Sandra Laville,It is 27 years since the documentary A Complaint of Rape caused an outcry and forced a sea change in the way police forces treat allegations of rape and sexual assault.The groundbreaking film showed a woman, who alleged she had been raped by three strangers, being bullied and cajoled by male police officers who dismissed […]
DECRIMINALISATION OF PROSTITUTION11 March to 13 March 2009.Conference calls on the Government to decriminalise prostitution. While the activities of women who work as prostitutes are subject to criminal prosecution then they are less able to access support and help from agencies when they need this. The criminalisation of those who work in the sex industry […]
By Meena SeshuAfter months of speculation and stress, sex workers rights advocates have reason to celebrate this International Sex Workers Rights Day.Last week, the Cabinet failed to approve an amendment to India’s Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Bill that would have further stigmatized sex workers by criminalizing the purchase of sexual services.This is a major victory for sex […]
A judge has ruled that a Soho brothel shut down by police earlier this month can reopen for business.Metropolitan police officers used antisocial behaviour legislation that came into effect at the end of last year to issue a closure notice on two flats in Dean Street, Soho, where sex is sold. But yesterday Mr Justice […]
Keith Dovkants The working girls of Soho were in jubilant mood today after scoring a famous victory over the forces of law and order. Indeed, today may count as a significant date in the 350-year-long history of Soho as a haven for the world’s oldest profession. After all, how often has a judge ordered the police […]
An application by the Metropolitan Police and Westminster Council for a Closure Order against two flats at 61 Dean Street, Soho, was dismissed today, 18 February 2009. (Excellent report in the Evening Standard below.)With the help of Soho sex workers and other local people, the English Collective of Prostitutes and Legal Action for Women gathered evidence […]
Women working in various areas of the sex industry and spokeswomen from the IPC are available for interview on the new government proposals.Contact: International Prostitutes Collective, Crossroads Women’s Centre,230A Kentish Town Rd; London NW5 2AB Tel (0207) 482 2496 / 07956 316 899 / e-mail: ecp@prostitutescollective.netHow dare David Blunkett compare himself to Josephine Butler, a compassionate woman […]
Evidence from a woman who works on the streetsLink to originalMemorandum submitted by Jenny PearlWritten evidence to the Public Bill Committee of the Policing and Crime BillI attended the Committee of the Policing and Crime Bill on 27 January hoping to give evidence in person. But I was not allowed, and was told to put my […]
Sir Nicholas Winterton, Chairman, Bills Committee on the Policing and Crime Bill Dear Sir Nicholas THE DECRIMINALISATION OF PROSTITUTION IN NEW ZEALAND I am writing to you in regard to the current proposals in the Policing and Crime Bill to tighten the laws in relation to prostitution in England and Wales. I am doing so […]
Tuesday 3 February 6pmCommittee Room 6 House of Commons While government feminists and religious fundamentalists equate prostitution with rape and claim most sex workers have been trafficked, rapists continue to get away with it – the conviction rate for reported rape in England and Wales is a shocking 6%. But a growing international movement […]