Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) inquiry – Impact of the rising cost of living on women (2023)
The Women and Equalities Parliamentary Committee launched an inquiry into the impact of the rising cost of living on women. The ECP submission reports on the increase in women in crisis coming to us for information about starting work and going back into sex work – some who have left many years ago. Most are mothers trying to support themselves and their children. We document how destitution and homelessness puts women at greater risk of exploitation and violence as women are forced into dependency on men and are deprived of the resources to escape. Our demands include, decriminalisation of sex work in order for sex workers to access support and safety while earning the money they need to survive, along with other measures like: the abolition of benefit sanctions and the no recourse to public funds policy; priority for housing; living wage benefits and resources to stop sex working mums losing custody of their children.