This briefing addresses the dangers of conflating trafficking, modern slavery and sexual exploitation with all prostitution or sex work. It also explores the harm caused to both victims and sex workers by further criminalisation. Some in Parliament have already begun labelling all sex work as modern slavery and trafficking. The Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) […]
We know policing often harms sex workers. We need to talk about what it would take to change tack Jyoti Belur Ella Cockbain Policing often harms sex workers. That’s not up for debate – copious academic research and sex worker-led advocacy and research demonstrate that. But we’re not actually sure why law enforcement behaves […]
In advance of planned protests by Extinction Rebellion this week, Netpol is calling on the Metropolitan Police to prevent a repeat of the systemic discrimination towards disabled protesters that we documented in our report “Restricting the Rebellion” in 2019The European Convention on Human Rights, in Article 14, says the exercise of rights including freedom of […]
ECP’s Niki Adams speaking at the protest called by Women Against Rape and Women of Colour Global Women’s Strike outside the sentencing hearing of David Carrick, a police officer who committed numerous offences of rape and other torture against women. 6 February, 2023. For more info see: The David Carrick Trial – Women Against Rape
Exclusive: ‘After the raid, a lot of the women didn’t want to return to the premises because they were so traumatised,’ sex worker says as new information obtained under FOI laws emergesMaya Oppenheim Women’s Correspondent Around seven in ten police raids reported as being linked to modern slavery and sex trafficking are not resulting in any trafficking victims being referred to support services, […]
Gergana KrastevaPolice may exploit increased powers against sex workers in east London, a campaign group has claimed.The English Collective of Prostitutes has dubbed Newham Council’s proposal for a Public Space Protection Order for Romford Road as a ‘crackdown’ on sex workers, adding it would only ‘undermine’ their safety.Such orders are commonly used to stop anti-social behaviour […]
by Rachel West, US PROStitutes CollectiveThere is a wave of change in the US on the rights of sex workers and it is growing. A slew of laws challenging the criminalization of sex work are being put forward around the country and New York, Seattle and now California have repealed legislation which made loitering for […]
In November 2020, the English Collective of Prostitutes organised a ground-breaking event, Sex Workers: Access to Justice, which brought together sex workers, violence against women organisers, academics, and human rights groups to examine the extent of violence faced by sex workers, what exacerbates the risks of violence, and the obstacles experienced by sex workers when […]
Exclusive: ‘They like to have the power, especially if they know the girl is scared then they have the upper hand,’ says sex workerMaya Oppenheim Women’s CorrespondentPolice officers have been accused of ignoring the law in order to ‘bully, harass and intimidate’ sex workers.Two letters, sent to police by campaigners and shared exclusively with The Independent, accuse officers of […]
Exclusive: Sex worker says being ‘dragged through’ criminal justice system has ‘destroyed’ her life and made her homelessMaya Oppenheim Women’s Correspondent“Five or six police officers came to my flat last April,” Iris says.“I was really shocked so I didn’t open the door because I didn’t know what was going on. They broke my door.”The 35-year-old woman, […]