neighbouring countries to avoid the law. According to the Rose Alliance, a sex worker led organisation in Sweden, there is no evidence at all that the indoor sex markets are slowing down and, if anything, more people are entering the industry. In addition, reports from sex workers and those working front line with sex workers confirms that, as expected, a drop in custom has resulted in lower prices charged, less choice in clients and clients pressing for quicker, more risky transactions all of which increases the levels of risk and danger. In addition, though the expected dip in the numbers of visible street sex workers occurred initially, according to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, by 2007“ about two thirds of street prostitution [ was ] back.”
' In Sweden, where the purchase of sex is criminalised, there is no evidence that indoor sex markets are slowing down, and if anything, more people are entering the industry '
When Rhoda Grant and Lord Morrow were asked at the APPG meeting in Parliament to explain the basis on which they believed that the Swedish model had been a success and who they had consulted they were short of answers. Lord Morrow did say that he“ spoke to the police in Sweden” which perhaps highlights how narrow their consultation actually was. Despite their claims that they are trying to protect sex workers it was clear that they hadn’ t significantly consulted sex workers or people who provide frontline support for them on a daily basis and thus have a narrow and superficial understanding of sex work at best. If they had consulted with the appropriate organisations and individuals they would know that these measures will further stigmatise and marginalise sex workers and, as we saw in Sweden, create higher levels of risk and danger.
The rights of sex workers
Sex workers have a rich history of advocating for their human rights throughout the world and this was illustrated by the sex workers presence at the meeting in Parliament who sent a clear message that these proposals infantilise sex workers and their clients by seeking to remove their autonomy over their own body as well as their sole livelihood and means to support their families. For many reasons – such as being a single parent, or the fact that elements of their work is already criminalised and many have criminal records as a result – feasible alternative employment is not always available to sex workers so these proposals, whatever their intentions, would plunge them into poverty.
When Rhoda Grant was asked about her justification for the collateral damage her legislative changes would cause, she seemed to suggest that damage to individual sex workers was a price worth paying for the settlement to be established.
' A recent survey found that 73 % think that prostitution should remain legal '
Despite the best attempts of the proponents of criminalisation to stir up a heated debate on this issue and use developments in Scotland and Northern Ireland to put pressure on the Government, the CARE-funded APPG has no formal legislative influence and are likely to be seen by Parliamentary colleagues as representing an extreme viewpoint, underpinned by dogma, out of touch with the public and making an attempt to impose moral judgement through legislation.
A recent survey published in the Independent of over 1,200 people found that 73 % think that prostitution should remain legal and only 25 % thought that being a sex worker is morally wrong. As long as the majority of the experts in field and the general public are united in opposing the
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