| | July 19th, 2013 people are gathering in over 35 cities across the globe protesting against violence against sex workers. By reading this title, I can identify one thing: the person who wrote this or people against “this” are in pro sex workers but against violence against them? Now, after reading the whole article it seems clear that people support sex workers, here’s a piece: “Following the murders of Dora Özer and Petite Jasmine on the 9th and 11 of July 2013, sex workers, their friends, families, and allies are coming together to demand an end to stigma, criminalisation, violence and murders. In the week since the two tragedies occurred, the feelings of anger, grief, sadness and injustice – for the loss of Dora and Jasmine, but also for the senseless and systemic murders and violence against sex workers worldwide – have brought together people in 35 cities from four continents who agreed to organise demos, vigils, and protests in front of Turkish and Swedish embassies or other symbolic places.” |
The author also mentions, “As the sex trade becomes an ever more important part of how neoliberal economies handle the poorest and most marginalized, violence against sex workers – particularly against transgender and immigrant women – has become a tragic epidemic. Please join us this Friday, where we will be rallying in solidarity with sex workers all over the world to commemorate two women, Dora Özer and Petite Jasmine, who brutally lost their lives last week in Turkey and Sweden.” Now, what seems interesting to me is that people will meet at the Turkish Consulate to rally in solidarity with sex workers all over the world to commemorate two women. One of the things that bothers me the most, is that everyone knows where this places are located at, everyone knows at least someone that goes with sex workers, but it is only when someone dies in tragedy to cause an impact to people? Do people really need to die in order for the community to care? Or what are we doing wrong?
I remember reading once that most protest are made poorly wrong and people don’t convey what they want. For example: “International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.” Doesn’t really make you think that a sex worker is okay as long as you treat her with respect? So, this means that being a sex worker should be considered a profession? Wouldn’t it be better to word it as “International Day to End Sex Workers as means to make a Living.” Or something like that? Thoughts?
via Chicago Decriminalize Now!:
These cases demonstrate that the criminalization of sex work is a global problem that is literally killing our communities. It takes global solidarity to combat this kind of systemic, widely accepted form of legitimized, state-sanctioned violence.
Why the Swedish Consulate?
Many people interested in sex workers’ rights have heard of the so-called “Swedish model” — a strategy aimed at decriminalizing some aspects of selling sex, while increasing the criminalization of buying sex. The goal of such laws is to eradicate sex work by “ending demand.” While Turkey has an extremely high death rate for sex workers and transgender women, it is also important to challenge the growing number of people who want to follow the Swedish example of pushing ill-informed policies that give stricter punishment for the purchasing of sex. This false alternative is just another form of violence against sex workers.
This makes more sense, eradicating sex work by “ending demand.” What do they really mean by ending demand? I also see lack of explanation in this which brings me to raise the following questions, does “ending demand” means increasing sex workers rights? Or does it mean allowing sex sales?
This is what “end demand” means: “End demand” policies force sex workers to continue working under unregulated conditions without any kind workplace protections enjoyed by people in many other professions. Often, they also give license to abusive police who have a notoriously bad reputation in their treatment of sex workers, especially transgender women and people of color. I will leave you to build your own conclusions but seriously, let’s rename this international day! We deserve better, We deserve women who are not afraid of going outside, we need to extremely change how we view women. Women are the pillar of the world. Of course, men are needed because we provide the seed, but it is the women who provide balance to the world.
Read more about this here!
Hector Quintanilla
I remember reading once that most protest are made poorly wrong and people don’t convey what they want. For example: “International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.” Doesn’t really make you think that a sex worker is okay as long as you treat her with respect? So, this means that being a sex worker should be considered a profession? Wouldn’t it be better to word it as “International Day to End Sex Workers as means to make a Living.” Or something like that? Thoughts?
via Chicago Decriminalize Now!:
These cases demonstrate that the criminalization of sex work is a global problem that is literally killing our communities. It takes global solidarity to combat this kind of systemic, widely accepted form of legitimized, state-sanctioned violence.
Why the Swedish Consulate?
Many people interested in sex workers’ rights have heard of the so-called “Swedish model” — a strategy aimed at decriminalizing some aspects of selling sex, while increasing the criminalization of buying sex. The goal of such laws is to eradicate sex work by “ending demand.” While Turkey has an extremely high death rate for sex workers and transgender women, it is also important to challenge the growing number of people who want to follow the Swedish example of pushing ill-informed policies that give stricter punishment for the purchasing of sex. This false alternative is just another form of violence against sex workers.
This makes more sense, eradicating sex work by “ending demand.” What do they really mean by ending demand? I also see lack of explanation in this which brings me to raise the following questions, does “ending demand” means increasing sex workers rights? Or does it mean allowing sex sales?
This is what “end demand” means: “End demand” policies force sex workers to continue working under unregulated conditions without any kind workplace protections enjoyed by people in many other professions. Often, they also give license to abusive police who have a notoriously bad reputation in their treatment of sex workers, especially transgender women and people of color. I will leave you to build your own conclusions but seriously, let’s rename this international day! We deserve better, We deserve women who are not afraid of going outside, we need to extremely change how we view women. Women are the pillar of the world. Of course, men are needed because we provide the seed, but it is the women who provide balance to the world.
Read more about this here!
Hector Quintanilla
Photo from San Francisco International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, 2010, taken from beforeitsnews.com.
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