I shudder to think of the consequences if they bring in the Nordic Model here - it is a law making it illegal to pay for sexual services. Everything I've read and based on all my experience, that law is bad for women and it's bad for men.
If they brought it in here my type of erotic massage might become illegal: it will be OK for me to offer it but it MIGHT not be OK for you to pay for it. It's a bit unclear whether a sensual massage would fall into the wrong category.
But the law has far wider implications.
In the countries where it has been implemented they have also banned advertising sexual services. So would you be able to find my adverts?
If I can't advertise in a cost effective way it would put me out of business.
And when I say cost effective - I mean CHEAP. I only see a few clients a week so I don't have a huge advertising budget.
Pretty much these legal crackdowns on sex work put independent women like myself out of business. But criminal gangs who run a 24 hour business outside the law and already criminals -- Pimps, brothels, street soliciting -- these things are already illegal and will continue to exist.
REVIEW of the Law on Sex Work in Ireland
In Ireland where they brought in this ridiculous Nordic Model there is supposed to be a review of how it it going by the Department of Justice.
Minister for Justice, McEntee said:
it is “generally recognised that prostitution is inherently exploitative of vulnerable persons, mainly women and girls, and that many people are forced into prostitution through trafficking, drug addiction, homelessness and poverty”.
“A key purpose for the 2017 Sexual Offences Act was to provide additional protection to persons involved in prostitution, especially vulnerable persons and victims of human trafficking.
“It allows those engaged in prostitution to provide information to Gardaí, for instance if they were subjected to violence by clients, without fear of prosecution for selling sexual services.”
Fine words.
But look again at the last paragraph:
in the UK sex workers can and do call the police when threatened with violence. Sex work is legal here. Of course victims of violence or threats should NOT be prosecuted. It isn't difficult to do the right thing.
The second paragraph:
additional protection is a good thing, but is this the way to do it? The best thing would be to consult with groups of actual sex workers to come up with strategies for their protection.
And the first paragraph:
prostitution is inherently exploitative of vulnerable persons -- no! I don't agree. This is simply not true.
Also in that paragraph: many people are forced into prostitution through trafficking, drug addiction, homelessness and poverty.
There are ways to tackle these route causes - drug addiction and poverty, for example. Furthermore, poverty forces people into many jobs and situations that they don't want to be in. Sex work is a valid choice, it can be well paid with hours to suit. It's a way for many women to avoid poverty and do work that fits in with childcare.
I have included the Justice Minister's words because it should be clear that the people who have control of the laws about prostitution and control over the review of such laws have a biased view and little real understanding of sex work.
S*x Work isn't anything like it's portrayed in Hollywood movies. It isn't TAKEN.
Sex Workers In Ireland
Sex workers in Ireland are concerned about the review process and are calling for a new fresh review to begin because the current review has been conducted over many many years and without much engagements from actual sex workers.
If you keep abreast of the news from around the world you will see this is a common problem.
Do gooders* are out there campaigning to change laws to protect women and children from the downsides of sex work but without actually listening to the people who work as sex workers! You couldn't make it up.
*(((Do gooders? Or are they really religious evangelists with an anti-sex agenda????)))
As ever, I should say many MEN are also sex workers. In the UK they might make up about 25% of sex workers, it's difficult to be certain of the numbers.
No comments:
Post a Comment