RCN going to debate decriminalisation of prostitution

[FairNotFair]

www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/news/hard-hitting-issues-set-to-be-debated-at-rcn-congress

Members attending this year’s RCN Congress in Liverpool will vote on a number of important resolutions that will look to improve health and life chances for many vulnerable people.
The resolutions proposed include lobbying governments across the UK to decriminalise prostitution, end period poverty and invest resources to deal with rising child poverty...

Since when is it the job of the RCN to lobby government on political issues only indirectly related to nursing?

What the hell is wrong with everyone at the moment?

Oh FFS! I’m an RCN rep and don’t remember hearing a consultantion on this. Wonder why they have taken this stance?

I’m not a conference this year as I’m on Mat Leave

I am retired now thank goodness but I wish the RCN would focus on improving pay and conditions for nurses.

Well as a nurse and RCN member that has seen myself and my colleagues under represented by our so called union, I am not surprised that they have yet again under estimated public feeling.
I'm baffled at their thinking.

Link to the article emebdded in tweet by the proposer of the motion.
www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/news/2018/criminalisation-and-repressive-policing-sex-work-linked-increased-risk

(It was the basis for an article which was discussed at some length on a thread last year. I will try to find it)

Ffs! And by ‘decriminalisation’ they mean pimps and punters ‘rights’ don’t they? I thought prostitution was legal here but soliciting and running a brothel was illegal?

The no.1 occupation of prostitutes who have a career outside of sex work is nursing.

Many nurses turn to sex work to be able to stay in the profession and suplement their income.

The RCN is therefore right to be trying to lessen the risk to its nurses who are doing sex work. They have a duty to protect them.

This is the thread discussing the review. There was some quite thorough analysis:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3449144-Criminalisation-of-sex-work-normalises-violence-review-finds

Should the RCN not be pushing for adequate pay so that nurses don’t get pushed into sex work on the side?

Ffs! If we have nurses using food banks and prostituting themselves to survive, we have serious problems in this country and pimps and punter rights are not the answer.

Thanks R0wantrees

They have a duty to protect them

great, than they should be lobbying for the nordic model and getting their members better fucking paid SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO FUCK PEOPLE FOR MONEY

The RCN is therefore right to be trying to lessen the risk to its nurses who are doing sex work. They have a duty to protect them

Maybe the RCN could also lobby for the legalisation of the organ trade to allow their members to sell a kidney etc if they have a particularly difficult month and can't make the rent?

Strawman?

Okay lets put this out here. There are ethical brothels in London. Run by women for women. The one I know of, the two bedroom cottage is owned by three retired nurses. They act as the maids and will then have two women working from the two bedrooms. All women working there are nurses. There is a no drugs and no pimps policy. Women only get to work there if another woman can vouch for them. It is a co-operative run by women for women. They are very public about what they do and work with local police liaison officers.

The RCN is quite rightly arguing that these women should not be criminalised and face jail sentences.

I'm still not clear I'm afraid why the RCN should be putting it's efforts into changing the law around brothels?

surely a better use of their time and energy would be improving the lot of their members so that they can get on with being nurses and don't need to consider working in a brothel?

The RCN is quite rightly arguing that these women should not be criminalised and face jail sentences.

Its a proposal for debate.

"Run by women for women."

There are enough women paying for sex with women to make this viable?

I'm surprised.

surely a better use of their time and energy would be improving the lot of their members so that they can get on with being nurses and don't need to consider working in a brothel?

That's what I'm thinking

ah, but remember, the right of men to pay for access to women's bodies must take priority over everything!

Nurses are turning to prostitution to make ends meet? obviously the solution is to reduce the risk to punters of paying to have sex with women!

The oh so nice, brothel's being run for women by women are still totally and utterly missing the point.

lolar
I am absolutely appalled by that.
I must be very naive.

Women shouldn't be criminalised for selling sex, but neither should it be considered as ok.

Fucking hell just how low is nurses pay?

Three ex-nurses all work as maids for one single 2-bedroom cottage?

That place must be spotless.

I'm more concerned about how they find the time.

Nurses shifts are notoriously punishing. Long etc.
They get v tired.
Many have kids.

The idea that they are havign to pull double shifts as prostitutes is appalling and the RCN are totally cockeyed here.