CSW58: Legalisation of ‘sex work’ a green light for sexual exploitation

New York, 18 March: At an NGO event at CSW58 called Sexual and commercial exploitation: When terminology and legalisation collide with human rights, a number of women as well as Taina Bien-Aimée, Executive Director of the Coalition Against the Trafficking of Women, spoke out against the growing global movement of legalising sex work. According to the panelists, many of whom are survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, the legalisation of prostitution only works to perpetuate the inherent violence and gender inequality in society. They contend that, under the guise of advancing choice and consent, legalisation normalises and legitimises conditions of inequality that induce transactional sex and coerce women, girls and other oppressed and marginalised people into commercial sexual exploitation. Much like the Swedish Sex Buyers Act, these women are advocating the Nordic model which aims to curb the demand for sex work by punishing the buyers of sex and not the sellers. The panel contended that sexual exploitation is a human rights violation as no one would choose to be sexually exploited or enter into transactional sex if they had equal rights, equal opportunities and a greater set of choices for self-determination. Click here to watch the video.

Rachel Moran, founder of Space International and who works with Coalition Against Trafficking in Women also used the platform to launch her memoir Paid for. Moran went on to explain the importance of language and how the often well-intentioned word “sex work” legitimises sexual exploitation. For Moran, the term is a misnomer, because prostitution is not a safe and entirely consensual occupation with fair working conditions. She said that sexual exploitation is seen as victimless and consensual when in fact people are subject to violence, unable to access their rights and often trapped in a cycle of abuse and oppression due to existing social inequalities. Most victims are underage girls, marginalised women and transgender people. Moran also laments the terms sex worker, prostitute and prostitution saying they are unacceptable and offensive. She says that “prostituted person” and “sexual exploitation” are far more accurate and just terms.

These vodcast is part of the GL News Service special coverage of CSW58, offering fresh views on everyday news.