SRI welcomes UN Women’s strong position on sex work, sexual exploitation and trafficking in persons

Published on November 13, 2013

On November 12th, the Sexual Rights Initiative sent a letter to UN Women, welcoming its strong, human rights-based approach, to issues of sex work, sexual exploitation and trafficking in persons. The original letter and UN Women’s note can be accessed below.
 

“November 12, 2013

Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Executive Director
UN Women
405 East 42nd Street
New York, NY10017USA

Dear Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka,

The undersigned civil society organizations write to thank UN Women for taking a strong position on the issues of sex work, sexual exploitation and trafficking in persons, grounded in human rights principles and scientific evidence, in its note dated October 9, 2013.

For too long, human trafficking and sex work have been conflated, with the effect of undermining sex workers’ rights to bodily integrity, autonomy, privacy, work, health, life, liberty and personal security. Laws, policies and programmes must be centered in human rights rather than notions of morality. In this regard, UN Women’s note clearly articulates necessary legal, policy and programmatic priorities for protecting and promoting the rights of sex workers, and for eliminating human trafficking.

Through this note, UN Women has reaffirmed its commitment to gender equality and the full range of human rights of all women, and we count on it to continue advancing the perspective elaborated in the note through its work at the national and international levels.

Sincerely,

Partners in the Sexual Rights Initiative:

  • Action Canada for Population and Development
  • Akahatá Equipo de Trabajo en Sexualidades y Generos
  • Coalition of African Lesbians
  • Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action
  • Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
  • Federation for Women and Family Planning”

 

Letter sent November 12 2013.

UN Women’s Note on Sex Work, Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking can be accessed, here.