WUNRN
This has been a highly divisive issue in the Women’s Movement. A massive global campaign, as organized by the Coalition on Trafficking in Women was created to try to prevent this Amnesty International policy. Please scroll down to the second part of this WUNRN release.
Amnesty International Approves Policy Supporting Decriminalization of Sex Trade
Published August 12, 2015 - Associated Press
LONDON
– Amnesty International approved a controversial policy Tuesday to
endorse the de-criminalization of the sex trade, rejecting complaints from some
women's rights groups who say it is tantamount to advocating the legalization
of pimping and brothel owning.
At
its decision-making forum in Dublin, the human rights watchdog approved the
resolution to recommend "full decriminalization of all aspects of
consensual sex work." It argues its research suggests decriminalization is
the best way to defend sex workers' human rights.
"We
recognize that this critical human rights issue is hugely complex and that is
why we have addressed this issue from the perspective of international human
rights standards," said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty
International. "We also consulted with our global movement to take on
board different views from around the world."
Amnesty's
decision is important because it will use its heft to lobby governments around
the world to accept its point of view.
Advance
word of the Amnesty policy sparked opposition from some women's groups who
argued that the human rights organization has made a serious mistake. The
groups, such as the U.S.-based Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, have
argued that while it agrees with Amnesty that those who are prostituted should
not be criminalized, full de-criminalization would make pimps
"businesspeople" who could sell the vulnerable with impunity.
"It
really is a slap in the face to survivors and to women's rights groups around
the world," said Taina Bien-Aime, the executive director of the coalition,
adding that disappointment does not adequately describe her feelings.
Contact: Taina Bien-Aimé
media@catwinternational.org
Coalition
Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) Statement on Amnesty International's
Resolution to Decriminalize Pimps, Brothel Owners and Buyers of Sex
New York, August 11, 2015 - Today, at the conclusion of its 32nd International Council
Meeting (ICM) and amidst much contention and debate, Amnesty International
voted for a resolution that urges governments worldwide to adopt laws and
policies that endorse the full decriminalization of the sex industry, including
pimps, brothel owners and buyers of sexual acts.
Amnesty's
Press Release announcing
their vote seems innocuous to the naked eye with language about gender
equality, women's rights, human rights standards and child sexual exploitation.
Don't be fooled. Amnesty's call on governments to decriminalize the sex
industry underlines a willful and callous rejection of women's rights and
equality. The human rights organization opted to side with the multi-billion
dollar international sex trade and to exclude prostituted individuals - who are
overwhelmingly women and girls from disenfranchised racial, ethnic and economic
groups - from the rights granted to all people in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.
Throughout
the deliberation and "research" process that
Amnesty claims led them to its resolution, they deliberately excluded the
voices and expertise of survivor-leaders and women's rights organizations
working to end violence and discrimination at the local, regional and
international levels. Additionally, Amnesty ignored growing evidence of the
catastrophic effects of the decriminalization of the sex industry, especially
that it leads to an increase in sex trafficking in legal brothels and gives
state-sanctioned license to purchase individuals for sexual acts that include
acts of torture, such as is the case in Germany. Instead, Amnesty has
maintained its resolve to widen the door for human rights abuses against
prostituted individuals on a global scale.
By
failing to uphold its own mission of protecting the rights of all human beings
to live a life free of violence and with dignity, guaranteed by the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, Amnesty has severely damaged its reputation,
credibility and legitimacy. Even worse, it has condemned the most marginalized
human beings to exploitation in the sex trade. For instance, currently an estimated 2-3 million women
and girls are exploited in India's sex industry. Should the Indian government
take Amnesty's advice to decriminalize brothel owners and pimps, there would be
an exponential growth of untold profits from commercial sexual exploitation and
a vast increase in the number of women and girls suffering in the sex trade.
We
hope that Amnesty will one day recognize that its decision to decriminalize the
sex industry is in gross violation of long established human rights principles
and international conventions, including the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). We will continue to urge
Amnesty International to advocate for governments to adopt laws that solely
decriminalize those engaged in selling sex and to hold accountable those who
profit from such exploitation.
In
the meantime, we join our colleagues around the world
who are calling upon the country sections that rejected the resolution and
Amnesty's membership to choose respect for human rights instead of the
"right" to pimp, exploit and purchase sexual acts.
Finally,
we send our most profound thanks to the over 600 prominent individuals and
organizations worldwide that signed our Open Letter and expressed a
unified voice on behalf of all women. Heartfelt thanks and solidarity go to the
survivors of the commercial
sex trade whose experiences continue to inform us about the inherent and
pervasive harms of the sex industry and guide us toward the best solutions to
uphold the human rights of the most vulnerable among us. We stand with you,
always.
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) is a non-governmental organization working to end human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of women and girls worldwide. CATW engages in advocacy, education, victim services and prevention programs for victims of trafficking and prostitution in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and North America. www.catwinternational.org