On July 5, the President of Argentina announced by decree the prohibition of sexual classified ads published in the media under the pretext of combating human trafficking cases that might be behind them.
This action surprised AMMAR Union, which considered that the measure criminalizes sex work, and many fellows, adults with age of majority and working autonomously, are seriously affected. AMMAR, who constantly expresses its repudiation about trafficking persons for sexual exploitation and sexual exploitation of children, believes that only through sex work regulation can be started a fight against the mafias installed in our country. AMMAR fellows wonder how this measure would combat the scourge that afflicts the entire country: «You cannot cover the sun with your hand,» said Susana Martinez, representative of La Plata subsidiary, «many fellows who work indoors, in apartments or privates, publish classified ads to get clients. Forbidding is not the way to discover if there is or there is not trafficking. It directly affects the worker women instead».
The surprise after the decree announcement was even more striking because AMMAR has been constantly involved in different debates on this subject in each province where it has representation. Fellows of different subsidiaries participated in every meeting they were invited to give their point of view.
«We felt we were not heard, that they forgot us who are just who can speak knowingly,» said Mariana Contreras, General Secretary of the Santiago del Estero subsidiary who, along with Aldana Diaz (La Plata) and Claudia Carranza (Paraná), responded the calls from print media and radio to consult the organization on the subject. «We did not stay in a passive role but we have made proposals, alternative actions that can help against trafficking, such as the development of a protocol that controls the publication, helping to detect cases of trafficking and to ensure that those who do it are self-employed, adults with age of majority and who choose sex work as a way of life,» Claudia Carranza said. Contreras added that «more than a year ago AMMAR launched the campaign «Trafficking is not equal to sex work» because we believe it is essential to differentiate a crime such as kidnapping and slavery from self-employment».