criminalize sex work

CSDI

This newsletter from Community Socio Economic Development Initiatives (CSDI) covers the proceedings of a meeting held on the 22nd and 23rd of February 2010. The meeting brought together Rwandan civil society organisations working on HIV & AIDS, health promotion and human rights and was lead by the Rwanda NGO Forum on AIDS Health Promotion and Fact Rwanda. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the provision in the draft penal code that would criminalize sex work. This legal provision, article 225, would sentence sex workers to 3 years in jail and a fine of 50.000 to 500.000 RWF.

decriminalisation

A decision by the Labour Appeal’s Court, to overturn a 2008 ruling by the Labour Court that a sex worker is not entitled to protection against unfair dismissal as the field of work itself is criminal, could be opening up a Pandora’s Box. In effect it means that the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) would need to be able to establish a quantum to compensate “Kylie” for her loss as a result of her dismissal because the alternative – ordering reinstatement – may be considered state sanctioned criminal activity. During the course of almost any discussion on the

policy

This page details 100 countries’ policies on prostitution, brothel ownership and pimping. Countries were chosen in order to be inclusive of major religions, geographical regions, and policies towards prostitution. An article in the Lancet Infectious Diseases, Volume 10, Issue 2, Page 67, February 2010. By Matthew Greenall, independent consultant According to reports, the new penal code currently being considered by Rwanda’s Senate includes a provision to criminalise sex work. The existing penal code, which dates from the 1970s, gives judicial authorities the option of placing restrictions on the movement of sex workers, and contains a number of provisions against facilitating

criminalisation

An article in the Journal of Law and Society, Volume 37, Number 1, March 2010. Weitzer explores the growth of what he describes as a moral crusade in the US aimed at expanding the criminalisation of sex work. He shows how there is a growing trend to conflate sex work with human trafficking and explores the impact of this movement on legal norms and government policies. Weitzer believes this trend has been prompted by the expansion of the sex industry and its normalisation in American society. This case study from 2005 by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network explores sex work related laws

Rwanda

An article in Health and Human Rights, Vol 12, No 2. Kigali — The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, said yesterday, that Parliament could revisit a law banning prostitution which is currently before the Senate, days after the UNAIDS Regional Director – Eastern and Southern Africa, Prof Sheila Tlou, appealed to legislators to do so. By Matthew Greenall, independent consultant According to reports, the new penal code currently being considered by Rwanda’s Senate includes a provision to criminalise sex work. The existing penal code, which dates from the 1970s, gives judicial authorities the option of placing restrictions on the

CSDI

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