Prostitution, “Sex work,” Prone/Prostrate Work Impossible to Dignify or
free from Harm
I’d like to see Human Rights Watch report writers assume a prone or
prostrate position; and from that position, defend themselves.
The argument for decriminalization of prostitution is like many bits of
nonsense pumped out on a regular basis by the nonprofit (NGO, profiting-taking)
industry that presumes to tell “some” women what is good for those “other”
women.
The fact of the matter is prostitution is NEVER safe nor can it be made
safe—despite the clever fiction written, produced and directed by all men
titled “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.”
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outh African Liesl Gerntholtz, an acting program director at Human
Rights Watch is peddling another nonsensical report this one focused mainly on South
Africa but with implications for prostitutes in all nations.
She writes
“We have researched illegal sex work in China, Tanzania, Cambodia, South Africa, and the United States, where workers are often forced to conduct business (emphasis added) in dangerous back streets, parks, and abandoned buildings.”
“…We consistently find police abuse to be one of criminalization’s main cruelties.”
What is criminal, in the prior instance or broader context, is a society
(global, local, small town or big city) that traditionally reduces women, some women, to have to lower themselves
to the indignity of commodifying their bodies (turning their bodies into commodities).
“Non-criminalization” advocates argue that because of the illegality of
prostitution
“Sex workers are daily subjected to violence from clients, the police and their boyfriends and have no legal recourse”; and
“Because of the stigma that attaches to sex work…, sex workers find it hard to access legal, social and health services” and potential “service providers are disinclined “to assist sex workers.”
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he hard truth, the sad truth, is that great majorities, people of all
kinds all across the world are subjected to all kinds of violence, without
legal recourse. The same masses are denied medical and legal services because
of the commodification, capitalization, privatization (call it what you like, high
cost) of life, of well-being — medical
and legal services, health and legal counsel and their exorbitant fees.
Liesl Gerntholtz is not quite right when she claims that the United
States and South Africa “are influential countries whose constitutions are relatively
strong on human rights.” These countries may be “influential.” But their track
record on human rights, whether written in a constitution or not, is abysmal in
actually protecting and defending fundamental rights of human beings. In fact
the record is increasingly the opposite: abuse more than protection.
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o country, to my knowledge, has fulfilled the principles set out in UN Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (1948)—in which, of course, there is no mention,
directly or indirectly, of “sex work.” At the heart of this document is the
belief
in the dignity and worth of the human person [bar none] and
in the equal rights of men and women and the promotion of “social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.”
Set out in detail are no fashionable trends but rather fundamental human
rights among which are shelter, work and education (excerpted below).
Article 23 [work]
- 1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
- 2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
- 3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
- 4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Article 25 [food, housing, medical
care, social services, etc]
- 1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
Article 26 [education]
- 1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
- 2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
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he points made in the arguments for the “decriminalization” of
prostitution or “sex work” are points that effectively further demean and
endanger particularly though not exclusively women and girls. They would “normalize”
an indignity.
It is not my intent to preach to or moralize against other women about their actions or their choices and though I may be described as old-fashioned, or conservative, or socialist or all of these (I'm not much for label), I would argue that every human being, as a human being,
desires dignity of person and place. And prostitution,
the submission to anything of anyone, submission to a stranger can
never be a position of dignity or safety. It is inherently a position of harm,
injury, far removed from safety; a position of disrespect for self and disrespect
by others.
If a choice, it is an unsuitable choice.
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nstead of decriminalizing (i.e., reinforcing) an indignity for women
and girls, and men, I would argue for sound education and training, and the
inculcation or instilling of a sense of self-dignity, self-confidence, self respect; and the inclination to demand respect from others.
I would argue for meaningful work, work with dignity, well paid (living
wage) work, and work done in humane conditions.
I would argue for easily accessible and affordable housing, medical care
and other human services. I would argue for independence (interdependence) and
self-determination.
With these basics, I believe any girl or woman (boy or man) could make better
choices, self-preserving choices that do not cause her (or him) to submit to
the insult, the demands or pathology, the whims and/or petty cash (street, party, hotel, mansion or brothel) payments
of the momentarily or continually well-off.
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he principle of (and commitment
to practicing) universal human rights is diminished when cheapened by narrow-mindedness,
tribal fashioning, often manufactured, divisive and distracting trends.
Sources
AfricaLink “21 years after the double bomb blasts in Kenya and
Tanzania, victims still seek compensation +++Report published in South Africa says prostitution should not be a
crime+++ Equatorial Guinea plans to build a wall on the border with
Cameroon” August 7, 2019
https://www.dw.com/en/africalink-on-air-07-august-2019/av-49935743
“Why Sex Work Should be Decriminalised in South Africa” August 7, 2019
Report
Human Rights Watch “Sex Work Should be Legal — If Only to Protect Women
from Police”
Published in Newsweek Liesl Gerntholtz, Deputy Executive Director for
Program August 7, 2019 https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/08/07/sex-work-should-be-legal-if-only-protect-women-police
United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/
Wikipedia Prostitution in South Africa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_South_Africa
Women Net “Decriminalise Sex Work” Now! https://web.archive.org/web/20101201231607/http://womensnet.org.za/campaign/decriminalise-sex-work-now
Insight Beyond Today’s News, CLB - © All Rights
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