In the US both the selling and buying of sex is criminalised. Research from New York found that 80% of street workers and 46% of indoor workers experienced violence or threats in the course of their work. Thirty percent of sex workers had been threatened with violence by police officers, while 27% actually experienced violence at the hands of police.In a 2015 study, nearly nine out of 10 (86%) of trans sex workers who interacted with the police reported being harassed, attacked, sexually assaulted, or mistreated in some other way by police.
End Criminalization of Women for Trying to Make Ends Meet. In August 2008, Ms G, a 21-year-old Black mother of two appeared at Alameda County Superior Court on three prostitution charges, including violation of a “Stay Out of Areas of Prostitution Order”. Ms G was working as a prostitute having been denied affordable housing and […]
Our efforts are paying off! As you know, US PROStitutes Collective and Sex Workers Outreach Project have been circulating letters, including a model letter to Senators, opposing a change in the law which would remove the need to prove “force, fraud or coercion” in trafficking charges (House Bill 3887, the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection […]
US PROStitutes CollectiveP.O. Box 14512San FranciscoCA 94114Tel/fax (415) 626-4114July 7, 2006Dear conference organizers,There are many grassroots sex workers who like us were kept out of the Revisioning Prostitution Policy: Creating Space for Sex Workers Rights and Challenging Criminalization conference July 10th to 12th in Las Vegas because of your high registration fees. We wanted to […]
IT IS THE POSITION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO YOUTH COMMISSION to support Resolution #001564 passed in September 2000, and to recognize of its sponsors, Supervisors Ammiano and former Supervisor Bierman. We join the Supervisors, along with the community, in urging the San Francisco Police Department and Office of the District Attorney to prioritize the rigorous […]
Street Sheet, (San Francisco) June 2005, p7 You need look no further than the case of serial rapist Jack Bokin to know why the SF Board of Supervisors (BOS) resolution 1564, Mitigating Violence Against Prostitutes should be immediately implemented. Bokin had attacked and violently raped at least three women when Judge Perker Meeks let him […]
Evidence shows that criminalization makes sex workers more vulnerable to violence. Prostitute women facing rape, sexual assault and murder are afraid to report for fear of arrest – especially if they have outstanding warrants – or deportation.In one case, a woman who wanted to press charges against a violent rapist was not allowed to do […]
Buy the book here. Jenny Kitzinger, director Centre for Media and Communications Research, Brunel University, Uxbridge Vice girl, social pariah, the victim who “asks for it”—these are some of the stereotypes about prostitutes. Rape, beatings, and abuse are often seen as inevitable, almost justified, hazards of “the lifestyle.” The murder of at least six prostitutes in […]
JACK BOKIN IS BEHIND bars, sentenced to 231 years to life in prison for his murderous attacks on prostitute women. We still need to know why so many women had to be hurt before this known predator was brought to justice. We are pressing for an inquiry into the actions of the police and district […]
By Peter HartlaubPolice, prosecutors say uphill battle to prevent victimizationActivists defending prostitutes took their concerns about violence to City Hall, hoping for changes that will make sex workers safer on the streets.Addressing members of the Finance and Labor Committee on Wednesday, more than a dozen supporters suggested less money should be spent fighting prostitution with more money […]
You are invited to the launch of a new book by the International Prostitutes CollectiveSome Mother’s Daughter – The hidden movement of prostitute women against violence “I wish Some Mother’s Daughter had been around when I was researching for Band of Gold, it would’ve made life a lot easier and a hell of a lot safer […]