CARE for Scotland is urging the Scottish government to push ahead with legislation that would target the demand side. It accused the Scottish government of “dragging its heels on the issue” and said it should follow the positive example of other countries like Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Canada that have already introduced similar laws penalising sex buyers. The Scottish government should take note of the “positive impact” of sex buyers’ laws in other countries where criminalising the purchase of sex while also mandating support for women who want to leave prostitution behind “ensures a deterrent to exploitation and help for the exploited”. said Michael Veitch of CARE [Christian Action Research and Education] “Claims by some that prostitution causes no harm to women have also been found to be an illusion. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe has been clear in this regard. To challenge trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, we should make it a criminal offence to purchase sexual services and ensure that programmes are in place to support women to exit prostitution.
Sexual Exploitation
UN Bureaucrats Pick Fight with EU Parliament on Prostitution (USA)
A new UN report counters that “any forms of criminalization of prostitution, including criminalization of clients and ‘third parties’ related activities” ultimately harms prostitutes. Besides standing in opposition to the European Parliament, the UN report is out of step with the UN General Assembly’s own recommendations to fight trafficking, according to Marcel van der Watt, Director of the Research Institute at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. He said a 2022 resolution of the global body called on governments to clamp down on sex buying. The UN human rights report omits or ignores a “vast” body of research that proves this definitively, according to the South African researcher. He also found it odd that the UN report did not mention policies to help women escape prostitution or address the links between the pornography industry, prostitution, and sex trafficking in women and children. The EU Parliament draws connections between prostitution, trafficking, pornography, and violence against women. While it criticizes criminal penalties for prostitutes themselves, it casts legalized prostitution in a negative light citing Europol reports that show a tenfold increase in trafficking where prostitution is legal.
Proposed Legislation to Decriminalise Prostitution is Withdrawn (Press Release)
Doctors for Life International (DFL) is pleased to announce the withdrawal of the proposed Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Draft Amendment Bill, which aimed to decriminalise prostitution. DFL’s diligent efforts and well-received written submissions have played a significant role in this decision by the Deputy Minister of Justice.
DFL’s comprehensive and well-reasoned submissions presented a compelling argument against the decriminalisation of prostitution. It included testimonies from individuals with experience in the industry, both as ex prostitutes and pimps, providing valuable insights into the realities and exploitation within the trade.
Furthermore, DFL incorporated expert evidence from esteemed medical professionals and academics across various disciplines. Their contributions provided a thorough analysis and presented the latest research findings on the inherent harm associated with the prostitution industry. By highlighting the physical, emotional, and psychological consequences experienced by prostitutes and clients, DFL effectively emphasised the importance of maintaining legislation that criminalises prostitution to prevent exploitation and protect individuals.
DFL’s submissions also underscored the broader societal impact of decriminalising prostitution. By referencing comprehensive studies, the organisation highlighted the adverse outcomes that persist regardless of whether prostitution is decriminalised, criminalised, or legalised. Including increased human trafficking, the spread of sexually transmitted infections, and the erosion of social norms. These considerations highlighted the necessity of protecting society as a whole from the effects of such legislation.
This victory demonstrates DFL’s continued commitment to help individuals exit the sex trade and uphold the principles of human dignity. By successfully advocating against the proposed amendment bill, and running an exit program, DFL ensures the continued protection of vulnerable individuals and safeguards society from adverse consequences associated with the decriminalisation of prostitution.
The Netherlands is backtracking on its prostitution legalisation (Press Release)
Sex work in the Netherlands got out of control. After more than 20 years of experiencing legal prostitution, it is now obvious that the rules and regulations, and even restrictions, do not work. Despite the legislation in place which is attempting to create a safe environment for sex work, there is a great lack of safety, protection and regulation in the Red-Light District, admitted by Femke Halsema, the mayor of Amsterdam.
Crime is escalating, clients are becoming increasingly disrespectful towards prostitutes and residents are complaining about the swelling nuisance caused by drug addicts. It is proven that prostitutes are one of the most vulnerable populations in the Netherlands. 71% has been physically assaulted and 63% has been raped while working as prostitutes. Most struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). The Netherlands has been listed as one of the top destinations for human trafficking victims.
Since the start of the Red-Light District, gradual restrictions have been put in place. The previous mayor, Job Cohen, planned to close half of the city’s 400 prostitution windows because of the criminal activity going on there.
As a proposed solution, Amsterdam now wants to move prostitutes from the Red-Light District, creating an erotic centre at another place in Amsterdam. However, the suggested locations are in neighbourhoods with families, schools and parks. Parents are concerned about their children’s safety would a sex centre be launched in their vicinity. The European Medical Agency’s head office is located in Amsterdam, due to the proposed safety of the city. They are concerned that putting up an erotic centre will endanger their employees, as they have to work late night shifts and have accommodations in hotels in the area. The Dutch government has guaranteed that the neighbourhood will be kept safe, and no unrest will occur. However, being incapable to control the Red-Light District as it is, they will not be able to control an erotic centre.
The city’s mayor confesses, “Unacceptable situations have arisen, and the council is ready to consider far-reaching solutions.” She has already put even stricter regulations in place concerning the district, including earlier closing times and a cannabis smoking ban. Moving prostitutes to a sex work centre will not remove the crime related to prostitution, it will just relocate the crime scene causing nuisance to a different neighbourhood. It will also cause many prostitutes to go underground, because they do not want to register.
Doctors For Life believes that the solution to the various problems related to prostitution is not to move the prostitution to an erotic centre, but to criminalise prostitution completely. Prostitution is a basis for criminal exploitation and a state should not participate in it, but rather warn and protect its society against it. The continuous restrictions put in place in the Netherlands are proof of the failure of decriminalising prostitution and should serve as a warning to the South African government as it seeks to legalise prostitution and the use of cannabis
More underage schoolgirls join prostitution (South Africa)
A growing number of school pupils are engaging in prostitution. This is the view of delegates at a recent prostitution symposium that was organised by the KwaZulu-Natal legislature in Durban. There is a new trend where school learners who are underage work as prostitutes on weekends and go back to school on Monday. KwaZulu-Natal is estimated to have more than 30 000 sex workers with Durban accounting for the highest number of prostitutes. The Commission for Gender Equality also weighed in, saying the Chapter 9 institution backs calls to repel all laws against prostitution. The proposals deliberated will be tabled to the provincial legislature for MPLs to discuss before KwaZulu-Natal engages other provinces about the matter.
State failing to shield women prostitution (South Africa)
If the government is not implementing the wishes of the people, and it most certainly is not, whose agenda is it imposing on South Africans? Clearly, that of the politically correct international community, or the New World Order! Our government pays lip service to democracy and the will of the people. But survey after survey has shown that the majority reject abortion, pornography and support the death penalty. Human dignity is also devalued by the legalisation of pornography. Prostitution is not about glamour and freedom of career choice. It is about deception, enslavement, brutality and suffering. Prostitutes are ruthlessly exploited by pimps who enrich themselves from their earnings. In addition, young girls are being drawn into prostitution. The average age of children entering prostitution is 12! Most runaways are drawn into prostitution within 48 hours of arriving in Hillbrow. Prostitution, even legalised prostitution, is in conflict with a number of sections of SA’s constitution. Section 13 says: “No one may be subjected to slavery, servitude or forced labour.” Section 12 talks among others, the freedom from being treated in a degrading way, freedom from all forms of violence and torture, and that women have the right to control over their own bodies. But all these rights are violated! Unfortunately, just like in the case of gender-based violence, our women do not speak with one voice, or sing from the same hymn book!
Technology Helps Traffickers (South Africa)
Although we agree that technology helps traffickers find victims, we do believe that many recruitments in Africa are still being done in person. Africa does not have the same access to technology as the rest of the world and as such traffickers often do not reach rural areas via technology. They find their victims by either visiting the areas, using people in the area to recruit or find victims, or family members selling/using/renting/exploiting their own kin.
OnlyFans, giving more visibility to a certain type of Prostitution (South Africa)
The platform is full of people of all persuasions trying to make a buck in adult entertainment by satisfying watchers’ needs, ranging from those who have foot fetishes to those who are willing to pay women to wear the outfit they choose for them for the day. The line is very grey as to whether OnlyFans constitutes prostitution which in South Africa is still illegal, despite moves by NGOs such as Sonke Gender Justice and Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (Sweat) to change that with slogans such as ‘sex work is work’. Phelelani Dladla, a candidate attorney from Ryan D Lewis Inc Attorneys, says, according to the Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957 as well as the Criminal Law (sexual offences and related matters) Amendment Act 2007, prostitution and related activities are prohibited by law. Dladla adds that Section 20 of the Sexual Offences Act states that any person who lives wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution shall be guilty of an offence. He cited the case of Jordan v the State in 2002 (6), where it was argued that the state should not control or tell citizens what to do with their bodies, whether public or private. The adult content initially received mainstream attention after prostitutes began using the site during the Covid-19 hard lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, when they could not earn cash the usual way.
Exposure to job-related violence among young female prostitutes (Nigeria)
In Nigeria, many young girls are engaged in commercial prostitution as a means of livelihood and support of dependent relatives. Although studies have documented some of the violence related issues among commercial prostitutes, the plight of adolescent and young prostitutes particularly in urban slums may be different in context and depth. This study explored the experiences of violence and health related harm among vulnerable young female prostitutes in urban slums in Ibadan and Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. It also analysed their coping strategies and survival mechanisms. Young female prostitutes aged 15–24 years who reported having experienced violence were recruited for the study. Twelve participants completed the interviews out of the 20 initially contacted. The study was conducted in brothels of two selected slum areas in Ibadan and Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. The results showed that the major motivation for engaging in commercial sex work was for economic reasons. However, there are inherent risks involved particularly for the vulnerable young people. Stigmatization from the community, clients’ uncontrolled-aggressive behaviour and harassment from law enforcement agents are some of the frequent violence experiences reported. Self-help coping strategies are usually employed to prevent or mitigate the challenges. The plight of these young people requires policy and program attention towards alternative economic empowerment to rehabilitate those willing to leave the profession. Also the need to develop arm reduction interventions towards protection of young prostitutes against violence.
About 90 people go missing (South Africa)
Missing Children South Africa said, it roughly records between 60 to 90 missing people cases per month. The daughter of the former Economic Freedom Fighters secretary-general has also been reported missing. It is understood that she was last seen at a retail store with her daughter. Her 3 year old child was found the same day stranded on the street. Reporting missing cases as soon as possible is essential as the first 24 to 48 hours are crucial particularly when a child goes missing. Human trafficking has escalated in South Africa and it is now being declared as a human trafficking hub by the US department of state”.