It may be the only time I’ll ever share a platform with John McDonnell MP (Labour) and Andrew Boff AM (Tory), but was pleased to join them both last week at a decriminalisation protest outside parliament linked to the Sex Worker Open University.
Interesting though that the three of us had a similar message – that the MPs behind us should listen to the evidence for complete decriminalisation of se work (the New Zealand model for short). As I said, that’s what both the Women’s Institute and the Royal College of Nursing had done.
John McDonnell pointed out that sex workers are under attack from trafficking legislation, which was persecuting them and driving them into more dangerous circumstances, when what they want and need is to work is safety.
He noted the advances in recognition of sex workers from the trade union movement (speakers from the South East TUC regional network and Hackney Trades Council were among those later offering solidarity).
Andrew Boff said that people operating legally were being hounded out of business, with the Olympic “clean up” being used as an excuse.
A number of international sex worker speakers offered solidarity with those in the UK, and spoke of the similarities of their problems.
Eva fro Kosovo praised the xtalk programme in London.
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