Media release:
Amnesty International’s proposed policy to decriminalise pimps and buyers met with opposition at Australian Amnesty state Annual General Meetings on the weekend.
The proposed policy was raised at Amnesty state level AGMs around Australia Saturday May 10, with dissent from Amnesty members. Amnesty Queensland and Amnesty Tasmania voted against the draft policy. Members voted instead to adopt the Nordic Model of prostitution, which decriminalises prostituted people, while at the same time criminalises pimps, traffickers and buyers. WA members voted in favour of a new process, which would involve seeking input from those who have survived sex industry violence. There was rigorous debate on the issue in other states.
Former president of the United States and human rights champion, Jimmy Carter, is the latest big name to speak out against the proposal. In an interview with Robin Morgan, Carter said ‘it’s inconceivable to me that Amnesty International, or any other organisation that respects human rights, would endorse slave masters’.
Escort agency manager, Douglas Fox, has claimed the credit for the policy’s development and advancement throughout the organisation. Fox manages one of the biggest escort agencies in the UK, along with his male partner. Fox has held leadership positions in Amnesty International, with an agenda of decriminalising prostitution.
While escort agency managers have been given a voice by the international secretariat of Amnesty, survivors of prostitution and sex trafficking say they have been ignored by Amnesty’s international leadership.
The Swedish branch of Amnesty International has also taken a stand against the decriminalisation of pimps and buyers of prostitution.
The consultation on the draft policy on decriminalisation of pimps and buyers of sex was initially slated to be resolved at the International AGM in June. However, due to strong opposition internationally from prostitution survivors, Amnesty members and other human rights organisations, Amnesty International had pushed back the decision until August 2015.
Sunday May 11, 2014
Related media release by NORMAC (Nordic Model Australia Coalition) here –
Great news, and cheers to Australian abolitionists and Amnesty members!
Abolish Prostitution Now! 
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This is very heartening. I argued against Fox and the pro prostitution lobby for a long time on the Guardian website. I was horrified by Amnesty’s policy document . Totally outrageous.
I suspect Big Pharma has a hand in the international push – currently flailing, I’m pleased to see ! It has a vested interest in promoting multiple sex transactions that require the maintenance of structural inequalities, such as a largely female underclass, particularly in countries in the developing world . It can then use NGO s – many of them simply fronts for the contraceptives industry to push for public ‘health initiatives’ . : and hey presto! you have gov contracts and huge consignments delivered to port – on need else a fiddly patchwork distribution system.
Which is not so say contraception itself has no place – it does. But anyone seriously commited to female economic, social and political equality in developing nations should be alert to this market expansion strategy – don’t take your eye off the ball. Ever.
Its the money, honey!