Prostitution ‘A Serious Violation of Human Rights’—UN Special Rapporteur — Global Issues
UNITED NATIONS, October 03 (IPS) – Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, calls prostitution a “system of violence” that does not benefit society at all, especially women and girls who are forced into this system.
Alsalem spoke at the Roosevelt Public Policy House in New York on Wednesday, October 2, to discuss his special report in which he stated that prostitution is a form of violence against women and girls. The report was presented to the public for the first time in June 2024, when it was presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva. More than 60 member countries endorsed the report and its findings, including but not limited to Ghana, South Africa, Egypt, Norway, Sweden, Colombia, France, Bangladesh, India, and Nigeria.
Alsalem received more than 300 submissions for the report from many stakeholders, including civil society organizations, academics, experts, policy makers, and, importantly, women from around the world with lived experience.
All over the world, the exploitation of women and girls through prostitution and sex trafficking is a widespread issue that threatens their safety and rights. Alsalem noted that many prostitution systems are built on patriarchal norms that put abuse of power in the hands of men, especially those who are ‘consumers’ or profiteers in the sex trade. Deep economic inequality and the complexity of humanitarian emergencies have displaced women and girls from systems that would have protected and empowered them.
Alsalem noted that efforts to normalize or recognize prostitution as a form of work, such as calling it “sex work,” do a great disservice by shedding light on what women have experienced, and fail to consider the serious human rights violations that can occur. they occur within the system, such as the physical and mental harm they experience under this umbrella of “work.”
Pornography should also be defined as a form of prostitution and violence against women in general, according to Alsalem. He mentioned that its increase has led to acts of violence and dangerous attitudes towards women and girls. Alsalem told IPS that online forums that host sexual content encourage and promote these acts and other forms of forced and non-consensual sexual acts.
Regardless of the stage, how it is written or how a person enters the trade, the system of prostitution is based on selling the body to do physical work and under that there will be no consent, Alsalem argues.
“Trying to pretend that there is consent in some way for prostitution, that women want to do this, actually means nothing in a situation like prostitution because the concept of consent is actually irrelevant when there are plans for exploitation and violence,” he said. “And when the term of consent is used while we are fully aware that any ideas of consent women may have—or at least some of them—are taken away through physical coercion, exploitation, and violence.”
When it comes to legal frameworks regarding prostitution, this also presents a conflict between countries in the legal text compared to their applicable law. The report shows that under certain circumstances, little is being done to dissuade “consumers” or “organizers” from engaging in prostitution.
Criminalizing prostitution is more likely to punish sex workers with prosecution and imprisonment, social stigma, and more abuse at the hands of law enforcement. In fact, under this approach, it is rare for ‘consumers’ to be punished or for third parties to be held accountable. Under the control approach, legalized prostitution secures government control through commercial institutions and federal or state laws, including tax laws that benefit them, often at the expense of prostitutes. Prohibiting prostitution allows all parties to operate without fear of prosecution; however, this has also led to an increase in demand, and does not prevent exploitative organizations from taking advantage of vulnerable women and girls and leading them into the sex trade.
The report speaks in favor of an elimination method, known as the “equality model” or the “Nordic model.” Under this model, third parties (‘facilitators’) and consumers are held liable for engaging in the purchase and promotion of sex, while prostitutes may face criminal prosecution. Instead, more money is being invested in outlets for prostitutes to ensure alternative employment, economic stability, housing, and support to address abuse and substance abuse where needed. In the report, Alsalem notes that the Nordic model maintains an international level of sexual exploitation and human trafficking by criminalizing third parties, and that it sees the majority of prostitutes as women and girls.
This approach can have its limitations, however, as another report by the London School of Economics (LSE) notes that the law on sex trafficking still varies in different countries that use this model, the safety of prostitutes is not guaranteed and they are still at risk. of the police. For migrant sex workers, their status prevents them from accessing social protection, and under immigration laws, prostitution can be grounds for deportation.
The problems with current legal models of prostitution reflect some of the institutional structures that maintain the status quo where prostitutes are exploited and left unprotected. At the same time, they also reflect a broader cultural issue about how prostitution, and more broadly, sex, is discussed and perceived.
“In addition to being a violation of human rights that requires legal solutions, what is clearly stated in the report is that we are facing a cultural problem,” said Taina Bien-Aimé, Executive Director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women. He added that other acts of violence against women such as abuse of women who are close to them, sexual violence and harassment are now considered forms of abuse.
“But for some reason, because money is exchanged through prostitution, it somehow appears without violence and discrimination against men, especially women and girls.”
In her report, Alsalem offers recommendations to governments on how to reform their laws and policies on prostitution to find a human rights-friendly approach that focuses on what women and girls are forced to participate in. Governments should also take steps to address the root causes of prostitution and the factors that leave women and girls at greater risk.
“The importance of this report is also in its recommendations, where the Special Rapporteur calls on authorities and member states around the world to find legal and policy solutions to these serious violations of human rights,” said Bien-Aimé.
When asked to elaborate on the steps that need to be taken by international actors such as the United Nations, Alsalem referred to the recommendation that UN organizations should also use a rights-based approach to prostitution. Alsalem commented that he has reached out to several UN bodies. In particular, he has “ongoing” discussions with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), with his recommendation that these organizations conduct research on the widespread effects of prostitution on survivors with a focus on health and well-being. work.
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as the Frontline Women’s Fund, and local civil society organizations play an important role in raising the issue. Alsalem told IPS that they need to meet to listen to survivors of trafficking, and discuss with all actors working on the issue.
“We see that in the decision-making areas including the government, parliaments, when this issue is discussed, the law is amended or the policy is reviewed, some have gained the right to enter these decision-making areas, which may be those who are going to make decisions. they fight for all aspects to be completely legal while those who advocate for the elimination model… cannot get the same access, and that includes survivors.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
