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Re: Prostitution Strategy - A Missed Opportunity
 

The safety of sex workers in prostitution as well as the neighbourhoods in which this activity takes place is paramount and therefore there appears to be general agreement that tolerance zones are a better option to achieve this objective. I am therefore like Boynton and Cusik1 disappointed that the Home Office has missed an excellent opportunity to consider this in its strategy.

It may be worth sharing our experience in Walsall which has its own prostitution and associated problems. During the mid 1990’s and late 90’s there was considerable anger amongst the community which was experiencing the direct affects of prostitution. We initiated a qualitative study to obtain the views of residents and sex workers so that a robust strategy could be developed. Findings of this study surprised many as these included hitherto unknown facts. For example more than half the sex workers and their clients were Walsall residents which was contrary to the perception of many that prostitution was an imported problem. This finding alone made individuals and agencies to own the problem. Secondly a large majority of community representatives and sex workers believed that tolerance zones were the best way for safety, health and indeed prevention.2

A multi-agency task group has been in existence led by the police for implementing many of the recommendations arising out of this study. It is true to say that the prostitution problem and its impact on the community are better managed and a great deal of trust has been established. Some innovative programmes have been initiated involving theatre in education programme in schools to discourage children from prostitution; community arts team intervention to identify sex workers aspirations and an active rehabilitation process. Clearly we could not pursue tolerance zone proposal as there was no legal framework to do so. Hence my frustration with the current strategy.

Sex work is an extremely dangerous activity and the use of harm reduction principles can help to safeguard sex workers lives.3 An opportunity to establish tolerance zones as an effective option in this process has been lost in the recent strategy.

References 1 Boynton P. Cusik L. Sex Workers to Pay the Price. British Medical Journal, 2006, 332, 190-192 (28 January 2006).

2 O’Neill M, Campbell R, James A et al. Red Lights and Safety Zones. In Bell D, Jayne M ed. In City of Quarters – Urban Villages in the Contemporary City. Aldershot, Hants, 2004.

3 Rekart ML. Sex Harm Reduction. Lancet, 2005, 366, 2123-2134.

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Re: Second Oldest Crime
 

Far from being the oldest profession, prostituting women, girls and boys for their vaginas, rectums or mouths, is the oldest crime next to murder. When the Indo-European steppe nomads came into Europe from the Eurasian steppes, they "plundered" every other tribe -- that is, they stole their resources, which included women and children i.e. they raped and murdered their way into Europe. The Celts were one of these Indo- European peoples.

The still remaining legacy of the Indo-European nomadic tribes to Europe and America is the attitude that those who were and are conquered (or without choice as to whether they should be murdered and/or raped) were of no consequence, being "inferior." From these tribes, we have inherited gender discrimination.... If you go back in history, you will find that most languages share Indo-European roots -- for the reasons above.

To condone rape as it has "evolved" in the present form of sex on demand, is to take the side of the "john" -- the ideologically privileged Indo-European male that he must have what he must have,when he wants to have it, whether it is criminal or not -- even if it involves supporting the pimps/traffickers/assaulters/rapists/murderers in their high lifestyles.

That blurs the line between good and evil, sociologically, and within families, kissing up to males even when they are wrong.

The problem is with insufficient funding for UK prosecutors to go after traffickers and johns.

At war with pimps of children, and children who are now women and men,

Susan Liang Honolulu, Hawaii

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Re: The prostitute in front of you.
 

Sir

The average clinician in almost every discipline will have consultations with women (and men) who have used sex to acquire money, goods or services. Which of us gives this much thought - or, come to that, which of us does that exclude? A number of years ago a qualified medical practitioner, who had been engaged in prostitution herself, had an article published in the BMJ - it's beyond belief that she would be unique. What percentage of the population - or our profession - has sought or accepted reward for sex?

Having started, cautiously, to ask the relevant questions as part of a sexual history I have encountered women who have been, who are and who are considering being prostitutes, as well as those who have been offered money for sex without having asked for payment.

Being asked for 'career guidance' in advance of going on the game, was amongst the most uncommon consultations that I have had and, I confess, my first response was that 'Pretty Woman' was not a recruitment video.

Our local GUM service offers quarterly screening for sex workers, I discovered, a frequency that caused one of my patients to circulate around the region's GUM clinics substantially more frequently than that, as well as availing herself of screening with us.

Every GP will have a number of past, present and future prostitutes as patients - do you know who they are? Ought you to know? Are you prepared to provide the relevant care? What is the relevant care?

The government has failed - again - to make real progress on a substantive issue and, again, we, amongst others, will have to contribute to picking up the pieces.

Yours sincerely

Steven Ford