex work. The decriminalisation policy is rooted in “respecting, protecting and fulfilling the human rights of sex workers” and “preventing and redressing human rights violations”. It is comprehensive, carefully considered and based on concrete […]
Spitalfields is the centre of a sensationalised industry built around Jack the Ripper, awash with tours, trinkets … and now a cynical new museum. But does this obscure the true social history of vibrant east London?In 1888, five women working as prostitutes were murdered in London’s East End. The violence of their deaths has been […]
The University of Sussex’s Centre for Gender Studies has formed an alliance with an association of sex workers and signed a pledge supporting the decriminalisation of the sex industry. This move comes amid debates about Amnesty International’s draft policy document supporting sex industry decriminalisation, which has set the organisation at loggerheads with a number of […]
An open letter in support of Amnesty International’s recent proposals to decriminalise sex work. Global Network of Sex Work Projects This open statement of support has been reprinted with permission from nswp.org. To support this initiative, sign NSWP’s petition at change.org.The Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) would like to take this opportunity to […]
Newport prostitutes plan must ‘not turn city into Amsterdam’ A part of Newport which is being earmarked as a designated area for prostitutes should not become like Amsterdam, an MP has warned. Gwent Police is considering plans to have a non-residential area of Pill for prostitutes. A police spokeswoman said enforcement alone was “not an effective solution”. […]
Sex worker rights campaigners are hoping that the strategy that is working in the highest echelons of power will also work as well in the housing association meeting hall, or in the shouting grounds of Twitter. BY MARGARET CORVID Last week, the Safety First Coalition, a project that brings together sex worker rights campaigners, anti-rape groups, and health […]
What: Sex workers launch pledge to decriminalise sex work for safety’s sake.When: Thursday 23 July 12-2pm and 5-6pm.Where: Twitter #pledgedecrim Follow @ProstitutesColl Sign here. Issued by the Safety First Coalition, co-ordinated by the English Collective of Prostitutes. Sex workers and supporters are launching a campaign to get people to pledge their support for the decriminalisation of prostitution. Laura Watson […]
