Support Amnesty International’s proposed policy calling for the decriminalisation of sex work

NSWP and our allies take this opportunity to express our support for Amnesty International’s draft policy calling for the decriminalisation of sex work, which is to be tabled for adoption at the International Council Meeting, 6-11th August 2015. Amnesty International is facing a backlash from campaigners for proposing a policy that seeks to uphold the human rights of sex workers.

We ask the Amnesty International Council to stand firm and support decriminalisation of sex work and protect the human rights of sex workers.

The draft policy is backed up by the findings of country-based research carried out by Amnesty International on the human rights impact of the criminalisation of sex work and also on the 2014 consultation, which included input from many sex workers around the world – the community most affected by the proposals.

NSWP would also like to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the CATW statement, open letter and online petition attacking Amnesty International's proposals. CATW’s position is stigmatising, discriminatory and misrepresents the facts, conflating sex work with human trafficking. Most importantly it ignores the lived experiences of sex workers, silences their voices and seeks to perpetuate legal systems which place sex workers at increased risk of violence, stigmatisation, and discrimination; as well as limiting their access to health and social services. Furthermore, CATW is ignoring the overwhelming body of evidence and the findings of international bodies such as the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, who recommend that governments should work towards the decriminalisation of sex work and The Lancet which recently published a special series on HIV and Sex Workers, which also recommends the decriminalisation of sex work and reported “Decriminalisation of sex work would have the greatest effect on the course of HIV epidemics across all settings, averting 33–46% of HIV infections in the next decade.”

There is a wide recognition among international agencies that the decriminalisation of sex work is necessary to protect and respect the human rights of sex workers. These agencies include; UNAIDS , UNFPA, UNDP, WHO, The World Bank , Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women (GAATW) , Human Rights Watch , the Lancet, Open Society Foundations .

The Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) has issued a Statement of Support for Amnesty International setting out some of the extensive evidence that backs up Amnesty International’s call for the decriminalisation of sex work and calls on human rights defenders to stand with sex workers in supporting this progressive policy.

Please sign this petition to show support for the Amnesty International resolution to support decriminalisation of sex work and ensure the human rights of sex workers are upheld.



AFRICA

African Sex Workers Alliance - Regional Network

Sisonke Botswana, Botswana

Solidarite Pour Les Droits Des Travailleuses De Sexe, Burundi

AIDS-ACODEV, Cameroon

Alcondoms, Cameroon

CAMEF, Cameroon

AHUSADEC, Democratic Republic of Congo

ALCIS, Democratic Republic of Congo

CODESCI, Democratic Republic of Congo

UMANDE, Democratic Republic of Congo

Nikat Charitable Association, Ethiopia

CAFAF, Ghana

Nayford Foundation, Ghana

Bar Hostess Empowerment and Support Programme, Kenya

CHAANI Post Test Club, Kenya

Ebigeri United Self Help Group, Kenya

HOYMAS, Kenya

Kisauni Peer Educators, Kenya

Action Hope, Malawi

Female National Sex Workers Alliance, Malawi

APYIN, Nigeria

NDN, Nigeria

Nigeria Sex Workers Association - Precious Jewels, Nigeria

NNEWI, Nigeria

RENAGAIDS, Nigeria

Sisonke, South Africa

SWEAT, South Africa

CHESA, Tanzania

Devine Economic Development Group, Tanzania

Gender, Equality and Health Organisation, Uganda

Kaana Foundation, Uganda

Lady Mermaid's Bureau, Uganda

Organization For Gender Empowerment and Rights Advocacy, Uganda

Transgender Equality Uganda, Uganda

Uganda Harm Reduction Network, Uganda

Uganda Harmonized Rights Alliance, Uganda

WONETHA, Uganda

Thubelihle, Zimbabwe

ASIA PACIFIC

Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers - Regional Network

Respect Inc, Australia

Scarlet Alliance, Australia

SWOP New South Wales, Australia

Dujoy Nari Shongho, Bangladesh

HARC, Bangladesh

MNDP, Bangladesh

Community Legal Service, Cambodia

JJJ Association, China

Midnight Blue, China

SCMC, China

Xin'ai Female Sex Worker's Home, China

Yunnan Parallel, China

Pacific Rainbow$ Advocacy Network, Fiji

Aastha Parivaar, India

Ashodaya Samithi, India

Astitva, India

Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, India

GAURAV, India

Koshish, India

MITRA, India

MUSKAN, India

National Network of Sex Workers, India

SANGRAM, India

VAMP, India

VAMP Plus, India

OPSI, Indonesia

SWASH, Japan

O.F. Taldikorgan Regional Fund for Promotion of Occupations, Kazakstan

AMA, Myanmar

New Zealand Prostitutes Collective, New Zealand

Aakash Welfare Society, Pakistan

Care & Support Welfare Organisation, Pakistan

Gender & Reproductive Health Forum, Pakistan

Friends Frangipani, Papua New Guinea

Poro Sapot Project, Papua New Guinea

Empower Foundation, Thailand

SWING, Thailand

Scarlet Timor Collective, Timor Leste

EUROPE

International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe - Regional Network

SWAN Foundation for the Human Rights of Sex Workers - Regional Network

LEFO, Austria

Maiz, Austria

Projekt PiA, Austria

SXA-Info/Verein Frauenservice Graz, Austria

Association PROI, Bosnia and Herzegovina

NGO Action Against AIDS, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Collectif Droits & Prostitution, France

PASTT, France

STRASS, France

Women for Freedom, Georgia

Berufsverband erotische und sexuelle Dienstleistung e.V., Germany

Bufas e.V., Germany

Hydra e.V., Germany

Madonna e.V. Germany

SZEXE, Hungary

Tais Plus, Kyrgyzstan

Demetra, Lithuania

HOPS, Macedonia

STAR-STAR, Macedonia

Juventas, Montenegro

PION, Norway

APDES, Portugal

Silver Rose, Russia

JAZAS, Serbia

Sloboda Prava, Serbia

Collectivo Hetaira, Spain

Rose Alliance, Sweden

Aspasie, Switzerland

Dignity, Tajikistan

Soa Aids, The Netherland

TAMPEP, The Netherlands

Pembe Hayat LGBTT Dayanisma Dernegi, Turkey

Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Right Association, Turkey

English Collective of Prostitutes, UK

SCOT-PEP, UK

Sex Worker Open University, UK

UK Network of Sex Work Projects, UK

Working Mens Project, UK

X:talk, UK

HPLGBT, Ukraine

Legalife, Ukraine

Vsiyeukraiynskaya Assotsiyatsya Snyzhyenya Vriyeda, Ukraine

LATIN AMERICA

Associação das Profissionais do Sexo do Maranhao, Brazil

Associação das Prostitutas dr Minas Gerais, Brazil

Associação das Prostitutas da Paraiba, Brazil

Associação de Mulheres Profissionais do Sexo do Estado do Amapa, Brazil

Associação Mulheres Guerreiras, Brazil

Dignidade, Acao, Saude, Sexualidade e Cidadania, Brazil

Davida, Brazil

Grupo de Mulheres Prostitutas do Estado do Para, Brazil

Nucleo de Estudos da Prostituicao, Brazil

Vitória Régia, Brazil

P.A.R.C.E.S, Columbia

Asociacion de Mujeres Autonomas "22 de Junio", Ecuador

Asociacion de 'Mujeres Con Esperanza Al Futuro', Ecuador

Asociacion De Mujeres Trabajadoras Del Sexo "Colectivo Flor De Azalea", Ecuador

Aproase, Mexico

Colectivo de Hombres Accion Comunitaria, Mexico

Diversidad TTT, Mexico

Tamaulipas Diversidad Vihda Trans A.C., Mexico

Union y Fuerza de Mujeres Trans Chihuahuenses A.C., Mexico

Asociación Civil Angel Azul, Peru

Asociación Civil Cambio Y Accion, Peru

Miluska Vida y Dignidad A.C., Peru

NORTH AMERICA and CARIBBEAN

Antiguan Resilience Collective Inc., Antigua

Butterfly - Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Network, Canada

FIRST, Canada

Maggie’s, Canada

PACE, Canada

Peers Victoria Resources Society, Canada

POWER, Canada

Projet L.U.N.E., Canada

Sex Professionals of Canada, Canada

Sida-Vie Laval (Venus Project), Canada

Stella, l'amie de Maimie, Canada

Stepping Stone, Canada

Students for Sex Worker Rights, Canada

SWAG, Canada

SWAN Vancouver, Canada

The Coalition for the Rights of Sex Workers, Canada

Triple X Workers' Solidarity Association of British Columbia, Canada

Champions for Change, Guyana

Guyana Sex Workers Coalition, Guyana

One Love, Guyana

IWICC, Jamaica

J-FLAG, Jamaica

Sex Work Association of Jamaica, Jamaica

Fundashon Orguyo Korsou, Netherlands Antilles

Suriname Men United, Suriname

RED Initiatives, Trinidad and Tobago

BAYSWAN, USA

Best Practices Policy Project, USA

Community United for Safety & Protection, USA

Desiree Alliance, USA

HIPS, USA

HOOK, USA

New Jersey Red Umbrella Alliance, USA

PERSIST Health Project, USA

PONY, USA

Red Umbrella Project, USA

St James Infirmary, USA

SWOP Chicago, USA

SWOP Denver, USA

SWOP Las Vegas, USA

SWOP NOLA, USA

SWOP Northern California, USA

SWOP NYC, USA

SWOP Philadelphia, USA

SWOP Sacramento, USA

SWOP San Antonio, USA

SWOP San Francisco, USA

SWOP Seattle, USA

SWOP Tucson, USA

SWOP USA, USA

The Sex Workers Project, USA

Women with a Vision, USA

SUPPORTERS

AFAO - Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations

Alex Feis-Bryce, Director of Services, National Ugly Mugs, United Kingdom

Alexander Alvina Chamberland, MA Gender studies, trans feminine author and former sex worker, Sweden

Alexander Bard, Philosopher, Sweden

Alexandra Oliveira, Professor, University of Porto, Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education, Porto, Portugal

Amanda Brihed, Liberal debater, Sweden

Amelie Eklöf, Independent contractor, Sweden

Andrès Lekanger, Outreach worker, PION, Norway

Anna Kontula, Sociologist and Politician, Finland

Annelie de Cabo, PhD student/university lecturer , Gothenburg University, Sweden

Astrid Renland, Criminologist, Norway

Bam Björling, Gender Management Institute, Sweden

Basil Donovan MD, Professor and Head, Sexual Health Program, The Kirby Institute, Australia

Ben Plumley, CEO, Pangaea Global AIDS, USA

Butterfly: Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network, Toronto, Canada

Carina Edlund, Activist and Sex worker, Sweden

Carina Kallenberg, Sexworker and coach at the BDSM institute, Sweden

Catriona O'Brien, Sex worker, Ireland

Caty Simon, Tits and Sass co-editor, USA

Christina Franzén, Chair of HIV-Sweden, Sweden

Daniel Bergqvist, Activist, Sweden

Daria Mogucheva, Freelance translator, Russia

Doaa Abdelaal, Activist and board member of the International Network of Women Living Under Muslim Laws, Egypt

Dr Teela Sanders, Reader in Sociology, School of Sociology & Social Policy University of Leeds, United Kingdom

Dr Thaddeus Gregory Blanchette, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Anthropologist, Brazil Dr. Ana Paula Silva, Federal Fluminense University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Dr. Adriana Graça Piscitelli, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil

Dr. Soraya Simões, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro / Davida, Anthropologist, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Elena Jeffreys, 3rd year PHD Student, School of Political Science and International Studies, University of Queensland, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Emmy Östlund, Activist, United Kingdom

Eva Cox, AO, Sociologist, Australia

Filipa Alvim, Anthropologist, PhD, Researcher, Teacher, CRIA - Centre for Research Network in Anthropology, ISPA - Institute of Applied Psychology, RTS - Portuguese Network on Sex Work, Portugal.

Flávio Cesar Lenz, Davida, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Frederique Chabot, POWER (Prostitutes of Ottawa - Work Educate Resist), Canada

Fundacion para Estudio e Investigacion de la Mujer, Argentina

Gadejuristen, The Danish Street Lawyers, Copenhagen, Denmark

Gaye Dalton, Former sex worker, Wicklow, Ireland

Geoff Ward, Policy, Advocacy & Peer Support Worker at CAHMA - Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy, Australian

Hanna Söderström, Web developer, Sweden

Helene Bergman, Journalist, author and feminist, Sweden

INPUD - the International Network of People Who Use Drugs

International Community of Women Living With HIV, Rebecca Matheson

Global Director, Nairobi, Kenya

Jaana Kauppinen, Executive director, Pro-Tukipiste, Finland

Jair-Rohm Parker Wells, Musician, New Jersey, USA

Jakob Huber, Director Contact Netz Bern – Switzerland

Jamie Bridge, Senior Policy and Operations Manager, IDPC, United Kingdom

Janelle Fawkes, Sex worker, Sydney, Australia

Jenn Clamen, Mobilization Coordinator, Stella, l’amie de Maimie, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Jens Odsvall, Liberal debater, Sweden

Jill Martin, Sex worker/student, Melbourne Australia

Joanna Megan, Sex worker, Sydney, Australia

Jody Williams, Sex Workers Anonymous, Los Angeles, California

Johanna Sirkiä, Accountant and former Sex worker, Finland

Jude Byrne, Senior Project Officer AIVL, Australia

Julie Bates, Sex worker, sex worker rights advocate and sex industry researcher, NSW, Australia

Kikki Paulsrud, Chair of Stockholm’s Drug Users Union, Sweden

Krissy Summers, Educator, Australia

Lee Hertel, Principal, Lee's Rig Hub, USA

Leif Holmstrand, Writer/artist, Sweden

Linda Byqvist, Social worker, Sweden

Linda Rosén, Chair of Rose Alliance, Sweden

Lisa Magnusson, Journalist, Sweden

Liv Jessen, Former Director of the Prostitution Centre of Norway, Norway

Lucy Kelley-Patterson, Activist, United Kingdom

Maria Johansson, Sex worker, Sweden

Maria Phelan, Deputy Director, Harm Reduction International, United Kingdom

Maria Sundin, Social worker, Målerås, Sweden

Mariha Hammarbäck, Activist, Sweden

Marinette Sjöholm, sex worker and activist for the rights of sex workers and people who use drugs and an advocate for Harm Reduction and Human rights for all, Sweden

Mathilde Bouvard, Artist, France

Matthew Weait, Professor of Law and Policy, United Kingdom

May-Len Skilbrei, Professor in Criminology at the University of Oslo, Norway

Meg Munoz, Former Sex Worker, Domestic Sex Trafficking Survivor (Founder/Exec. Director, Abeni), USA

Melissa Gira Grant, Journalist, former sex worker, United States

Melissa Hope Ditmore, Ph.D. Editor, Encyclopedia of Prostitution and Sex Work, USA

Migrant Sex Workers Project, Toronto, Canada

Mika Mikkonen, Development coordinator, A-clinicfoundation, Finland

Mina Gäredal, Sexual educator, Sweden

Morgan Norman, Chair of PG Mitt, Sweden

Nanna W. Gotfredsen, director, Gadejuristen, The Danish Street Lawyers, Copenhagen, Denmark

Nicklas Dennermalm, B.A in Peace and Conflict Studies, Sweden

Nicola Mai, Professor of Sociology and Migration Studies, London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom

Niina Vuolajarvi, PhD Student, University of Eastern Finland / Rutgers University, United States

Nikhil Gurung, Secretary, ANPUD, Nepal

Olga Byelyayeva, Chair of board, ASTAU - Association of Substitution Treatment Advocates of Ukraine, Ukraine

Ophelia, Sex worker, Germany/Sweden/Australia

People For Sex Worker Rights in Western Australia

Peter Bengtson, Composer, Sweden

Peter Söderlund, Former parliamentary candidate and former party executive member for the Green Party of Sweden, Sweden

Petra Östergren, PhD student, Social Anthropology, Lund University, Sweden

Pye Jakobsson, Sex worker and feminist, Sweden

Rachel Wotton, International migrant sex worker, co-founder of Touching Base, and subject of Scarlet Road, Australia

Rita Alcaire, PhD Researcher in Human Rights and Member of RTS - Portuguese Network on Sex Work, Portugal

Ryan Cole, Sex worker and President of Scarlet Alliance Australian Sex Workers Association, Australia

Sarah, Private sex worker, Perth, Australia

Sharon Eves, Sex worker, South Australia

Shelley Stoops, United Kingdom

Signe Bremer, PhD in ethnology and researcher in gender studies, Uppsala University, Sweden

Sophie Strachan, Trustee, The Sophia Forum, United Kingdom

SWOP NT, Australia

Tarkwin Coles, Sex worker, NSW, Australia

Touching Base Inc, Australia

Tove Pils, Film director and care assistant, Sweden

Tracy Quan, New York, NY, USA

Wendy Lyon, Feminist, Ireland

Women Won’t Wait Campaign - End HIV and Violence Against Women NOW!

Xzenu Cronström Beskow, Sociologist, Sweden

Zahra Stardust, PhD Student, University of New South Wales, Australia

Zenitha Smith Westberg, Mother of Petite Jasmine, Sweden

Zoë Dodd, Feminist, community health care worker and activist, Toronto, Canada

ADDITIONAL SUPPORTERS

AVAC: Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention, New York City, USA

PROStitutes Collective US, San Francisco, United States

Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, Ottawa, Canada

Action for REACH OUT, Hong Kong

AFRO-BENIN Association, Abomey-Calavi, Benin

AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA), Windhoek, Namibia

Asia Catalyst, New York, United States

Asia Pacific Transgender Network, Bangkok, Thailand

Asociacion de Mujeres Meretrices De Argentina,

Association Sex Work ASPASIE, Geneva,

Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, New York, United States

Bill Dobbs, gay civil libertarian, New York City, USA

Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Toronto, Canada

Comite de Apoyo a las Trabajadoras del Sexo (CATS), Spain

CREA, India

Dr. Jill McCracken, Associate Professor, University of South Florida, USA

Epicentro Centro Comunitario, Lima, Peru

Feministinen Aloite Feminist Initiative, Helsinki, Finland

Feminists For Solidarity, Stockholm, Sweden

HIV/AIDS Research & Welfare Centre (HARC), Dhaka, Bangladesh

Institute of Development Studies Mills, Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom

International Treatment Preparedness Coalition( ITPC LATCA), Guatemala

James Wandera Ouma LGBT Voice Tanzania, Dar es salaam, Tanzania

La Enredadera de Mujeres, Guatemala City, Guatemala

Maria Magdalena, St.Gallen, Switzerland

Network of Low HIV Prevalence Countries in Central and South East Europe, Belgrade, Serbia

Paul Berman, author, USA

Phoebe Dodd Vanderhorst, USA

PROKORE, Switzerland

Queer Theology Academy QTA, Central District, Hong Kong

Sex Industry Network (SIN), Australia,

Sexual Rights Initiative, Ottawa, Canada

SWOP, Tampa, USA

TAMPEP International Foundation TAMPEP, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Transgender Europe, Germany

Transvanilla Transgender Association, Budapest, Hungary