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
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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 [...]
The Olympics and Trafficking: Myths and Evidence
January 17th, 2012Date: 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 [...]
PROSECUTION DROPPED AGAINST SEX WORKER FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE
January 4th, 2012Sheila Farmer, a sex worker who worked with other women from premises for safety had charges of brothel-keeping dismissed today in Croydon Crown Court. She worked with other women since being viciously raped and attacked whilst working alone. Ms Farmer left court with over 20 supporters delighted and relieved that she no longer [...]
Sex-positive feminism vs. anti-pornography feminism
January 1st, 2012A few recent videos. The first from ZJemptv girlfriend Heather purports to compare extreme feminists with sex positive feminists. It though is very much from the sex work abolitionist view point. It even takes a recent poster from Turn Off the Blue Light poster campaign and accuses them of cherry picking sex workers. As if Sex-Negative feminists don’t [...]
Google and its anti sex work stance
January 1st, 2012We love Google, we all use Google and look for good rankings in Google search to advertise are business. Google can do no evil, or can it. Google can be a hindrance to sex workers. Google does not allow paid adverts for escort services. Try entering London Escort in search, and for the paid for adverts [...]
The Home Office to fund a UK wide Ugly Mugs scheme
December 17th, 2011The International Union of Sex Workers warmly welcomes the Home Office announcement of funds for a pilot scheme UK wide Ugly Mugs scheme, to be run by the UK Network of Sex Work Projects and launched in spring 2012. While sex workers are criminalised for working together, we will remain fearful of contacting the police [...]
IUSW marks International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, December 17th
December 17th, 201117th December 2011 For immediate release. IUSW marks International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, December 17th Home Office funds UK wide Ugly Mugs scheme The International Union of Sex Workers warmly welcomes the Home Office announcement of funds for a pilot scheme UK wide Ugly Mugs scheme, to be run by the UK [...]
NUS: Students turning to prostitution to fund studies
December 14th, 2011Greater numbers of students in England are turning to prostitution to fund their education, the National Union of Students (NUS) claims. The NUS also says students are turning to gambling and taking part in medical experiments to fund their studies. It says increased living costs and fees, and cuts to the education maintenance allowance, play [...]
The Kennedy report
December 7th, 2011I’ve been reading the report from the recent inquiry on human trafficking, chaired as it was by Baroness Helena Kennedy. The link to the report is here. In total the report came up with ten findings, the most relevant to the sex industry being number one – Scotland needs to have a comprehensive strategy to [...]
International day to end violence against sex workers 15 December
November 30th, 2011Organised by SERTUC LGBT Network This event is supported by SERTUC Candle vigil walk to end violence against sex workers Time 15 December 18:00 – 21:00 Location London, Picadilly circus Vigil walk from 6pm to 7pm At the occasion of the international day to end violence against sex workers, a candle vigil walk through Soho [...]
ACPO release Strategy for Policing Prostitution and Sexual Exploitation
November 2nd, 2011The International Union of Sex Workers offers a cautious welcome to the new guidance from the Association of Chief Police Officers. Current law on the sex industry is confusing and complicated: sex workers are at risk of prosecution unless they work indoors in complete isolation. Legislation on brothel keeping and “controlling for gain” fail to [...]
Majority of migrant sex workers ‘not forced or trafficked’.
October 28th, 2011The International Union of Sex Workers warmly welcomes the publication of “Migrant Workers in the UK Sex Industry” by Dr Nick Mai. This is the largest ever qualitative research into the experience of migrants selling sexual services in London, and key findings are: • The large majority of interviewed migrant workers in the UK sex [...]
San Francisco sex workers run poster campaign
October 9th, 2011The St James Infirmary in San Francisco is running a poster campaign with the tag line of Someone you know is a sex worker. The campaign is their first major media campaign featuring local sex workers to raise public awareness about sex workers rights. The campaign is based on a number of photographs of sex workers with different slogans. [...]
We are inclusive, we campaign for the rights of all sex workers
October 5th, 2011This was posted recently by furry girl on her blog Feminisnt. It really is a reference to porn stars who consider themselves actors and above the sexworker who provides companionship. The text of the reply was from a very old blog post (2008) relating to the problems of Organising a Labour movement for the porn Industry. I [...]
Prostitutes were the cause of the London Riots, so says Tony Blair
October 2nd, 2011Tony Blair in an interview on Indian television blamed us as one of the causes of the London riots. Mothers in prostitution were the cause of the riots. This is the attitude of contempt which New Labour hold us in. Hopefully New Labour will not return, it also appears the gravy train Blair is running [...]
Niki Adams and Sheila Farmer, speaking at SLUTWALK
October 1st, 2011June 11 was the London slut walk, Niki Adams from the English Collective of Prostitutes condemns the UK laws and the police for the danger prostitutes are put in. Shelia Farmer also speaks from personal experience on what happens to us when we work together for safety. We can end up going to prison, loose [...]
Sheila Farmer’s case delayed again
September 4th, 2011Sheila Farmer’s case is now not starting on Monday 5 September. We expect it to start on Thursday 8 September but we shall not know definitely until Wednesday and will send out again then.
Myths About Human Trafficking
August 27th, 2011An article by Ronald Weitzer (Professor of sociology, George Washington University) on the Huffington post entitled Myths About Human Trafficking discusses Human Trafficking and sex work. The author acknowledges that trafficking is a serious problem, but points out the myths frequently voiced in the media and by government officials. Instances where numbers are pulled out [...]
Protest Sheila Farmer prosecution
August 15th, 2011Dear friends, We have asked you to write before in support of Sheila Farmer demanding that her prosecution for brothel-keeping be dropped. We ask now if you can please write again. Ms Farmer’s case has been widely publicised: despite her ill health she spoke to 5000 people at the SlutWalk march in Trafalgar Sq on [...]
American campaign group to fund pro sex work bill board
August 6th, 2011SWAAY- Sex Work Activists, Allies And You are raising money to fund a billboard in a prominent location in LA. SWAAY set up by furrygirl is looking to raise $7300 by August 17. The idea of the billboard is in response to increasing pressures from anti-sex worker campaigns this summer, SWAAY would like friends and [...]
Belinda Brooks-Gordon talking about the myths of sex work
April 6th, 2011Dr Belinda Brooks-Gordon C.Psychol, is a Reader in Psychology and Social Policy at Birkbeck, University of London. A chartered psychologist with a PhD from the University Law Faculty, Belinda’s research focuses on the safety, health, welfare and human rights of vulnerable workers. Belinda’s book The Price of Sex: Prostitution, Policy and Society was short-listed for [...]
U.S. acknowledges human rights needs of sex workers
March 17th, 2011This year, the United States participated in a Universal Periodic Review (UPR) – a process set up by the Human Rights Council at the United Nations to assess the level of human rights in each country. The U.S. received more than 200 recommendations. Recommendation 86 called on the Obama Administration to “…ensure access to public services [...]
IUSW response to Tory MSP comment – was rape victim a prostitute?
February 13th, 2011Press Release IUSW response to Tory MSP comment – was rape victim a prostitute? The International Union of Sex Workers Sunday 13th Feb 2011 Immediate Release TEXT BEGINS I write as an activist with the International Union of Sex Workers, an organisation of people who work in the sex industry. Like many others, we deplore [...]
The impact of adult entertainment on rape statistics in Camden: a re-analysis.
January 19th, 2011In 2003, an anti sex work research organisation (Lilith Research and Development, a subsidiary project of Eaves Women’s Aid) published research equating the opening of Lap Dancing clubs to an increase in reported rape. The research stated that after lap dancing clubs opened in Camden, reported rape increased by 50%. A few years later the [...]
Senior police officer calls for review of law on prostitution
December 28th, 2010The IUSW welcomes the statements by ACPO’s lead on prostitution and sexual exploitation, Assistant Chief Constable Simon Byrne, that it is time to look again at the laws around prostitution.
Stephen Griffiths starts life sentence for the murder of three sex workers.
December 21st, 2010Press Release The International Union of Sex Workers Monday 21st December 2010 Immediate Release Stephen Griffiths starts life sentence for the murder of three sex workers. International Union of Sex Workers calls for policies that prioritise safety: decriminalisation the Merseyside Model UK wide “Ugly Mugs” December 17th, International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, [...]
Pornography conference blasted as ‘meat market’ by protesters
September 26th, 2011A protest by feminists was held outside a three day conference central London on pornography. This XBIZ EU conference was attended by adult entertainment executives. The protest was against the meat market of the pornography industry, with protesters dressed as butchers. Not all feminists agree. Catherine Stephens, an activist for the International Union of Sex [...]
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