English Collective of Prostitutes

& International Prostitutes Collective

Press Release . . . Press Release . . . Press Release . . . Press Release

Speakers include: 

• Catherine Healy, New Zealand Prostitutes Collective

• Abhijit Dasgupta, former co-ordinator of anti-trafficking programme Action Aid, International

• Terri Dowty, Action on Rights of Children

• Pauline Campbell, mother of Sarah Campbell who died in Styal prison

• Nushra Mapstone, British Association of Social Workers

• Rachel West, USPROStitutes Collective

• Rev Paul Nicolson, Zacchaeus 2000

• Cari Mitchell, English Collective of Prostitutes

Women working in various areas of the sex industry, spokeswomen from the ECP and other speakers are available for interview.

Most people believe sex workers should not be criminalised and do not consider paying for sex an offence.  Poverty and debt, major factors in driving women into prostitution, are crucial issues for millions of us.  Yet cuts to our survival benefits and services as well as unequal pay continue side by side with billions in unrestrained military spending. 

Sex workers from around the UK and internationally are coming together with people from the church, lawyers, doctors and other health workers, prison reform and anti-poverty campaigners, resident associations, rejecting the division between those of us labelled “bad” and those labelled “respectable” to discuss a response to the government’s consultation paper and address issues such as:

·        Glaring injustices such as the labeling of women accused of loitering and soliciting as "common prostitutes" (that is guilty before proven innocent) and the law which criminalizes children and young people for prostitution - a measure vehemently opposed by children's charities, the Magistrates Association and many others. 

·        The impact of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and of higher prison sentences for women working from premises

·        The horrendous levels of violence that sex workers face?  Anti-trafficking legislation protection or sexed-up immigration controls. (Women from Soho, where anti-trafficking measures have been in operation, are available for interview.)

·        Drawing on the experience of working women in Sweden, does targetting men (“the demand”) put women more at risk? 

·        How has decriminalisation worked in New Zealand?

·        What services and resources do prostitute women, children and young people need and what would help us get out of prostitution when we want to.

Contact: English Collective of Prostitutes

Crossroads Women’s Centre

Tel: 020 7482 2496 minicom/voice  Fax: 020 7209 4761
E-mail: ecp@crossroadswomen.net Web: www.prostitutescollective.net