Amnesty International Says Prostitution is Not A Crime But A Fundamental Human Right

Amnesty International has stated categorically that every adult has 100% ownership and right to her body and what she does with it, They are pushing for prostitution to be legalised around the world, with the condition that it should be criminalised when it involves “human trafficking for sexual exploitation” and children.

Marie Claire reports that the group have made their proposal which calls for the ‘decriminalisation of sex work’ and intends to ask its delegates  to vote for it. But an open letter, signed by more than 400 activists, human rights advocates and celebrities which include stars like Anne Hathaway, Lena Durnam, Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep, questions the issue of consent.

“By definition, sex work means that sex workers who are engaging in commercial sex have consented to do so,” the policy reads. The open letter refuses to agree with this statement, because they believe it would “legalize pimping, brothel owning and sex buying”, that it won’t protect prostitutes and would create “gender apartheid” favouring only sex workers who may choose to leave to leave the industry and hurt women who have no choice.

There is no official vote yet, but tomorrow, August 1, will decide how the voting will go. Meanwhile, the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women International (CATW) has launched a Change.org page, asking delegates to vote ‘NO’ to the decriminalisation of sex work. They have gathered over 4,500 signatures.