Decriminalisation
Decriminalisation increases sex workers’ safety and well-being. New Zealand decriminalised sex work in 2003 with verifiable success. Over 90% of sex workers said they had additional employment, legal, health and safety rights. One important measure of this is that prior to decriminalisation 47% of brothel workers had refused to see a client in the previous 12 months, after decriminalisation 68% of brothel workers had done this. 70% said they were more likely to report incidents of violence to the police.
For more information see our briefing Why Decriminalisation? and report Decriminalisation of Prostitution: the Evidence.
Socialist Worker: Sex work—can it ever be liberating?
Socialists support decriminalisation of sex work—and fight for a society where women aren’t treated as objects and human relationships are free from the market, writes Judy Cox Sex workers strike in Soho in London on International Women’s Day 2018 to protest poverty and criminalisation, and to draw attention to their campaign for full decriminalisation […]
2025 – Our Work This Year
Hookers, dykes and women of colour celebrate 50 years of making trouble, making historyThe year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the ECP. Along with Women of Colour in the Global Women’s Strike and Queer Strike, which are also celebrating their 50th anniversary, we held a sold-out event at the Bishopsgate Institute. All three organisations […]
Protest: International Sex Workers’ Day – 2 June
As part of a series of actions to mark the 50th anniversary of International Sex Workers’ Day/International Whores Day, we are organising a protest and photo op at Downing Street to hand in our Open Letter to the Home Secretary demanding the abolition of “prostitute’s cautions”. WHEN: Monday 2 June 2025, 11am-12pm WHERE: Downing Street, […]
Big Issue: Conflating sex work and sex trafficking is harmful and needs to stop, Labour told
Further criminalisation of sex work could be more dangerous for both sex workers and survivors of sexual exploitation, activists and charities have warnedLauren Crosby Medlicott Emma had just turned 18 and thought having sheets on the window was ‘normal’ in a first flat. But she started questioning her situation when her boyfriend dumped her in London […]
Cosmopolitan: Most people in the UK think sex work should be decriminalised, new polling indicates
Over half of UK adults believe sex workers should be able to work in safe conditions, free from criminalisation — according to new data shared exclusively with Cosmopolitan UK By Brit Dawson Mina Karenina, Hookers Against Hardship Thanks to the rise of internet porn and, more recently, OnlyFans, conversations about sex work are now more […]
The Argus: Campaigners urge Brighton council to change prostitution laws
Campaigners are urging the council to end the criminalisation of prostitution laws.The English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP) has gathered more than 1,300 signatures from local residents demanding that Brighton and Hove City Council does “everything in its power to protect sex workers in the city and use whatever influence it has to push for decriminalisation of […]
Press Release: Sex workers urge Brighton and Hove City Council to support their demands to end the criminalisation of sex work
PRESS RELEASE . . . PRESS RELEASE . . . PRESS RELEASE . . . Sex workers urge Brighton and Hove City Council to support their demands to end the criminalisation of sex work and provide resources to help people leave sex work if they choose. A petition to Brighton and Hove City Council issued by the English […]
Petition update & call to action: Brighton residents please join us outside Hove Town Hall – 19 December
Dear friends,We are excited to announce that we have passed the 1,250 signature mark on our petition demanding that Brighton and Hove City Council decriminalise sex work and prioritise safety! Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who supported us! This means that the petition will be presented and debated at the next Full Council meeting on December 19th […]