Amnesty International Calls For Decriminalizing Sex Work
The global human rights organization says it wants to protect sex workers from unnecessary exploitation and violence. But some oppose the move.
Amnesty International, a global advocate in the fight for human rights, is calling for the decriminalization of prostitution as a way to protect sex workers.
It鈥檚 a controversial recommendation, but one that top Amnesty officials say is necessary to reduce risks to sex workers, who face unnecessary threats of arrest and detention, extortion, human trafficking as well as sexual and physical violence.
Many advocates in Hawaii have had problems with how local police and prosecutors go after prostitutes as a means to get to their pimps.
Civil Beat
鈥淪ex workers are one of the most marginalized groups in the world who in most instances face constant risk of discrimination, violence and abuse,鈥 Amnesty International General Secretary Salil Shetty said posted to the organization鈥檚 website.
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鈥淥ur global movement paved the way for adopting a policy for the protection of the human rights of sex workers which will help shape Amnesty International鈥檚 future work on this important issue.鈥
Amnesty International adopted supporting the policy shift Tuesday during its International Council Meeting, which included 400 members of the organization from 60 countries. The resolution calls for Amnesty International to come up with a policy recommendation that would fully decriminalize consensual sex work, from paying for sex to owning brothels.
The decision has riled many people, including women鈥檚 groups, celebrities and others who have considered Amnesty International an ally.
Here are excerpts from a 聽about Amnesty International鈥檚 decision:
| The provoked an aggressive lobbying campaign by international groups opposed to sparing buyers and pimps from penalties. Competing petitions were organized by women鈥檚 groups and celebrities鈥 including former President Jimmy Carter, who issued a letter on Monday 鈥 appealing to the group to maintain penalties for buyers and to 鈥渟tay true to its mission.鈥 |
| With the vote, Amnesty International鈥檚 12-member board will now hammer out the final draft of a policy that the group will use to lobby governments to repeal most laws that forbid the sale and purchase of sex. The group鈥檚 resolution called for a policy that 鈥渟upports the full decriminalization of all aspects of consensual sex work.鈥. |
