Last night, Amnesty International released a highly anticipated policy paper, calling on governments around the world to “decriminalize consensual sex work,” and for governments to include sex workers themselves in the development of laws that impact their lives and safety.
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But almost every word in the phrase “decriminalize consensual sex work” is pretty loaded.
First of all, what does “decriminalize” mean in this context? According to Amnesty International, it means, “The removal of laws and policies criminalizing or penalizing sex work,” including “laws and regulations related to selling and buying or organizing sex work, such as solicitation, renting premises, “brothel keeping” and living off the proceeds of “prostitution.” Amnesty states clearly that decriminalization “does not mean “the removal of laws that criminalize exploitation, human trafficking or violence against sex workers. These laws must remain and can and should be strengthened.” In fact, the organization believes decriminalization will help strengthen anti-trafficking laws, because criminalization of sex work can “hinder the fight against trafficking-for example, victims may be reluctant to come forward if they fear the police will take action against them for selling sex … Several anti-trafficking organizations including Freedom Network USA, the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women and La Strada International believe that decriminalization of sex work would have a positive role to play in the fight against trafficking.”