Amnesty International backs decriminalisation of prostitution
Human rights group Amnesty International has voted to support the decriminalisation of prostitution at their biennial International Council Meeting.
Delegates from around the world gathered in Dublin for the meeting, and voted to adopt a resolution that will allow the organisation to develop and adopt a pro-decriminalisation policy.
The resolution recommends that the full decriminalisation of all aspects of consensual sex work is supported by the organisation.
Salil Shetty, Amnesty’s Secretary General, said about the resolution: “We recognise that this critical human rights issue is hugely complex and that is why we have addressed this issue from the perspective of international human rights standards.”
Amnesty’s announcement that they would consider supports decriminalisation was criticised by some prominent groups (AFP/Getty) “We also consulted with our global movement to take on board different views from around the world.”
Amnesty International now joins a host of other groups in their support for decriminalisation, including the World Health Organisation, the United Nations AIDS programme UNAIDS, and leading medical journal The Lancet.
These groups see the stigma and criminalisation that surrounds prostitution as roadblocks to stopping abuse, trafficking and the spread of diseases like HIV and AIDS.
Some proponents also see the decriminalisation of prostitution as simply an extension of the idea that two consenting adults should be able to have sex without the interference of the government.
However, there is opposition to the idea, most prominently from actors like Lena Dunham, Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet and many others.
They were included in a list of signatories on a letter to Amnesty International written by the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women.
