| 2nd July |
Trafficking in Myths... |
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That's the trouble with christians, they believe any old nonsense they hear
Permalink |
Based on
article
from
christiantoday.com
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The
Christian Institute has welcomed the Government’s men minded plans to tighten
the law on prostitution being debated in the House of Lords on Wednesday as part
of the Policing and Crime Bill.
Colin Hart, Director of The Christian Institute, said: Thousands of girls are
being trafficked into the UK every year to be forced into prostitution by people
who know they can make money from them. This will continue until the demand for
prostitutes is cut. We believe that the Government’s latest proposals will go
some way towards turning the tide on trafficking by deterring people from
purchasing sex.
He expressed regret, however, at plans to relax measures dealing with the sale
of sex, warning that prostitution was inherently harmful.
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| 27th June |
American Mean Mindedness... |
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Rhode Island passes law to criminalise the buying of sex
Permalink full story: Small State Small Minds...Indoor prostitution criminalised in Rhode Island |
Based on
article
from
thebostonchannel.com
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The
Rhode Island Senate has passed a bill outlawing indoor prostitution.
Lawmakers approved the measure saying it gives law enforcement the tools
necessary to prosecute indoor prostitution because current law only prohibits
soliciting sex outside.
The bill, which now goes to the House, would fine first-time offenders $250.
Subsequent violations would carry more repessive penalties.
It would also be a misdemeanor for landlords and property owners to allow
prostitution on their premises. That offense would carry a fine of up to $1,000.
Similar legislation passed the House in May by a 62-8 vote.
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| 20th June |
Mean Minded Police... |
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Calls to criminalise the buying of sex in Vietnam
Permalink |
Based on
article
from
vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn
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The
Vietnamese Government should invest more capital for prostitution prevention
activities and impose stiff fines on men who pay for the service, ministry
officials have said.
Tran Van Quang of the Crime Investigation Police Department (PC14) under the
Ministry of Public Security said a new law should impose fines on men who
seek services from prostitutes.
Higher fines should be imposed on serial violators, added Quang, who spoke
recently at a conference on preventing prostitution held in Ho Chi Minh
City.
Quang said the fight against prostitution was becoming more difficult,
partly because many prostitutes no longer need a mediator to find customers.
Many of them use the internet and cellphones to call customers and work day
jobs in massage parlours, hairdresser shops or fake cafes to disguise their
real jobs. Others work in discos, karaoke bars and hotels.
Authorities estimate that there are a total of 40,000 prostitutes
nationwide, with most of them working in Ha Noi, HCM City and neighbouring
provinces. According to PC14, last year 866 prostitution cases were
uncovered in 54 out of Viet Nam’s 64 provinces. More than 4,000 people were
apprehended and taken to rehabilitation centres.
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| 19th June |
Decriminalising Mini Brothels... |
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Baroness Miller suggests a few good amendments to the Policing and Crime Bill
Permalink |
Thanks to Donald
See
Proposed Amendments to Policing & Crime Bill
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There
are several proposed amendments to the policing and crime bill to be debated in
Lords Committee.
Baroness Miller Of Chilthorne Domer suggests a new clause decriminalising
associated workers in brothels
33B Associated workers in brothels
For the purposes of section 33 and 33A, a person who is not directly
involved in the provision of sexual services is not to be treated as
assisting in the management of a brothel by reason only of being
employed in a brothel.
She also suggests removing flats with 2 working girls from the
definition of a brothel:
33B Definition of a brothel
(1) Premises shall not be regarded as a brothel where—
(a) no more than two prostitutes, with or without a maid, are working
together or separately on any given day; and
(b) each prostitute retains control over her or his individual
earnings from the prostitution carried out at the premises.
She also sensibly suggests that human rights should be considered
before issuing closure orders on brothels
In making a closure order, the court must
consider the effect of making the order on the human rights of any
person who owns or resides in the premises, and anyone else likely to
be affected by the order.
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| 17th June |
Noble Lords... |
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Tory opposition amendments to Labour's paying for sex prosecution lottery
Permalink |
Based on
article
from
christian.org.uk
See also
current status in Parliament
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Planned
laws to tackle prostitution could be considerably weakened by amendments tabled
by Conservative frontbenchers in the House of Lords.
The Government proposes to criminalise men who pay for sex with women being
exploited by someone else, whether they know about her situation or not. This is
known as a ’strict liability’ offence.
However, Baroness Hanham and Viscount Bridgeman have now tabled amendments which
would significantly reduce the power of the new law.
Under the amendments, a man would only be guilty if he knows, or ought to
know that the woman he had paid for sex was being exploited.
The new amendments are expected to be subject to debate when the Bill
reaches Committee Stage in the House of Lords later this month.
Policing & Crime Bill Part 2
Sexual offences and sex establishments
Prostitution
13 Paying for sexual services of a prostitute subjected to force etc:
England and Wales
Add Section 53A to the Sexual Offences Act 2003
53A Paying for sexual services of a prostitute
subjected to force etc.
(1) A person (A) commits an offence if—
(a) A makes or promises payment for the
sexual services of a prostitute (B),
(b) a third person (C) has used force, deception or threats of a kind
likely to induce or encourage B to provide the sexual services or which
A has made or promised payment, and
(c) C acted for or in the expectation of gain
for C or another person (apart from A or B).
(2) The following are irrelevant—
(a) where in the world the sexual
services are to be provided and whether those services are provided,
(b) whether A is, or ought to be, aware that C has used force, deception
or threats.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under this
section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on
the standard scale.
(4) For the purposes of this section “force” includes coercion by threats
or other psychological means including exploitation of vulnerability.
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| 13th June |
A Question of Extras... |
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Finland police ask what acts are considered paying for sex
Permalink |
Based on
article
from
yle.fi
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Authorities
are calling for legal clarification to laws governing sex crimes. Police want
clear rules discerning which types of acts that provide sexual gratification are
legal and which are not. This has been a grey area of quasi-legality, say
officials.
Prostitution is not illegal in Finland, but human trafficking and procurement
are against the law.
Finnish courts are now being forced to take a stand on what exactly qualifies as
a sexual act.
The Vaasa District Court recently handed down a guilty verdict in a suit
involving the procurement of sexual acts. The court ruled that the defendants'
establishment sold sexual acts not involving intercourse in addition to
striptease and massages.
The court sentenced the business owners to three months' conditional
imprisonment. They also forfeited profits from the illegal activities to the
state.
The men who purchased sexual services were not charged in the Vaasa procurement
trial.
There are some 100 places across the country where sexual acts, but not
full-blown sex are for sale. Private striptease rooms are housed in bars, sex
shops and in massage parlours.
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| 12th June |
Cold Hearted... |
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Irish Senate motion calling for the criminalisation of buyers of sex
Permalink |
Based on
article
from
irishtimes.com
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The
independent Irish Senator, Rónán Mullen, has called for the prosecution of men
who pay for sex.
Mullen has moved a motion in the Seanad (Senate) calling for the criminalisation
of the purchase of sex.
Currently, it is illegal to solicit or pay for sex in a public place. Under the
Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008, it is also an offence to solicit a
trafficked person for the purpose of prostitution.
Mullen said Ireland should be a cold house for traffickers of women for
prostitution, and stringent laws needed to be introduced to act as a deterrent.
He claimed criminalisation would curtail demand for the sexual exploitation of
vulnerable women and such measures have been introduced successfully in
Scandinavia: In order to safeguard the welfare and dignity of sex industry
victims, legislation must be robust. It is inconsistent to criminalise the
activities of one set of abusers, the pimps and traffickers, without
criminalising the actions of another set – the users.
The motion is supported by both Ruhama, an organisation which campaigns against
prostitution, and by the Immigrant Council of Ireland.
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| 10th June |
Pandering to Man Haters... |
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Noxious MacTaggart adds more nastiness to buying sex lottery
Permalink |
Based on
article
from
christian.org.uk
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The
Government has accepted an amendment to its planned prostitution law.
Last month the Government announced it was changing the wording of the offence
from controlled for gain to subjected to force, deception or threats.
Mean minded women’s groups said this was a watering-down of the offence.
Since then, the Government has accepted a clarifying amendment proposed by Fiona
Mactaggart MP. Her explanatory clause reads: For the purposes of this section
‘force’ includes coercion by threats or other psychological means including
exploitation of vulnerability.
During a House of Commons debate on the revised wording, Miss Mactaggart
mentioned a meeting she had with Tim Brain, the Association of Chief Police
Officers’ lead on prostitution and sex crimes. Having initially said that the
new offence would be too complex to effectively police, he now feels, according
to Miss Mactaggart, that the offence is enforceable, even in its initial
wording.
The Government’s Policing and Crime Bill was introduced under former Home
Secretary Jacqui Smith. New Home Secretary Alan Johnson has yet to comment on
the Bill’s provisions.
Policing & Crime Bill Part 2
Sexual offences and sex establishments
Prostitution
13 Paying for sexual services of a prostitute subjected to force etc:
England and Wales
Add Section 53A to the Sexual Offences Act 2003
53A Paying for sexual services of a prostitute
subjected to force etc.
(1) A person (A) commits an offence if—
(a) A makes or promises payment for the
sexual services of a prostitute (B),
(b) a third person (C) has used force, deception or threats of a kind
likely to induce or encourage B to provide the sexual services or which
A has made or promised payment, and
(c) C acted for or in the expectation of gain
for C or another person (apart from A or B).
(2) The following are irrelevant—
(a) where in the world the sexual
services are to be provided and whether those services are provided,
(b) whether A is, or ought to be, aware that C has used force, deception
or threats.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under this
section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on
the standard scale.
(4) For the purposes of this section “force” includes coercion by threats
orother psychological means including exploitation of vulnerability.
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