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Economist Debate on Legalizing Prostitution

Posted by Beyond The Streets on 06/09/2010 at 09:20 AM


From Monday 6th September through to 13th September The Economist is hosting a live debate on it’s website.


http://www.economist.com/debate/days/view/572


With Sienna Baskin defending the position and Melissa Farley in opposition there are plenty of arguments that seek to address the issue.There is the opportunity to vote as well as contribute your thoughts and views.
although as usual there is the danger of polarisation and very little working together to end violence, abuse and exploitation.


The following statistic from Farley is extremely insightful and goes a long way to dispel the myth that prostitution is a normal job just like any other.

“In nine countries, we found that 68% of women, men and transgendered people in prostitution had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a prevalence that is comparable to that of battered or raped women seeking help, and survivors of state-sponsored torture. Across widely varying cultures on five continents the traumatic consequences of prostitution were similar whether prostitution was legal, tolerated, or illegal.”

 

 

 

 



The Hunt for Britain’s Sex Traffickers

Posted by Beyond The Streets on 06/09/2010 at 09:18 AM


In case you missed the Channel 4 short films “The Hunt for Britain’s Sex Traffickers” you can still find them for the next 3 weeks on 4OD.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-hunt-for-britains-sex-traffickers/4od



Using negative labels hinders recovery of problem drug users according to new study.

Posted by Beyond The Streets on 24/08/2010 at 07:45 AM


According to a new report by the UK Drugs Policy Commission, the use of negative labels such as “junkie” and “addict” is a major obstacle to the recovery of those affected.

The UKDPC study, Sinning and Sinned Against: The Stigmatisation of Problem Drug Users, calls for the media to consider how they portray people who misuse substances and for the end of negative labelling.

The UKDPC report says the stigma attached to drug addiction and enforced by labelling remains a big obstacle for people finding a pathway to recovery and employment. The report says people think of those who use or have used drugs as the “junk of society” – and crucially, only having themselves to blame and it is this attitude that hinders access to treatment and blocks people from a path to recovery.

Colin Blakemore, professor of neuroscience at Oxford University and member of the UK Drug Policy Commission said: “‘Junkie’ and ‘addict’ have become pejorative shorthand for perceived social decay, conveying a sense of anxiety out of all proportion to reality, but such hostile attitudes only add to the barriers of escape from drug dependence.”

At Beyond the Streets we welcome this report and the challenge …

Read More...

It’s not just a human trafficking issue

Posted by Beyond The Streets on 16/08/2010 at 07:33 AM


The focus on foreign women trafficked into the UK and forced to work in prostitution has overshadowed a local issue.

For further information on the Independent article please check out the following link: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/revealed-the-horrific-trade-in-british-children-for-sex-2053047.html



Official prostitution age to be increased from 18 to 21 in Holland?

Posted by Beyond The Streets on 12/08/2010 at 10:20 AM


Whilst some like to suggest Amsterdam is a good model for legalising prostitution there is a move to increase the legal age from 18 to 21 having recognised that younger girls get drawn into the unregulated side of prostitution within the city.

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2010/04/legal_prostitution_age_to_be_i.php