Prostitution: Prostitutes's Rights
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Prostitutes Education Network for the
most comprehensive information about
prostitution on the Web.
International Committee for Prostitutes' Rights:
World Charter For Prostitutes' Rights
Amsterdam 1985, Published in Pheterson, G (ed.), A Vindication of the Rights of Whores.
Seattle: Seal Press, 1989. (p.40)
Laws
Decriminalize all aspects of adult prostitution resulting from individual decision.
Decriminalize prostitution and regulate third parties according to
standard business codes. It must be noted that existing standard
business codes allow abuse of prostitutes. Therefore special clauses
must be included to prevent the abuse and stigmatization of prostitutes
(self-employed and others).
Enforce criminal laws against fraud, coercion, violence, child
sexual abuse, child labor, rape, racism everywhere and across national
boundaries, whether or not in the context of prostitution.
Eradicate laws that can be interpreted to deny freedom of
association, or freedom to travel, to prostitutes within and between
countries. Prostitutes have rights to a private life.
Human Rights
Guarantee prostitutes all human rights and civil liberties,
including the freedom of speech, travel, immigration, work, marriage,
and motherhood and the right to unemployment insurance, health
insurance and housing.
Grant asylum to anyone denied human rights on the basis of a "crime of status," be it prostitution or homosexuality.
Working Conditions
There should be no law which implies systematic zoning of
prostitution. Prostitutes should have the freedom to choose their place
of work and residence. It is essential that prostitutes can provide
their services under the conditions that are absolutely determined by
themselves and no one else.
There should be a committee to insure the protection of the
rights of the prostitutes and to whom prostitutes can address their
complaints. This committee must be comprised of prostitutes and other
professionals like lawyers and supporters.
There should be no law discriminating against prostitutes
associating and working collectively in order to acquire a high degree
of personal security.
Health
All women and men should be educated to periodical health
screening for sexually transmitted diseases. Since health checks have
historically been used to control and stigmatize prostitutes, and since
adult prostitutes are generally even more aware of sexual health than
others, mandatory checks for prostitutes are unacceptable unless they
are mandatory for all sexually active people.
Services
Employment, counseling, legal, and housing services for runaway
children should be funded in order to prevent child prostitution and to
promote child well-being and opportunity.
Prostitutes must have the same social benefits as all other
citizens according to the different regulations in different countries.
Shelters and services for working prostitutes and re-training
programs for prostitutes wishing to leave the life should be funded.
Taxes
No special taxes should be levied on prostitutes or prostitute businesses.
Prostitutes should pay regular taxes on the same basis as other
independent contractors and employees, and should receive the same
benefits.
Public Opinion
Support educational programs to change social attitudes which
stigmatize and discriminate against prostitutes and ex-prostitutes of
any race, gender or nationality.
Develop educational programs which help the public to understand
that the customer plays a crucial role in the prostitution phenomenon,
this role being generally ignored. The customer, like the prostitute,
should not, however, be criminalized or condemned on a moral basis.
We are in solidarity with workers in the sex industry.
Organization
Organizations of prostitutes and ex-prostitutes should be supported to further implementation of the above charter.