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2004-01-24
Decriminalization of Prostitution Will Help Prevent
Trafficking of Women and Illegal Brothels
The recent raids in San Francisco, netting an alleged sex worker trafficking ring highlights the need for decriminalization of prostitution. “As long as there is a demand for sex and it remains illegal, there will be a black market for these women. Law enforcement will never be able to arrest all the traffickers,” said Robyn Few Executive Director of Sex Workers Outreach Project-USA. “Our position is that shining a light on the sex industry will decrease the ability of criminals to profit from it. The last thing that a licensed brothel owner would want to do is hire illegal, underage or trafficked women and jeopardize their business.”
“Prohibition gives cover to traffickers. It allows them to use the laws against prostitution to intimidate, especially when it comes to children. Women and girls being held against their will are afraid to go to police because they will be treated as criminals,” said visiting scholar Dr. Rita Brock former Harvard fellow, theologian, author and educator.
Asian
Pacific Islander Wellness Center women’s program coordinator
Elizabeth
Sy also thinks providing sex workers equal protection under the law is
the way to protect women and girls from traffickers. “The
existing law
leads to isolation of women. This is especially true for those that
have language barriers. It prevents them from seeking police protection
for themselves or others that are in trouble. Decriminalizing
prostitution doesn’t mean decriminalizing trafficking. The
purpose of
halting trafficking is to protect the women who are the victims of it,
but until we decriminalize prostitution we will not achieve that
goal.”
Who: Robyn Few of Sex Workers Outreach Project-USA, visiting scholar and former Harvard fellow Dr. Rita Brock and API Wellness Center women’s program coordinator Elizabeth Sy.
What: Press conference to highlight the need for decriminalization of prostitution in order to prevent the abuses of sex slave trafficking.
Why: We are doing outreach to the neighborhood to educate them.
Where: In front of 2054 19th Avenue between Pacheco and
Quintara (the location of one of the recently busted brothels).
When: Monday January 26, 2004 12:00 PM