Human Trafficking Policy or Criminalized Sex Work?

I got home from school today very tired. I collapse on the couch and turn on the tube. Since I only get about 5 channels in my apartment, I was forced to choose between the Victoria’s Secret 2007 Fashion Show (how can lingerie be sexy if it is made in sweatshops? Perhaps another post…) or the nightly mainstream news broadcast. I chose the news.

One of the featured stories on today’s KTVU news was about a report by the California Alliance to Combat Trafficking and Slavery. Over a five-year period, from 1998-2003, University of California, Berkeley researchers found 57 forced labor operations in nearly a dozen California cities. The operations involved over 500 people, mostly women, from 18 countries.

Recently passed by the house, a bill to combat human trafficking was introduced by Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA): “this legislation addresses the fundamental right of every human being to live in freedom and safety.”

Yes, I agree human tracking is a huge problem. According to the International Labor Organization, traffickers move between 700,000 and 2 million women and children across international boundaries every year, mainly for the purpose of serving the sex trade. There is no question, human trafficking is wrong and should be stopped.

However, I disagree with Lantos’ statement regarding freedom and safety. I think this new law, if passed, could greatly endanger the lives of sex workers and prostitutes in CA.

SWOP, Sex Workers Outreach Project, works to address the ongoing violence that sex workers experience because of their criminal status. Also on the KTVU newscast was a demonstration by SWOP against this new legislation. Sex workers bravely protested and held signs. Some of the women were interviewed including a colleague of mine, Maxine Doogan, who explained that sex workers are seldom afforded protection from violent acts committed against them because of the precarious relationship between sex work and law enforcement.

Why does society continue to tolerate violence against sex workers while condoning other forms of violence such has human trafficking?

December 17th is International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. According to SWOP “this event was created to call attention to hate crimes committed against sex workers. During the week of December 17th, sex worker rights organizations will be staging actions and vigils to raise awareness about violence that is commonly committed against sex workers. The assault, battery, rape and murder of sex workers must end. Existing laws prevent sex workers from reporting violence.”