The Safety-First Coalition which campaigns to decriminalise sex work and prioritise women’s safety is coordinated by the English Collective of Prostitutes and was launched in 2006 following the murders of five young women in Ipswich. The coalition includes anti-poverty campaigners, church people & residents from Ipswich and elsewhere, the Royal College of Nursing, the National Association of Probation Officers, members of the medical and legal professions, prison reformers, sex worker and drugs rehabilitation projects.
Sex workers, trade unionists, women’s and human rights organisations are briefing MPs against a Ten-Minute Rule Motion to criminalise sex workers’ clients, being read in Parliament today, Wednesday, 9 December. The motion, tabled by Diana Johnson MP, proposes a Bill to “criminalise paying for sex” and target sex workers who advertise online. The briefing documents […]
It was with shock and sadness that we heard of the death of our wonderful friend and colleague, Jean Johnson, Chair of Hampshire Women’s Institute. Jean died suddenly on 4 October and her funeral is today. Her passing is a terrible loss not only for her family and friends but for sex workers and single […]
● The tragic murders of five young women in Ipswich caused an unprecedented outcry. Each of us deserves to be safe regardless of gender, occupation, sexual preference, race, age, nationality, immigration status or lifestyle.● Prostitution is a survival strategy to deal with poverty, debt, rape, low wages, homelessness, unemployment… Most sex workers are mothers or young […]
As individuals and organisations concerned with health and safety, we believe that legislation on prostitution should be judged first of all by whether it helps sex workers, especially women and their families. We don’t think the Policing and Crime Bill now before parliament does that.The harsher definition of persistent soliciting (twice over a period of […]
By the English Collective of Prostitutes Co-ordinators of the SAFETY FIRST COALITIONHouse of Lords, second reading Wednesday 3 June.Using flawed trafficking statistics as justification, the measures target anyone involved in prostitution whether or not there is force or coercion. They would drive prostitution further underground and sex workers into even more danger. In the present recession, and […]
PUBLIC PRESSURE WINS GOVERNMENT CLIMB DOWN ON CRIMINALISING CLIENTS – BUT WHAT ABOUT SEX WORKERS? WHY ARE WE BEING ARRESTED? The government has been forced to amend Clause 13 of the Bill which made it a criminal offence for a man to have sex with a person “controlled for gain” whether he knew it or not. “Controlled for […]
By the English Collective of ProstitutesCo-ordinators of the SAFETY FIRST COALITION Third Reading Tuesday 19 May.Using flawed trafficking statistics as justification, the measures target anyone involved in prostitution whether or not there is force or coercion. They would drive prostitution further underground and sex workers into even more danger. In the present recession, and combined with the Welfare […]
Members of the Safety First Coalition condemn prostitution measures in the Policing & Crime Bill.Andrea Spyropoulos, Royal College Nursing:“I can see nothing in these proposals that makes women or men safer. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to criminalise individuals who are consenting adults having sex. TheRoyal College of Nursing is clear that we support decriminalisation on the basis of health. […]
PRESS RELEASE From SAFETY FIRST – A coalition to decriminalise sex work and prioritise safety.Tel: 07811 964 171www.prostitutescollective.netWednesday 25 June 2008: New Zealand marks five years of successful decriminalisation of prostitution.On the fifth anniversary of the introduction of the New Zealand Prostitution Reform Act (PRA), the NZ government has published a detailed evaluation report which confirms the […]
Sent to the Guardian letters, 16 May 08Dear Madam/SirFrances Crook’s comment that Pauline Campbell, who died tragically on 15 May, had been the “single most effective and inspiring campaigner” against women’s imprisonment, is closest to the truth (“Prison campaigner, 60, found dead by daughter’s graveside”, Guardian, 16 May).Like the mothers of the disappeared in Latin America […]