Ministry of Justice consultation ignores victims of rape and provision of rape crisis services

10 January 2008 in Consultations, England, Government, Rape and Sexual Assault, Wales

A consultation – Third sector strategy – by the Ministry of Justice which opened on 20 December 2007 and closes on 20 March 2008 makes no reference to victims of rape or the provisions on Rape Crisis Centres or Helplines.

This is ” a consultation to enable the Ministry of Justice to finalise its third sector strategy for England and Wales, to strengthen the way the ministry works with voluntary and community groups to secure better public services and improve its policies. “

If you would like to read the original MoJ press release and download the consultation document and the paper to submit your response see the story we originally posted at http://freecharity.org.uk/pipermail/womeninlondontraining/2008-January/000515.html

Tackling demand for prostitution review begins with Sweden visit

10 January 2008 in Government, Prostitution

A six month review exploring what more the Government can do to tackle the demand for prostitution begins today with a visit to Sweden, led by Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker.

In 1999, Sweden introduced legislation which criminalised the purchase or attempted purchase of sex and decriminalised its sale, with the aim of reducing levels of prostitution and trafficking of women by cutting demand. Paying for sex is not currently outlawed in the UK.

Ministers, including the Solicitor General Vera Baird and the Deputy Minister for Women and Equality Barbara Follett, will use today’s visit to explore how Swedish legislation is enforced and the impact this change has had on prostitution markets and those involved in selling sex.

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said:

“The Government is committed to reducing the dangers associated with street prostitution and all forms of commercial sexual exploitation, including the abhorrent trade of trafficking in human beings. Tackling demand is one of the areas where my colleagues and I think we can have the greatest impact and that is why we are looking at what more we can do in this area.

“The visit to Sweden and other countries over the next six months is a chance to see how the problem is being tackled internationally and an opportunity for us all to learn lessons from each other.”

Solicitor General Vera Baird said:

“Our strategy around prevention and supporting women out of sex work is well-developed following the consultation the Home Office held some years ago. However, the vile new slave trade of trafficking people for sex is fed by demand.

“If we can find further ways of deterring punters, we can undermine the market and limit the harm. So we are travelling to see how neighbour countries have dealt with this problem, while appreciating that we will have to find British solutions in the end.”

Deputy Minister for Women and Equalities Barbara Follett said:

“The evil trade of sex trafficking is one of my top priorities. This type of slavery is completely unacceptable in the twenty first century and the Government is doing all it can to end it. That is why we are so keen to learn from other countries and share with them our experiences.

“Men who pay for sex can fuel this inhuman practice and that is why we are particularly keen to tackle the demand side of this trade.”

Ministers will meet their counterparts in Sweden during the visit, followed by a tour of Stockholm’s Prostitution Unit and the red light district.

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1. The Government undertook a comprehensive review of the legal framework in relation to prostitution as part of the Paying the Price consultation in 2004. The results of the consultation contributed to the development of the Government’s Coordinated Prostitution Strategy which was published in January 2006: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-paying-the-price/

2. This review specifically considered the merits of introducing an offence to criminalise those who pay for, or offer to pay for, sex, along the lines of the Swedish model. Although the strategy rejects the option of introducing a specific offence of paying for sex, it does support the principles of the Swedish model – focusing on the areas of prostitution where exploitation and violence are commonplace and where the existence of a sex trade is a nuisance for local communities.

Thursday 10 January 2008 11:22 Home Office (National)
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=343835&NewsAreaID=2

why womensphere

10 January 2008 in womensphere admin

womensphere replaces the public notice board linked to women in london

the blog will still allow information by and about women who are not part of the women in london directory to have their information shared via the internet in the same way as the public notice board

but it will also allow information posted to be categorised, be searchable and have an rss feed

women in london
january 2008