PROSTITUTION

That this House notes with concern the Government's proposals contained in the Home Office review, Tackling the Demand for Prostitution 08, which includes increased raids and closures of brothels and the criminalisation of clients buying sex from someone working for another person's gain; regrets that the proposed measures will mean women working in brothels will face up to seven years in prison, whilst those who are immigrants will face deportation and that this further criminalisation of prostitution and related activities will drive prostitution further underground increasing the dangers, stigma, exploitation and abuse that many prostitute men and women experience, making them less able to challenge abuse by seeking help or accessing rights; believes that if its aims are to tackle exploitation, abuse and violence within prostitution, the Government should adopt an approach that will empower prostitutes with rights and support and that such proposals should include measures to ensure that existing laws regarding violence, rape, kidnap and false imprisonment are being used effectively to protect prostitutes, to provide and invest in welfare services to tackle impoverishment, ending the proposed cuts in benefits to single parents which could contribute to pushing more women into prostitution, to ensure that prostitutes with uncertain immigration status are able to seek help when needed and to provide an immigration amnesty for all victims of forced trafficking; and therefore urges the Government to reassess its current approach and instead develop an overall policy to decriminalise prostitution.