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You’ve probably heard people talk about the ‘Nordic Model’, ‘Swedish Model’ or ‘End Demand’. This is often sold as a feminist response to the sex industry but sex workers around the world oppose it #decrimnow
France introduced the Nordic Model/ End Demand law in 2016. Since then at least 10 sex workers have been killed - most of them migrant trans women who work outdoors ( @STRASS_Syndicat)
https://www.sexworkeurope.org/news/news-region/france-death-trans-migrant-sex-worker-jessyca-sarmiento
https://www.sexworkeurope.org/news/news-region/france-death-trans-migrant-sex-worker-jessyca-sarmiento
3 years ago Ireland introduced the Swedish Model/ End Demand. @SWAIIreland warned that these changes would increase violence against sex workers, push sex work underground and make sex workers less likely to report crime against us. We were right
The law is a failure. Only 2 clients have been prosecuted but there have been approximately 50 sex workers prosecuted for working together for safety, so-called brothel-keeping. There have also been 0 prosecutions for human trafficking http://sexworkersallianceireland.org/2020/07/press-release-review-will-show-that-the-current-law-is-a-failed-experiment/”
Since 2017 there has been a 92% increase in violent crimes against sex workers in Ireland. Sex workers are now extremely unlikely to report crimes against us to the Gardaí (the Irish police force) https://brothelkeepers.org/analysis/
Fortunately this law is up for review. When the law was debated @swaiireland and the voices of currently working sex workers were sidelined. We need to make sure that current sex workers are listened to, we are the experts!
Here's how you can help https://twitter.com/SWAIIreland/status/1291098963840577536
Here's how you can help https://twitter.com/SWAIIreland/status/1291098963840577536
. @RuhamaAgency is the government-funded organisation which works with prostitutes (as they call them) and were a leading voice in the @turnoffRL campaign which brought in The Nordic Model. They were also founded by nuns that ran Magdalene laundries http://www.universitytimes.ie/2016/04/the-churchs-lingering-shadows-on-sex-work-in-ireland/
Ireland is moving away from its dark past of controlling women’s bodies. We #repealedthe8th, brought in the Gender Recognition Bill, and legalised same-sex marriage. Sex workers must be listened to in this review. YOU can ensure that that happens.
