Decriminalise now, and no to the Nordic Model
2024-05-03
elrond
Sex work encompasses a wide range of professions, including erotic dancing, nude modeling, pornography, web cam modeling, sugar dating (an arrangement where money or material goods are exchanged for companionship and possibly intimacy), and full-service street or escort work.
There’s a complex legal landscape surrounding sex work, ranging from legality to criminalization. While crimina .....
Calls for independent review of Irish prostitution laws
2024-04-08
elrond
Solicitor Maura Butler SC was appointed in July 2020 to lead an independent review of Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, a law that criminalizes the purchase of sex but not its sale. However, Ms. Butler was unable to complete the review, and the Department of Justice announced in February that it would proceed with the review internally, without appointing a new independent re .....
Review into sex work law to be published later this year, four years after initial deadline
2024-02-28
elrond
The long-awaited review into Ireland's sex work legislation, promised for years, remains elusive, with the Department of Justice dragging its feet yet again. Despite repeated assurances, the report won't see the light of day until later this year, causing frustration and anger among stakeholders.
Staff at the Department of Justice, apparently suffering from chronic procrastination, h .....
Criminalising purchase of sex, such as in Ireland, increases risk of violence, says Council of Europ
2024-02-17
elrond
The Council of Europe (COE), a prominent organization dedicated to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law on the continent since its establishment in 1949, has consistently advocated for the protection of marginalized groups. Among these, sex workers often face stigma and violence, exacerbated by laws criminalizing the purchase of sex, as highlighted by COE's Commissioner for Human Righ .....
Escorts sent death threats after replying to text scam
2024-02-06
elrond
In a recent attempt to prey on escorts, scammers masquerading as representatives of a prominent advertising platform have sought personal information from individuals in the escorting community. Despite these challenges, escorts are resilient and proactive in protecting each other.
Linda Kavanagh, spokesperson for Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI), emphasized that non-national escorts were .....
No sign of review into Irish sex work law - over three years after it was due to be published
2024-02-02
elrond
No progress has been made on reviewing Ireland’s sex work legislation, more than three years overdue. The Department of Justice is yet to announce a timeline for completion, although Justice Minister Helen McEntee is expected to decide soon. The legislation, which criminalized the purchase of sex in 2017, faced criticism from groups like the Sex Workers Alliance of Ireland (SWAI), advocatin .....
Landmark UN Report Calls for Sex Work Decriminalization
2023-11-29
elrond
The journey toward achieving sex worker rights has been marked by perseverance, with a rising chorus of voices advocating an end to stigma, abuse, and the criminalization of sex work. In a momentous move, the United Nations Working Group on discrimination against women and girls released a groundbreaking report in October, urging the global decriminalization of voluntary adult sex work.
This .....
German chancellor says sex work is unacceptable
2023-11-17
elrond
The remarks made by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz regarding sex work in Germany exhibit a concerning and regressive viewpoint that fails to acknowledge the complexities surrounding this issue. Scholz's stance reflects a moralistic and judgmental perspective rather than a comprehensive understanding of the realities faced by individuals involved in sex work.
His statement condemning the s .....
Experts back decriminalization as the best means to enhance the rights of sex workers
2023-10-01
elrond
Carrie Eisert, who works as a policy advisor for Amnesty International, said she was happy with the UN working group’s suggestion. She said:
“The suggestion says that sex workers’ rights should be better protected by international human rights law. This is important because sex workers face a lot of discrimination and violence all over the world.
“It also says th .....
Review of prostitution laws to tackle sex-for-rent demands
2023-09-19
elrond
The government's approach towards addressing demand for sex through prostitution laws is appropriate and requires legislative action. According to Helen McEntee, the Minister of Justice, a tender will be released this week to hire a leading researcher to conduct a comprehensive review of existing prostitution laws, which are governed by Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) 2017.
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