Indian sex workers hold placards as they take part in a rally in New Delhi, 08 March 2006 to mark the International Women’s Day. The protestors demanded social rights and the Immoral Traffic Prevention (ITP) Act to be scrapped. (Photo credit: Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images)
A crucial vote to protect the human rights of sex workers was passed today in Dublin at Amnesty International’s decision-making forum, the International Council Meeting (ICM). Delegates from around the world authorized the organization’s International Board to develop and adopt a policy on the issue.
This is a divisive, sensitive and complex issue and our priority has been and remains an approach that best protects the rights of some of the most marginalized people in the world. That is why we have been working for over two years to develop a policy to protect the human rights of sex workers based on research and global consultation with hundreds of organizations, our international membership and many more individuals worldwide.
Amnesty International now stands alongside leading human rights and health groups around the world, including the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, the World Health Organization, the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, Human Rights Watch and Open Society Foundation. among others. Just this week, the world’s longest-running medical journal, The Lancet, endorsed the proposal.
Human rights belong to everyone inherently by virtue of being human — and that includes sex workers. Sex workers are particularly at risk of human rights violations, including physical and sexual violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, extortion and harassment, medical interventions, and exclusions from health care, housing and other social and legal benefits.
I’m a “survivor” of the sex industry w a more or less negative view of the sex industry. I stand with @amnesty & support decriminalization.
— Melissa Petro (@melissapetro) August 11, 2015
The goal of this policy is to protect the rights and safety of sex workers. This policy is not intended, as some have suggested, to support “pimps”. Existing research suggests that to fully protect and empower sex workers to defend their human rights, we must decriminalize both the sellers and the clients who buy sex. According to a statement submitted by the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) to the U.N. Human Rights Council in 2013, a growing body of research shows “the criminalisation of clients has not reduced trafficking or sex work.” They add that criminalizing buyers can actually cause greater harm: “[criminalization of clients] has increased sex workers’ vulnerability to violence, harmed HIV responses, and infringed on sex workers’ rights.”
Additionally this vote does NOT condone sex trafficking. As a global human rights organization, Amnesty International opposes all forms of commercial sex based on force, fraud, or coercion, including any sex act involving a minor. Such situations are sex trafficking, not sex work.
Decriminalization of sex work means that sex workers are no longer breaking the law by carrying out sex work, and are not forced to live outside the law.
By supporting decriminalization, we’re aiming to improve the scope for their human rights to be protected and lessen the risk of their human rights being violated, including through trafficking. When sex workers are no longer seen and treated as ‘criminals’ or ‘accomplices’ they are less at risk of aggressive police tactics and can demand and enjoy better relationships with and protection from police. Decriminalization returns rights to the workers, making them free agents.
The work of human rights is rarely quick or easy. Today’s vote has been a pivotal step in advancing Amnesty International’s work to promote the human rights of all people, including sex workers, based on our commitment to international human rights standards and to the democratic process and membership consultation that makes our grassroots movement so powerful.
For over fifty years, Amnesty International has worked to advance the human rights of all people, without discrimination, and stood especially with marginalized communities in claiming their human rights. It is no different as we stand with sex workers, who are working in the face of great challenges to defend their own rights.
Today’s vote is a step forward in realizing their right and the right of all people to protection from abuses.
Read the “Policy on state obligations to respect, protect, and fulfil the human rights of sex workers” passed by the International Board here.
For more information, check out our FAQ on the Policy to Protect Sex Workers.
Shame on Amnesty International for decriminilizing pimps and clients. Many many survivors were against that decision. countries where pimps and clients are criminilzed have seen a decrease in human trafficking – decriminilizing prostitutes -> yes but not the abusers of the prostitutes. Shame for bending to the human trafficking lobby that abuses millions of women.
I totally disagree with this. Your rationale involves holding hands with the pimps and those who attempt to degrade people by forcing them into sexual slavery. You have gone too far down a dark road. I am not going with you because there is nothing right about the sex trade industry and those who become involved willingly or unwillingly are in danger.
As a long time member and supporter of AI, I do want AI to continue to work for the human rights of every single person, for equality for all, for justice and peace and reconciliation.
The choice to promote the decriminalization of prostitution and other forms of 'sex work' isn't a human right. On the contrary stating that AI "stood especially with marginalized communities" and "It is no different as we stand with sex workers…"
is a skewing of the term ‘human rights.’
A criminal and anti-humanistic activity–selling sex–has nothing to do with the worth of every human; 'sex work' is a denial of the worth of each person. It's the "using" of others by others for profit and instinct, whether the sex worker or the buyer.
For sure it is not a crime
I am supporting this.Everyone should get human rights.
Definitely they should get their Rights as they also a human being.
This is such a nice sharing.As per human rights act each and everybody must get protection.
According to human right acts everyone should get the same priority and protection.
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I am supporting this.Everyone should get human rights.
Menarik sekali, terima kasih telah berbagi dengan tulisan yang bermanfaat…
Perlindungan hak azasi manusia memang sulit, tapi itu bukan sesuatu yang sulit untuk mulai dilakukan.
Human rights belong to everyone inherently by virtue of being human and sex workers also have rights and they have right to get them. Everyone should work against human trafficking and especially against women
Seharusnya siapa pun itu selalu mendapatkan perlindungan HAM
Sayangnya, negara-negara barat sering menerapkan standard ganda tentang perlindungan HAM, dan negara2 berkembang atau negara2 miskin sering ditekan sedemikian rupa agar menuruti kepentingan negara-negara barat tersebut, ini bukankah sangat ironis?
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