Prostitution

Sex workers in Denmark are protesting a campaign against prostitution during the UN Climate Change Conference. The city of Copenhagen wants to discourage delegates from buying sex, despite the fact that it is perfectly legal there and has nothing to do with climate change. The sex workers’ interest group, SIO (Sexarbejdernes Interesseorganisation), was not consulted and so, annoyed, they are offering free sex to any conference delegate who turns in his ridiculous postcard (see below), which also went to 160 hotels.

via Sex Work | Climate Change | Anti-prostitution | Campaign | Border Thinking on Migration, Trafficking and Commercial Sex.

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Although prostitution itself is technically legal in Canada, the criminal code makes it virtually impossible for sex workers to conduct business without breaking the law. Having sex for money is fine, in theory — as long as you don’t solicit it in public, live off the proceeds, or “keep a bawdy house” (which effectively means you can’t do it indoors). Last month, three members of Sex Professionals of Canada — Amy Lebovich, Terri-Jean Bedford and Valerie Scott — brought a complaint challenging those sections of the code before the Superior Court of Ontario, arguing that the restrictions on prostitution “violate their constitutionally protected right to liberty and security,” according to Women’s eNews. (A decision is expected in 2010.) The fear of losing their assets and homes for illegally living on money earned by providing a legal service is one part of it, but the more important part is that changing the laws could save lives. Unable to work openly, in groups or to hire security, sex workers believe they are more at risk of robbery, assault, rape and murder under the current criminal code than they would be if prostitution were fully decriminalized. “I don’t believe that sex work is inherently dangerous,” Lebovitch told WeNews. “It is the laws, the stigma (that are harmful).”

via Broadsheet – Salon.com.

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Fears grow that World Cup could create bigger market for prostitution in South Africa. CNN’s Robyn Curnow reports.

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By JORDAN CARLEO-EVANGELIST, Staff writerFirst published in print: Saturday, October 3, 2009ALBANY — Drop your trousers on Central Avenue and you might see your name in lights — but probably not the way your mother always hoped. In an effort to battle quality-of-life crimes on the once-grand commercial thoroughfare — specifically johns cruising the avenue for prostitutes — the police department has parked a mobile electronic sign just east of Quail Street and vowed to very publicly out those arrested.The goal, police say, is to not have to post any names — or, in other words, victory by threat of public humiliation.

via Police sign of shame set for its first john — Page 1 — Times Union – Albany NY:2938:.

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LONDON (Reuters) – A British government minister asked California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday to shut down a U.S. website that allows men to rate prostitutes, including many working in London.

Harriet Harman, minister for women and equality, told the ruling Labor Party’s annual conference that “Punternet” fuels the demand for prostitution — a vice she said degrades women and puts them at risk.

She said the web site was a “very sinister development” in the trade and exploitation of women and allows guests to compare and rate services in the same way as they would a restaurant, a hotel or a holiday.

via Schwarzenegger asked to close prostitute Website – Yahoo! News.

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Law school comes in handy when trying to evade taxes as a call girl, or at least that’s what one Stanford graduate seemed to think.

Cristina Warthen – a 2001 Stanford Law School graduate – was sentenced Monday on a federal tax conviction related to her upscale call-girl business, according to a report from Mercury News.

Warthen pleaded guilty for failing to pay taxes on nearly $133,000 earned in ‘03 during her high-end prostitution days as a touring escort named Brazil. She serviced clients throughout the nation in various cities, including New York, Chicago and Washington.

via Law school grad turned call girl Cristina Warthen under house arrest after cheating the Government.

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ILLEGAL brothels and sex worker rings are running rampant outside Queensland’s prostitution regulatory regime which has been in force for 10 years.

According to new research by the University of Queensland’s Human Trafficking Working Group, 90 per cent of the state’s prostitution industry is being effectively regulated by the 1999 Prostitution Act.

Joint author of the research paper, Dr Andreas Schloenhardt, said yesterday that the decade-old law had produced a “highly and well controlled” system monitoring Queensland’s 25 legal brothels.

via Prostitution laws fail to rein in illegal sex trade | The Courier-Mail.

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