Amnesty International says laws against buying sex breach men's human rights

[DonkeySkin]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2545003/Amnesty-calls-legal-prostitution-Charity-says-laws-ban-people-buying-selling-sex-breach-human-rights.html

The organisation is planning to adopt a position that calls for the full decriminalisation of the sex industry, including johns and pimps.

It is tabling a paper for its UK branch to vote on that says it is a human right for 'consenting adults' to purchase sexual consent from another person (regardless of the desperate circumstances that person may be in, presumably). The paper also devotes time to that latest favourite cover-all for sex-industry advocates, 'the rights of the disabled', as a reason to allow the continuing expansion of the global sex industry with no oversight or concern from governments.

Apparently the human rights of the (overwhelmingly) women and girls who are coerced, trafficked and enslaved inside the sex industry to satisfy the demand from men for paid sex are of no concern.

Oh, sorry - Amnesty does remember to devote a whole two words to this, conceding that prostitution takes place in an 'imperfect context'. That would presumably be the context of a worldwide patriarchy that devalues female human beings, denies them education, safety and fairly paid work, and tells men they have the right to use their bodies for sex regardless of their actual desires. Not to mention, systemic racism, colonialism and exploitative capitalism.

Good to know Amnesty is prepared to stand up for the most vulnerable people on earth - male sex buyers.

It's a bit strange that you keep calling me beth. It feels like you are obsessed with a lost partner or friend.
Could you stop please?

Your rant was full of indications that you can't accept different opinions. You don't know my age or experience, yet you describe me as naive and "a kid", you call me an idiot. You have the righteous indignation of someone shouting blasphemy!
You are just the kind of person who should not be allowed to form policy; secularism is not always just about rejecting deity based religion. Your dogma should be rejected as such.

Where has this idea that sex is a fundamental human need come from? Nuns and monks and loads of people go their whole lives without sex, you don't die from a lack of it....it's like chocolate, lovely to have but not life threateningly necessary.

And you can't really buy sex. You can buy penetration, blow jobs etc but sex is intrinsically rewarding and if you have to pay someone to do it then it is no longer it's own reward, therefore, it is no longer sex.

I have cancelled my DD and written to tell them why

When the red do you have the draft consultation available to share?

Amnesty don't tend to work as you describe - at least not in my experience. It s very much members based so any policy is always debated before being accepted - they wouldn't leap to debating implementation before the policy has been voted on. I'm not even sure they can under their constitution.

My belief about this is that:

1. This is a badly worded draft for debate
2. It deliberately taking the most neutral and broad stance in order to provoke the debate, not in order to deliver this as the policy outcome
3. The goal is the protection of female sex workers from prosecution, exploitation and police harassment
4. Following member consultation the likely and expected outcome will be the adoption of support for something like the Swedish model
5. Amnesty have handled this badly and responded too slowly
6. Amnesty are a force for good in the world and a force for women's rights and should be given the benefit of the doubt and engaged in debate. I think they have entered into this naively assuming people will assume the best of them and they are probably now reeling at being taken at face value.

I do not believe that Amnesty are a misogynist organisation - apart from anything else they are a members run organisation and I don't believe that the balance of Amnesty Members are misogynist.

This is actually the current member voted stance on prostitution - this is the motion that was carried in 2010:

"In light of the Integrated Strategic Plan’s (2010-2016) long term perspectives, in particular, the
need to integrate gender and women’s rights, international justice and the exploitation of
children throughout the perspectives, AIUK believes the time is now right to ask the International
Secretariat to undertake a review on the issue of prostitution and human rights"

And this as the follow up in 2012 (Yep, they are slow but that's because of all the consultation, and because the bulk of their activity is the actual campaigning for human rights not developing policy)

PREAMBLE
There are significant human rights issues relating to prostitution and state responses to prostitution.
In 2011, when considering the potential migration strategy looking at migration and labour exploitation,
AIUK recommended a review of policy in the area of trafficking for sexual exploitation and prostitution.
According to the most recent update from the ICM, the International Secretariat will be recruiting an adviser
to research and analyse the human rights laws, standards, and practice pertaining to criminalization in a
wide range of areas including prostitution.
RESOLUTION
This AGM decides that:

• the particular and inextricable relationship between prostitution and trafficking for sexual

exploitation has not been highlighted sufficiently.

• this should be stressed and prioritised in reviewing policy both in the potential migration strategy

and in the criminalisation review.

The resolution was carried overwhelmingly

Did you read the minutes I posted a link to, TAIT? Amnesty UK are certainly under the impression that AI as a global body is "strongly advocating" the adoption of a pro-decriminalisation policy (not deliberately taking a neutral stance). And AI have already specifically lobbied against the adoption of the Swedish model in Northern Ireland (see SuperLoudPoppingAction's link upthread) so I'm not sure how you reach the conclusion that support for that model is their likely or expected outcome.

This is the stance on their facebook page:

A proposal regarding a policy of decriminalisation of sex work has been presented by our international secretariat (our research HQ) in London.

It is important to emphasise that this is a proposal and not Amnesty International's position today. It is a complex and highly controversial issue. For example, the women's movement, internationally, is divided on the issue of prostitution and countries have different models and different laws. Partly for this reason, the consultations will take place throughout the international Amnesty movement.

Just to be clear, we will continue to call for the prosecution of human traffickers, including trafficking for sex work, the prosecution of adults involved in child prostitution or any form of child abuse, and prosecution for anyone who commits a crime against a sex worker, including rape or any other form of violence. The consultation doesn't change our position on these human rights violations.

Here in the UK we will start that consultation shortly and we will add your comments here to that process.
If you're a member, you can also take part in more detail by emailing [email protected]

As an Amnesty member for 20 years I will take part in the debate to shape the policy. Amnesty do a huge amount of good for women's human rights and I do not believe they will adopt a policy that puts the rights of men above the rights of women. It just isn't what the organisation believes or is about.

If they do adopt this, THEN I will end 20 years of support but I won't leave based on a consultation paper.

It's a sub committee, the very earliest of early days in consultation. They put it out there and members shout it down. Members shout a lot of stuff down in Amnesty!

When I read the wording of the minutes and the proposed question to put to the AGM it is:

• Main question: Do you support Amnesty International adopting a policy to support the decriminalization of Sex Work?

They do state the need for consultation with the women's network and the swedish amnesty organisation among others and they will have a special debating session at the AGM.

I am worried by the statement that 'Decriminalization of both demand and supply side are part and parcel of achieving whole objective'. What is not clear is whether this is coming from the point of view that punting is currently legal in most countries and it is the supply that should be decriminalised or if they have some perspective that punting should be legal as a human right rather than as a way of meeting the broader objective of supporting women in sex work.

I don;t know honestly but I am giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Thank you Buffy, very reasonablefeminist!

If I can drag the toddler up I will go to the AGM too. DP is already going so he will have a very clear brief if I can't make it!

I havent got any spare cash to join so it's not really an issue for m. But if people actively join up while this is in the media, won't it be easily read by their stats that people support this campaign? Seems much better to have people leave and then join after they drop it?

They aren't that daft PJLYBA but I see your point about joining - I was more imploring the people who are planning to leave before it is even debated to take part in the debate and get it kicked out.

I can't stress enough that Amnesty is governed by members and members votes - so if feminists want Amnesty to continue to be a strong voice for women's rights it is in our power to make it happen.

Seriously the organisation ties themselves in knots trying to do the right thing.

I was responding to Buffy telling people to join up, I can understand why you wouldn't leave yet though.

To me it's a bit like boycotting ASDA by buying a load of stuff.

*joining right now would be

Looking at dates I should be able to make the Agm too and if we can get childcare dh will come as well.

I reckon it'll be a pretty interesting meeting!!

I don't want to join Amnesty International to oppose this, I would prefer to join a human rights organisation that already treats women as human. Pity there probably isn't one (or is there?)

I would like to write to them though and say this is why I won't be joining them

Did anyone ask MNHQ about getting them on, as suggested? I would definitely like to see that web chat.

I am so saddened by this. It's like finding Operation Yewtree knocking on John Noakes' door or something. (legal disclaimer - not that I am suggesting this will ever happen)

Amnesty are lying when they say they are at the earliest stage of discussions around this. Otherwise why are they actively lobbying against the Nordic Model in Belfast? I actually contacted Amnesty to ask if this was true, and I have had no reply. If it was untrue, I am sure they would have quickly responded saying it was an untrue rumour.

I am a member and plan to go to the AGM. But I don't believe what they say when it comes to this issue.

stoppornculture.org/2014/01/29/lets-bust-amnesty-internationals-plan-to-legalize-human-rights-violations/

I agree Dusk. I have always heard Amnesty in very high regard, before this.

"rite to Amnesty International
Letter Template

Feel free to use the following letter template to send to Amnesty International and ask them to end their pro-prostitution lobbying efforts in Northern Ireland.

” To Amnesty International’s Secretary General, International Board and Secretariat:

I am shocked to learn that Amnesty International is calling for the decriminalization of prostitution “in order to protect human rights.” This is an absolute outrage because prostitution is a severe violation of the human rights AI claims to protect. The decriminalization of prostitution will not eradicate but instead normalize the violence, abuse, and health and safety risks most women in the sex industry face day in, day out. Most would exit the sex industry if they could.

You state that your “vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.” Please meet the standards you have set for yourself. Stand up against the sex industry, not for it.

In Urgency,

[ ... ] ”
Please send your letters to:

1. AI Secretary General

Salil Shetty, [email protected]

1. AI Board Members

Bernard Sintobin, Guadalupe Rivas, Julio Torales, Mwikali Nzioka Muthiani, Nicole Bieske, Paul Divakar Nimala, Rune Arctander, Sandra Lutchman, Sarah Beamish, Vincent Adzahlie-Mensah, [email protected]

1. AI International Secretariat

(According to AI, the Secretariat is responsible for the organization’s research and campaigns), [email protected] Tel: +44-20-74135500

Fax: +44-20-79561157

Twitter: @Amnestyonline

Address:1 Easton Street, London, WC1X 0DW, UK

Tel (US member services): (212) 633- 4254,

Fax: (212) 627-1451.

1. AI “Contact Us” Page

www.amnesty.org.uk/contact#.UujLkfswdxC

1. General AI Email Address

[email protected]"

stoppornculture.org/action-alerts/write-to-amnesty-international/

I love that quote from the minutes of the meeting: 'Note: AI does not take position on morality'.

Ok, so no point arguing that torture is morally wrong then. The whole organisation may as well pack up and go home, in that case .

Ffs! Human rights are based on a sense of morality, surely? What else does it mean to take an ethical stance on something?

It's totally contradictory to advocate helping all children who are the victims of sexual exploitation, and then to have a policy which presumes consent amongst the sexually exploited adults most of those children become. Oh, so you're 16? Well, here's our policy supporting the poor disadvantaged people who've been raping you for money all these years.

Come on Amnesty, get a grip and quickly! You'll have us all supporting the gagging law as a knee-jerk reaction if you carry on like this.