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Misogynist influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate are facing charges and ongoing investigations pertaining to sexual misconduct and human trafficking, including trafficking of minors and rape.

Despite multiple and credible allegations of sexual violence, abuse and sex trafficking – backed up by Andrew Tate’s own words – streaming service Spotify is hosting Tate’s instructional courses for prospective pimps and traffickers. The courses advise men on how to recruit and sell women on pornographic websites, or as Tate calls it, “pimpin’ hoes”. Some courses require a paid subscription in order to access them, allowing the uploader to profit - as well as Spotify. 

We are calling on Spotify to remove Andrew Tate’s harmful courses on how to traffic women as a matter of urgency!

The background:

We were very grateful for the opportunity to interview writer and prostitution survivor Rose Hunter, whose memoir Body Shell Girl was released in 2022. Campaigns Manager Caitlin Roper sat down with Rose for a discussion on myths and misconceptions about the sex trade, the problems with 'sex work' terminology, Lily Phillips, women’s ‘choices’ and supposed empowerment, as well as why we support the Nordic or abolitionist approach to prostitution legislation rather than full decriminalisation (which decriminalises pimping, brothel keeping and sex buying).

We include some highlights from Rose below.

“The common thread is a culture that normalises the objectification of women while shielding the men who exploit it”

A YouTube documentary released last week records the experience of English OnlyFans model Lily Phillips in her quest to have sex with 100 men in a single day.

The documentary, produced by YouTuber Josh Pieters, follows Lily prior to the day as well as in the immediate aftermath of the sexual feat. Smiling weakly and blinking back tears, her eyes red and stinging from so many men ejaculating in them, the frail 23-year-old describes the ordeal as “intense” and leaves the room in tears.

In response to the viral clip extracted from the doco, many viewers dismissed the obvious damage to Lily on the basis that she chose to participate. She chose to be used by these men, they argue, so the harm done to her doesn’t count. The men who took turns using her body in rapid succession get a free pass. We do not believe it is that simple.

Reem Alsalem, United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences has delivered her report on prostitution, examining violence against women and girls “as a form, cause and consequence of prostitution”. We welcome her findings, which condemn prostitution as a form of male violence against women and her call for a human rights abolitionist approach to the sex trade. 

Ms Alsalem reviewed 300 submissions (including ours) from around 60 countries, including submissions and consultations from sex trade survivors before publishing her report. We were pleased to be cited in her final report.

In her concluding statements, she said:

I have complied with the obligations to consult widely and to listen. However, this Council has not asked me to listen only, and not listen to those that speak loudest but also to bring in my independent and impartial analysis from a human rights perspective.

We are grateful for the opportunity to provide input into the Special Rapporteur’s report on violence against women and prostitution.

Strip club owner linked to years of criminal activity, politicians

RCI Hospitality Holdings (RCIHH or Rick's) is a publicly listed strip club company (NASDAQ trade code: RICK) which trades explicitly on women’s bodies for men’s sexual entertainment. According to its website it owns 58 strip clubs (and 13 'Bombshells' restaurants) across 13 American states.

We were surprised to discover a Lutheran investment firm - Thrivent - was a long time shareholder in Rick's. We led a successful campaign calling on them to divest on account that strip club shares violated their responsible investment claims and commitments.

Collective Shout volunteer Victoria interviewed

Former OnlyFans recruiter turned Collective Shout volunteer Victoria was interviewed for the Daily Telegraph last week, where she revealed the abuse and degradation of women she witnessed which ultimately led to her quitting her job.

Mystery 'land owner' controls billboard contents

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Website: http://www.wabillboards.com.au/contact-us/

Guest post by Caroline Pugh-Roberts