Amnesty International Vote Yes to Decriminalizing Prostitution

It’s official: after weeks of speculation, Amnesty International has voted to decriminalize the sex industry, CNBC has reported.

Tuesday night saw hundreds of Amnesty delegates vote from Dublin, Ireland, to change the ‘Draft Policy on Sex Work’ in a move they argue will protect the rights of prostitutes.

This new policy follows a two-year study involving the evaluation of sex worker groups, prostitution survivors and HIV organizations.

Secretary General of Amnesty International, Salil Shetty says: “Sex workers are one of the most marginalized groups in the world who in most instances face constant risk of discrimination, violence and abuse.”

The path leading up to the vote has been far from smooth, with fierce debate on the topic attracting the likes of Kate Winslet, Anna Wintor and Meryl Streep who backed an open letter by NGO Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-International (CATW), opposing this new policy.

Divorce lawyers in Thailand Chaninat and Leeds have decades of experience in successfully handling divorce cases for both Thai nationals and foreigners.

CATW argue that countries that have already made moves to decriminalize prostitution, such as Germany and The Netherlands, have seen a considerable rise in human trafficking and “explosive growth of legal brothels.”

Those who support decriminalization, do so by arguing prostitution is a matter of individual choice, providing it involves consenting adults. They say it is easier to regulate the industry in places like Nevada where sex work is legal.

This ‘historic vote’ from, what the Global Post have dubbed ‘Irony International’ does not change law policy, but with Amnesty International’s influence, this could eventually sway governments around the world to accept their point of view.

Read the fill CNBC story here.

See Thai Law Forum’s previous report on the topic here.

Go here to learn about sex laws in Thailand.

Check out Amnesty International’s video on the topic below: