We heard the news of the Yorkshire Ripper dying and our first thoughts were with the families, with the survivors. Probably, they must be feeling relief that they don’t have to face any chance of Sutcliffe getting out of prison, as there was some talk of that not long ago.The ECP was very involved at […]
At the time of a pandemic when poverty, particularly among women and children has increased so massively, why is Diana Johnson and other women MPs focusing on proposals that will make women poorer. They urge the government to criminalise sex workers’ clients and crack down on online advertising sites without any consideration to the ways […]
Seattle City Council votes to repeal drug and prostitution loitering laws which have a “deep and harmful racist history” and are shown to have “a disproportionate impact on women of color, both cis- and transgender”.Today Seattle City Council repealed drug and prostitution loitering laws that endangered SW safety, unjustly targeted non-violent peoples, and disproportionately impacted […]
The coronavirus has thrown millions of people into crisis. For sex workers, forced by criminalisation, stigma and discrimination to live in the shadows, that crisis is more hidden. Much sex work involves personal contact – exactly what we are being warned against if the virus is to be contained. The virus comes on top of […]
We send our best wishes and support to the three women who tomorrow, 21 January 2019, are bringing a legal case to the High Court challenging street prostitution legislation.The English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP) is a network of sex workers working both on the streets and indoors campaigning for decriminalisation and safety. We fight against […]
Joint statement in response to a White Paper Motion submitted by Leeds Councillor Amanda Carter on the Leeds Managed Approach, which reads:COUNCIL MEETING – 14 TH NOVEMBER 2018“This Council notes the mounting objections to the Managed Approach in Holbeck and further notes growing evidence of resident and business dissatisfaction with this policy. This Council agrees […]
The English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP) is an organisation of sex workers, working both on the streets and in premises. Since 1975 we have been campaigning for the decriminalisation of prostitution, for sex workers’ rights and safety and for resources to enable people to get out of prostitution if they want to.Many trans people go […]
Women in our network were glad to work in the zone as it meant they could work without fear of arrest. We think that this should count for something, but it doesn’t seem to be considered by those that are criticising the zone. It’s unfair to label the zone as an example of decriminalisation gone […]
Last night Sophie Walker, the leader of the Women’s Equality Party responded to a comment by a sex worker on twitter by calling her a “sex bot”. For Walker to disparage and dehumanise sex workers in that way is sickening. Is the Women’s Equality Party not for equality and respect for all women, whatever our […]
SWARM and ECP congratulate the three women who last week won in court the right not to reveal their criminal convictions for prostitution to prospective employers.The women have multiple convictions for soliciting or loitering under the Street Offences Act, and their records will be amended to filter out these convictions. The women in this landmark […]
