Welcome news from Massachusetts State Senator Stan Rosenberg: On November 21st, Governor Patrick signed into law a House-Senate anti-human trafficking bill that is being hailed as one of the toughest laws of its kind in the nation. The new law includes criminal sentences up to five years in prison for attempted human trafficking, up to 20 […]
Legal Strategies
The F Word: “The Myths of Bedford v. Canada: Why decriminalizing prostitution won’t help”
Laura Johnston provides an excellent rebuttal of pro-prostitution arguments in The F Word: The argument that decriminalizing prostitution will improve conditions for prostituted women sounds appealing on its surface. The first time I heard it I thought it made sense. But when I began volunteering in a rape crisis centre and shelter and met women […]
Vanity Fair: “Sex Trafficking of Americans: The Girls Next Door”
We’re glad to see this impressive 5/24/11 article is the most popular at VanityFair.com today. Among other things, it notes how escort ads in The Hartford Advocate facilitate prostitution. As Northampton honors the abolitionist and feminist legacy of Sojourner Truth this weekend, perhaps our local Valley Advocate will take a long, hard look in the mirror. […]
New Report: “Targeting the Sex Buyer – The Swedish Example: Stopping Prostitution and Trafficking Where It All Begins”
Open publication at issuu.com (free)See also:Abolishing Prostitution: The Swedish Solution – An Interview with Gunilla Ekberg by the Rain and Thunder CollectiveHuffington Post: “Break the Chains of Modern Slavery: End Demand”After years of parliamentary debate, in 1999 Swedes passed the Sex Purchase Law, which criminalized buying and decriminalized selling sex. This placed the emphasis on […]
Ars Technica: “Ex-child prostitute sues Village Voice over sex ads”
Ars Technica reports today: Ex-child prostitute sues Village Voice over sex ads A teenage child trafficking victim has filed a lawsuit against Village Voice Media, for knowingly allowing her pimp to post ads for her “services” on the popular backpage.com. The pimp, Latasha Jewell McFarland, has already pleaded guilty to prostitution charges, but the victim […]
MN Men’s Action Network: Winona County Passes Clean Hotel Policy
Good news today from the MN Men’s Action Network: Hello all, I am pleased to announce: Winona County Passes Clean Hotel Policy First in State The Winona County Board of Commissioners passed a clean hotel resolution and travel policy on Tuesday September 7th which provides reimbursement for county employees only when staying in hotels […]
Demand Change Fact Sheet: “Prostitution: fact or fiction?”
OBJECT and Eaves in the UK have kindly given us permission to reprint this fact sheet on prostitution. Download the high-resolution PDF. See also: Examiner.com: “German’s legalized prostitution brought more exploitation than emancipation to women” (5/26/10) …sex trafficking has increased 11 percent from last year and 70% over [a] five-year period. While many advocates for legalized […]
Press Release: “Nevada Attorney General Masto Announces Ninth Circuit Court Decision Limiting Brothel Advertising”
Click to download a PDF of this press release:See also:United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (07-16633): Coyote Publishing v. Miller (PDF, 148KB, 3/11/10)…The State of Nevada, alone among the states, [permits] the sale of sexual services in some of its counties.1 Nevada combines partial legalization of prostitution with stringent licensing and regulation, including […]
March 9: Legislative Trials and Triumphs in Combating Demand for Commercial Sex
From 3:00-4:30pm on March 9 (US Eastern time), The Comparative Urban Studies Project of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars will make available a live webcast of conduct its second discussion in the Demand Dynamics of Sex Trafficking Speaker Series co-sponsored by Hunt Alternatives Fund. To learn more about this event or to attend in […]
Springfield Republican Reports on Strippers Lawsuit Against Strip Clubs
The February 5 Springfield Republican reports on a class-action suit filed by exotic dancers against area strip clubs: A class-action suit filed by exotic dancers over what they say are unfair labor practices at the Mardi Gras and four other area strip clubs parallels a similar suit filed by dancers earlier this year against a […]