DECRIM NOW WORLD NEWS DIGEST FOR DECEMBER 2023

Nethelands banks agree to make it easier for sex workers to open an account

Netherlands, Den Haag

1 December 2023

Talks between sex workers, the Dutch banking association NVB and the Dutch central bank should make it easier for people working as prostitutes to open a bank account, broadcaster NOS said.

Even though sex work has been decriminalised in Netherlands since 2000, it is still extremely difficult for sex workers to open a bank account. Now, however, proper book keeping, a Chamber of Commerce registration and income tax return should be enough to make this possible. 

“This is major recognition for the sector,” said Irina Hornstra from lobby group Sekswerk Alliantie Destigmatisering. “We will now be treated as businesses and can operate normally.”

NVB money laundering expert HelèneErftemeijer also called the agreement as an important step. “Without a bank account, you cannot participate in society,” she told NOS.

Research by television current affairs show Pointer showed that sex workers and brothel owners struggle to open an account because human trafficking and exploitation were considered to underpin money laundering. And that meant banks were unwilling to provide services to sectors in which this was a risk, Pointer said.

Source dutchnews.nl

Queensland sex workers demand decriminalisation

Australia, Brisbane

6 December 2023

On 6^th of December 2023 sex workers and peak unions protestsd outside 1 William Street, Brisbane demanding the Palaszczuk Government meet its commitment to decriminalise sex work.

After a long wait, the Queensland Government has failed to deliver on its promise to decriminalise sex work. The Government told sex workers and supporters a bill to decriminalise sex work would be in parliament in the last sitting weeks.

In July, Attorney-General, Yvette D’Ath told the Courier Mail that Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk was committed to the bill. Ms D’Ath said the government was looking to introduce the new legislation by the end of the year.

However, last week was the final sitting week of parliament and although the Decriminalisation Bill exists, nothing has changed. Safety strategies remain illegal

Criminalised strategies that are proven to keep sex workers safe include:

• Working in pairs.
• Texting another worker at the end of a booking to let them know they are safe.
• Sharing location details with another sex worker when going to a booking.
• Sex workers driving each other to bookings or using the same driver as another sex worker.

But Queensland law currently criminalises such basic workplace health and safety strategies!

Since 1999, brothels in Queensland have required licences to operate. Over the past 23 years, these licensing laws have only resulted in 18 licensed brothels. The laws criminalise all other sex industry businesses.

Janelle Fawkes from DecrimQLD, the organisation leading the push for the legislation commented today.

“Every day the decrim bill is delayed sex workers are left with unnecessary safety risks. The Government must commit to enter the decrim bill in parliament in the first sitting week of 2024 and repeal these harmful, outdated laws.”

Source qnews.com.au

Ukrainian sex workers and human right activists discussed plans of legislative changes in times of war

Ukraine, Kyiv

14-15 December 2023

On 14-15 December 2023, in Kyiv the VI All-Ukrainian Forum of Sex Workers was held. Activists of the community together with the human rights experts have discussed various plans of legislative changes to fight stigma and criminalization of vulnerable groups in Ukraine.

The Forum program included: presentation of current research and monitoring of violations of the rights of SWs, and presentation of the results of these studies by community leaders and our partners; discussion of legislative initiatives in the field of decriminalization of sex work; assessing the impact of war on the life, health and well-being of SWs; and the effectiveness of community support programs.

Oksana Kashyntseva, lawyer, PhD, coordinator of the Fight for Health Platform, and Iryna Yakovets, PhD, senior researcher, expert of the Fight for Health Platform, presented initiatives to eliminate stigma and to decriminalise sex work.

Currently, representatives of the Platform are working on comprehensive legislative changes and their promotion, focusing on human rights with a direct correlation to the prevention of infectious diseases.

Oksana noted that as part of the working groups under the Committees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Social Policy, the Ombudsman’s Office, etc., the platform’s experts propose for consideration draft laws in the field of HIV, namely:

1. New version of the Law on HIV.
2. Decriminalisation of HIV as a disease: cancellation, not cosmetic changes to the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
3. Legalisation of sex work: elimination of stigma and criminal prosecution. It is the legalisation and bringing sex work out of the underground, and not according to the Swedish model.
4. Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine to eliminate the taxation of charitable aid for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
5. Decriminalisation of drug use for the purpose of inclusion in the medical space, introduction of the German model of “rooms for controlled consumption”.

Currently, the Office of the President and the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine are advocating for the interests of patients, in particular:

1. Provisions on crimes against human life and health: decriminalisation of HIV.
2. Provisions on decriminalisation of adult pornography.
3. Cancellation of administrative liability for the provision of sexual services.

More info about Forum you can find via link

Source legalifeukraine.com

Sex workers in Ireland are “continuously ignored” by Government while current laws “perpetuate violence”

Ireland

17 December 2023

Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) is calling to be involved in drafting new legislation about criminalisation. 

Speaking today on International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, SWAI coordinator Mardi Kennedy said 2023 “has been devastating for Irish sex workers”. 

“[It was] marked by a murder in Limerick, raids disguised as welfare checks and an ongoing campaign of harassment targeting sex workers, including phishing scams and threats of violence,” she said. 

27-year-old Geila Ibram was stabbed to death in Limerick last April. 

Ms Kennedy criticised the ‘Nordic model’ of criminalisation, which persecutes brothels and the purchasing of sex workers’ service but not individual providers.

“The tragic murder of Geila Ibram underscores the consequences of laws disregarding sex workers’ voices and safety,” she said. 

“We reiterate that warnings from [the SWAI] and allies during the 2015-2016 Nordic Model debates have been validated by extensive research and lived experiences worldwide. 

“How the Government chooses to continuously ignore sex workers and research is both unfathomable and confusing”. 

SWAI spokesperson Linda Kavanagh said laws against brothels have prioritised “the safety and well-being of the client” and has pushed the industry “underground”. 

“The criminalisation of consenting adults has failed to curb exploitation and trafficking in Ireland and disregards their calls for decriminalisation,” she said. 

"They are real people, coerced into solitary work for legality, only to be shunned by rape and assault services and denied mental health aid, branding their economic activity as self-harm. 

“In this hostile landscape of criminalisation, shame and stigma, threats and harassment loom large. The violence isn’t from clients but from men emboldened by the law’s dehumanising rhetoric.” 

Ms Kavanagh claimed only 1% of sex workers report crimes against to Gardaí due to lack of trust. 

“This lack of trust in the police is caused by all-island brothel raids disguised as welfare checks,” she said. 

“The Gardaí, disguising themselves as clients, shamelessly deceive sex workers to gain access to them. These intrusive checks, coupled with their mass texts, have inflicted terror upon them.” 

The spokesperson said workers “need to be prioritised and have a say in the policies that affect their lives”. 

A review of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 was due, but in July Justice Minister Helen McEntee confirmed the individual in charge of the review had resigned. 

SWAI said the Department of Justice did not inform them and are concerned much of the data is now out of date. 

Source newstalk.com