"Researchers warned the data shows police officers are misleading the public by claiming they have rescued trafficking victims in raids which target sex workers." independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho…
For anyone who may be new to the campaign, here’s a thread of full explanations of our demands of the government - we make these demands to try and ensure that *no one is forced into sex work as a result of financial hardship*.
Our campaign has clear demands for the government. We will not tolerate government policy continuing to push more people into sex work, especially during a cost of living crisis. We demand an end to benefit sanctions.
ALT An end to benefit sanctions. Many women have told us that they went into sex work because their benefits were sanctioned, and they desperately needed to earn money to cover the loss of income. It's unacceptable for government policy to be driving women into sex work - especially during a cost of living crisis. The government must end benefit sanctions.
"More women are being pushed into sex work because of poverty… some returning for the first time in 20 years."
Labour MP Nadia Whittome tells @cathynewman "benefits need to rise" so the government can tackle the root cause.
channel4.com/news/increase-i…
When I speak to sex workers about what makes women join the industry, the answer often is: the benefit system.
Universal Credit is very low, sanctions are extremely punitive and many migrants can’t access benefits at all.
To protect women, we need real social security for all.
No one should be pushed into sex work by poverty. But that’s the reality for many women in a cost of living crisis.
Criminalisation makes the industry more dangerous and harder to leave.
The solution is to fully decriminalise it tackle the root causes.
Me on @Channel4News 👇🏽
The cost of living is pushing more people into sex work, at the same time as making it more dangerous.
The answer is not to criminalise it. It’s to prevent poverty and keep workers safe.
I’m proud to support @HAHcampaign, led by sex workers. Watch to find out more 👇🏽
If you’re interested in getting involved with the sex worker rights movement in Scotland, come along to a meeting!
✨Thursday 29 September, 3-5pm at @UmbrellaLane (Glasgow)
✨Saturday 29 October, 3-5pm at @crew_2000 (Edinburgh)
✨Thursday 24 November, 3-5pm at @UmbrellaLane
Another parliamentary question on 'challenging demand' today. If you were wondering, we don't support 'challenging demand' because this policy increases harm to people selling sex.
Don't forget @scotgov said this themselves: during lockdowns, drop in 'demand' led to workers being forced into more dangerous situations
x.com/ScotPep/status/1455956…
In our response to the Equally Safe consultation last year, we pointed out that lockdown in March 2020 had the effect of 'reducing demand' AND that this had a sharp negative impact on sex workers' safety - as acknowledged in their own consultation
scot-pep.org.uk/scot-pep-res…
We're in a cost of living crisis. Sex workers need real action to tackle poverty, not criminalisation.
@HAHcampaign are campaigning for a safety net for sex workers - follow them to support 🙌
scot-pep.org.uk/hookersagain…
🚨NEW CAMPAIGN VIDEO🚨 - sex workers are being forced to work in more dangerous conditions because of the cost of living crisis and laws around sex work.
Street s*x work is the most dangerous form of s*x work with the highest rates of violence.
Laws against soliciting mean street workers are forced to work in dark areas with no CCTV, and face pressure to enter a client’s car quicker to avoid being caught.
@HAHcampaign
A must-read thread on @HAHcampaign’s demands. If you haven’t already, follow the campaign on Twitter and Insta (HAH_campaign), share the content with your friends, email your MP to raise awareness, and donate if you can ✊☂️
Our campaign has clear demands for the government. We will not tolerate government policy continuing to push more people into sex work, especially during a cost of living crisis. We demand an end to benefit sanctions.
ALT An end to benefit sanctions. Many women have told us that they went into sex work because their benefits were sanctioned, and they desperately needed to earn money to cover the loss of income. It's unacceptable for government policy to be driving women into sex work - especially during a cost of living crisis. The government must end benefit sanctions.
This is today! Do come — you don’t have to be a sex worker or know loads about the issue; the baseline for attending is that you’re broadly politically aligned w the sex worker movt & would like to know more/get more involved! It will be friendly & there will be snacks 🍕
It's great to see increasing coverage of sex workers' experiences of the cost of living crisis, highlighting the precariousness of many sex workers' situations and the lack of support available:
HOOKERS AGAINST HARDSHIP 📢
@HAHcampaign is calling for urgent action on the cost of living crisis.
We need an end to benefit sanctions, evictions, rent hikes, and arrests. We need access to benefits, living wages, decriminalisation.
Take action: scot-pep.org.uk/hookersagain…
Over the next six weeks @HAHcampaign is going to be highlighting the experiences of sex workers during the cost of living crisis, and talking about how you can help.