Global letter from survivors and human rights advocates condemns Victoria Government decriminalisation of sex trade

We are pleased to have joined American feminist activist Gloria Steinem along with over 200 survivors of trafficking, prostitution and pornography, women’s and human rights advocates and front line service providers around the world as a signatory to a joint letter to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews condemning the Victorian Government’s decision to fully decriminalise the sex trade.

From Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Australia’s media release:

The letter expresses horror at the Government’s decision to implement the full decriminalisation of Victoria’s sex trade, stating decriminalisation will not succeed where legalisation has failed:

“Prostitution is in fact a system of complex exploitation for the profit of brothel owners and other exploiters enriched by sex buyers. Solving your failures of legalization with a worse form of it―decriminalization―will exponentially increase the stated harms and violations.”

The letter challenges the Government’s right: “to set apart and aside a class of women, primarily of colour and deemed unworthy of equality, for the sex trade.”

The letter calls on the Premier to: “address the harmful cultural practice of bestowing men a customary right to purchase sexual acts with human beings who would never, but for myriad forms of coercion and an absence of choice, engage in sexual acts with them.”

The letter urges the Victorian Government to stand with survivors – rather than sex industry profiteers – and consider the Nordic/Equality model: “a progressive law that solely decriminalizes people bought and sold in prostitution, provides them with services, including exit strategies, while holding sex buyers and other perpetrators accountable.”

You can read the letter here.

TAKE ACTION

The letter will remain open for signatures – add your name here.

Share your views on the Victorian Government’s online survey here (due by 5pm Friday 27 August).

See also: 

Collective Shout Submission into Victoria Review into Decriminalisation of Sex Work

Men’s paid sexual access to women given stamp of approval: Victorian Government decriminalises pimping and sex buying - Melinda Tankard Reist

“How could anyone think this is protecting human rights?”: Vic sex trade survivor speaks out on decriminalisation of pimps and sex buyers

Sex trade survivors excluded from Victorian Gov prostitution review speak out on abuse of process

Decriminalising sex work fails, it’s time for an alternative approach - Tegan Larin 

When the lobbyist makes the laws: Victoria and the sex industry - Juliette Hughes, Kathy Chambers