Georgina Perry, Open Doors, providing outreach support and advice to sex workers, and Julie Bindel, argue about Trafficking and the Olympics. This was aired on the BBC Womans Hour Thursday 19th January.
Listen here Thu Jan 19 12;49;22 2012
International Union of Sex Workers
Our aim.
The International Union of Sex Workers (IUSW) campaigns for the human, civil and labour rights of those who work in the sex industry.
All workers including sex workers have the right to:
- full protection of all existing laws, regardless of the context and without discrimination. These include all laws relating to harassment, violence, threats, intimidation, health and safety and theft.
- access the full range of employment, contract and property laws.
- participate in and leave the sex industry without stigma
- full and voluntary access to non-discriminatory health checks and medical advice
The current organisation of the sex industry presents many problems for workers and the communities within which the industry operates. Improving the legal framework and self-organisation of sex workers is to the benefit of all parties. Recognising both the rights and responsibilities of sex workers is the only sensible way forward.
BBC Womans Hour -19th January. The Olympics and Trafficking
January 19th, 2012Labour attempt at private members bill to criminalise purchase of sex under 21 years old
January 18th, 2012John Mann is attempting to bring in a private members bill to criminalise purchase of sex from under 21 years olds. The present limit is 18, though John Mann seems to think it is 16.
There is an important debate to be held on the rights and wrongs of prostitution and the laws that should have an impact on it, by my Bill does not deal with that. My Bill does one thing: it raises the threshold for the illegality of paying for sex. Of course there is a threshold, which is currently 16. Where someone is under 16, the huge consequences of the criminal law and imprisonment are involved because of the age of consent. But the moment the victim becomes older than 16 there are no punitive powers to deal with the person who is paying.
John Mann needs to get his facts straight before attempting this bill. Secondly raising the age from 18 to 21. Why? At 18 you can go to Afghanistan and fight and be killed, so why should an 18 year old be protected from making their own decision on sex work when they can make pretty well all other major decisions in life.
The names on the bill:
John Mann, Fiona Mactaggart, Natascha Engel, Mrs Louise Ellman, Gavin Shuker and Siobhain McDonagh
The Olympics and Trafficking: Myths and Evidence
January 17th, 2012
Date: Wednesday 25 January 2012
Time: 5:45 pm
Venue: John Snow, LSHTM, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
Type of event: Presentation
Speaker(s): Julie Ham, GAATW, Marlise Richter, International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent University, Joanna Busza, LSHTM
Chair(s): tbc
Abstract: In the lead up to the 2012 Olympic Games, concerns have been raised about the possibility of an increase in trafficking for sexual exploitation linked to the event. Similar rumours were circulated prior to other international sporting events, including the World Cup in Germany and South Africa, the Olympics in Athens and Vancouver, and the US Super Bowl. Yet once the fans go home, the media loses interest, and little is heard about the consistent lack of evidence for any rise in sex trafficking. Recent research demonstrates that anti-trafficking measures put into place in a range of countries have proved irrelevant, or harmful in cases where sex workers become increasingly criminalised and unable to access health and social programmes. As the 2012 Olympics come to London, this seminar will review the international evidence on trafficking, sex work and sports events, consider public health implications, and ask to what extent police and local authorities here in the UK are basing their policies on evidence.
Discussion Panel: Nivedita Prasad, Ban Ying Counseling and Coordination Center against Trafficking, Berlin Catherine Stephens, International Union of Sex Workers, London Georgina Perry, Open Doors, NHS Service for Newham, Hackney & Tower Hamlets
Refreshments will be made available at the end of the presentation.
Admission: Free and open to all with no ticket required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis.
Contact: Joanna Busza
Email: Joanna.Busza@lshtm.ac.uk
More information:http://www.gaatw.org/publications/WhatstheCostofaRumour.11.15.2011.pdf
