FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2018
Contact: Melissa Canu, CHANGE
Email: mcanu@genderhealth.org
Office: (+1) 202-910-6526
Contact: Gypsy Guillén Kaiser, IWHC
Email: media@iwhc.org
Office: (+1) 917-498-3346

WOMEN’S RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS CALL ON CONGRESS TO PROTECT SEX
WORKERS’ RIGHTS IN FIGHT TO END TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS
Washington, D.C. – Women’s rights organizations call for the U.S. Congress to shelve legislation that
would undermine the human rights of sex workers and efforts to end trafficking of persons.
The legislation introduced in both the House and Senate, “Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act” SESTA (S.
1693) and “Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act” FOSTA (H.1865), claims to address trafficking of persons
for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Instead, it makes the online facilitation of prostitution a federal
crime punishable by up to ten years imprisonment. In doing so, the legislation would undermine efforts to
protect sex workers from violence, provide harm reduction services, and identify and support survivors of
trafficking by pushing trafficking further underground. It also violates sex workers’ rights to freedom of
association and free speech.
Women’s rights organizations Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) and the International
Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC), strongly oppose this legislation, and urge Congress to refocus its
efforts toward protecting the human rights of all individuals, including sex workers.
“By removing online platforms for sex workers, the legislation eliminates an important tool to screen
clients and negotiate safe working conditions, exposing sex workers to violence and putting their lives at
risk. The legislation not only harms sex workers, it will also undermine the U.S. government’s own goal
of ending trafficking,” said Serra Sippel, President of the Center for Health and Gender Equity. “Every
person should have their rights protected. Sex workers are no exception. Legislation to end trafficking
should be evidence-based and include provisions to protect the rights of sex workers.”
“The evidence is clear that criminalizing sex work and related acts does nothing to address trafficking,”
said Françoise Girard, President of the International Women’s Health Coalition. “Instead, Congress
should put its efforts into policies that address the causes of trafficking like unemployment and the lack of
safe paths to migration, while ensuring that all survivors of trafficking receive comprehensive protection
and support.”
The legislation under consideration is out of step with both the public health evidence and global human
rights. In 2016, Amnesty International adopted a policy that calls on governments to take specific actions
to protect the human rights of sex workers including by engaging sex workers in the development of laws
1317 F Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20004 USA

· tel. 202.393.5930

www.genderhealth.org · change@genderhealth.org

· fax. 202.393.5937

 and policies that affect their well-being, ending discrimination and gender inequality and ensuring that
sex workers live free from harm, exploitation, and coercion.
International agencies including UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNDP, UN Women, the WHO and the World Bank
have addressed stigma and discrimination against sex workers and have recognized the role that
decriminalization plays in both improving public health outcomes and protecting the human rights of sex
workers.
Earlier this month, CHANGE and IWHC were among 50 organizations that signed on to a letter
organized by the National Center for Transgender Equality.
###

1317 F Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20004 USA

· tel. 202.393.5930

www.genderhealth.org · change@genderhealth.org

· fax. 202.393.5937