Event: US PROS on the successful struggle to win an amnesty from arrest and prosecution for victims of violence
Wednesday 24 January 7-8:30pm Crossroads Women’s Centre, 25 Wolsey Mews, London, NW5 2DX Rachel West is in London from San Francisco and will report on a recent victory for sex workers there. US PROStitutes Collective, working with other sex worker groups, was instrumental in winning an amnesty from arrest and prosecution for sex workers accused of prostitution or minor drug offences if they come forward to report rape and other violence. The new “Prioritizing Safety for Sex Worker” policies have now been adopted by the City’s two largest law enforcement agencies, the San Francisco Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office. Rachel commented: “We welcome these policies which will make it easier for sex workers to report violence. This change is particularly needed since national figures show discrimination in the implementation of the prostitution laws and since recent reports show officers taking advantage of vulnerable sex workers.” Come hear how the policy was won, who stood with sex workers for justice and protection and who dragged their feet. Policy change of this kind is needed here in the UK where sex workers who report violence are frequently threatened with prosecution for prostitution offences. One recent example is a woman in the ECP network who was robbed at knifepoint.[i] When she reported it, the police threatened her with arrest for brothel-keeping. An open letter is circulating demanding the police take action to stop this violent gang which is still at large. US PROStitutes Collective is a multiracial network of women who work or have worked in different areas of the sex industry. Founded in 1982, US PROS campaigns for the decriminalization of prostitution and for justice, protection and resources so that no woman, young person or man is forced into prostitution through poverty or violence. For more information please contact: English Collective of Prostitutes |
[i] The Guardian, 3 August 2017. ‘Police accused of threatening sex workers rather than pursuing brothel thieves’. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/aug/03/police-sex-workers-brothel-thieves-london-keir-starmer#img-1