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.
By Aaron Walawalkar News and Digital Editor A Tory politician has called a report by his fellow Conservative party members, which calls for sex workers’ clients to be prosecuted, “dangerous” and “flawed”. The Conservative Party Human Rights Commission on Thursday (25 July) released the report calling for prostitution to be decriminalised but for buying sex to be made […]
Dear Friends,The Labour Party is inviting people to submit proposals to the National Policy Forum which they say will shape policy.We have submitted a proposal for the decriminalisation of sex work to be included in the Labour Party manifesto.We also demand the reversal of austerity cuts which have increased destitution and consequently prostitution.If you are […]
‘Exercising sexuality in our country is still a taboo topic that few of us dare to talk about’Maya Oppenheim Women’s Correspondent @mayaoppenheim Lawmakers in Mexico City’s congress on Friday voted 38-0, with eight abstentions, in favour of a bill to remove a line in the civic culture law which said prostitutes and their clients can be […]
Prostitution should be decriminalised to protect the health and welfare of sex workers, nurses say.The Royal College of Nursing is to start lobbying government to change the law after members voted in favour of the move at their annual conference.Nurses said the current law put sex workers at risk and deterred them from seeking help […]
Royal College of Nursing to support decriminalisation of prostitution The Royal College of Nursing (RNC) has voted yesterday in favour of the motion that “this meeting of Congress calls upon the RCN Council to lobby governments across the UK to decriminalise prostitution.” Nurse Lou Cahill, who spoke to the motion commented: “I am proud that […]
A sexual health specialist who helped trigger the Royal College Nursing’s lobbying efforts to decriminalise prostitution is urging against the adoption of the ‘Nordic Model’ – a policy which purports to only punish clients. The Royal College of Nursing last night (May 20) voted in favour of lobbying the government to decriminalise prostitution in order to protect the […]
Nurses are calling for prostitution to be decriminalised, saying it is a matter of “fundamental human rights”.The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is to start actively lobbying the Government to change the law following a vote at the union’s conference in Liverpool.Members said it would help protect women and give them more rights, saying prohibition only […]
Royal College of Nurses to lobby UK government in move to protect sex workers’ healthThe union representing Britain’s nurses will start lobbying governments across the UK to decriminalise prostitution in order to safeguard sex workers and improve their health.The Royal College of Nursing voted by an overwhelming majority at its annual conference to ask ministers in London, […]
The Royal College of Nursing today voted in favour of the motion: “that this meeting of Congress calls upon the RCN Council to lobby governments across the UK to decriminalise prostitution.” The motion was proposed by the RCN Greater Bristol Branch. Nurse Lou Cahill, who spoke to the motion commented: “I am proud that nurses […]
By Laura WatsonIn 1980, the English Collective of Prostitutes wrote to Len Murray, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress in the UK, asking to affiliate as a union. Since we were founded in 1975, we had been defending women against criminalisation, workplace violence and exploitation, and providing other support – the kind of work […]