Celebrating the 19th anniversary of DMSC, a grassroots sex workers’ organisation in Sonagachhi, Kolkata. Photo by author.
Amnesty International (AI) recently proposed to decriminalise sex work specifically to protect the human rights of sex workers. This landmark proposal brought global attention to the human rights violations suffered daily by sex workers and further expanded AI’s already substantial work in the field of human rights. Moreover, given that in several quarters sex work is still not considered a legitimate occupation, AI’s proposal highlighted not only the human rights of sex workers but also their labour rights.
AI’s proposal drew vehement criticism from feminists who consider the legalisation of sex work as perpetuating patriarchy and violence against women. Amongst them, the Coalition Against Trafficking of Women (CATW) was possibly the most vocal. CATW’s open letter to AI, signed by such world-renowned figures as Gloria Steinem, alleged that the recommended policy “…is incomprehensibly proposing…the wholesale decriminalization of the sex industry, which in effect legalizes pimping, brothel owning and sex buying.” While Steinem has tenaciously and effectively led the feminist movement, her (along with CATW) opposition to the AI proposal is based upon a rather parochial view of what sex work means to impoverished women, especially in developing countries in terms of labour and livelihood.
