As we have repeteadly argued, regulating autonomous sex work and repealing any laws that indirectly encourage harassment and violence against us is the suitable way to respect and guarantee the human rights of those who voluntarily choose to engage in sex work.
The recent Amnesty International (AI) resolution to support decriminalizing sex work has a clear purpose: to protect the rights of those voluntarily engaged in this work.
The starting point for adopting this policy is «preventing and redressing human rights violations against sex workers». To this end, AI highlights «the need for states to not only review and repeal laws that make sex workers vulnerable to human rights violations, but also refrain from enacting such laws».
We know that criminalizing sex work only leads to more marginalization and discrimination. Working in clandestine conditions leaves us in a more vulnerable position and at the mercy of mafias that profit from exploiting us. This is why the AI resolution reminds states of their obligation to guarantee protection for sex workers against exploitation.
As we have repeteadly argued, regulating autonomous sex work and repealing any laws that indirectly encourage harassment and violence against us is the suitable way to respect and guarantee the human rights of those who voluntarily choose to engage in sex work.
In this sense, AI akcnowledges and respects our active involvement in defining «the most appropriate solutions to ensure our own welfare and safety».
AI’s statement is the result of evidence gathered over the years — Argentina was one of the countries in which research was conducted — on the impact of prohibitionist laws and approaches on the human rights of those engaging in sex work.
Unlike what some media outlets insist on maintaining, this resolution does not protect exploiters. To claim that it benefits pimps or traffickers might be a product of disinformation but it is also aimed at keeping sex work clandestine to benefit exploitative mafias.
In RedTraSex we will continue working for the regulation of sex work as a way to guarantee and respect sex workers’ human rights and to combat trafficking of persons for sexual exploitation.
We are not the problem, but part of the solution!
Elena Reynaga
Executive Secretary
