July 2009

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to you following our meeting of RCN Congress last week at Harrogate. During Congress I proposed a motion on behalf of Cambridgeshire branch 'that this meeting of RCN Congress would urge RCN council to lobby local government to allow up to 4 sex workers to work together legally before requiring a license'. The proposal was for members to consider the impact that de-criminalising prostitution would have on these worker's access to healthcare and personal safety. The resolution was passed by 93.46% to 6.54% of all voting members, representing the whole of the UK.

As the proposer of this resolution, and following debate at Congress it was clear to me that the Policing and Crime bill will have a profound impact on the continuation of criminalising sex workers and their clients. If this bill were to go through as it stands it would have a detrimental effect and could cause many sex workers to go 'underground' to escape prosecution/persecution by law enforcement agencies. This would make everything so much more dangerous for the people involved, and lead them to be more vulnerable and more open to exploitation by the unscrupulous.

At Congress the RCN members called for more discussion and action on de-criminalising prostitution, which I think is a clear message from an organisation that prides itself on its' inclusivity and non-judgemental approach.
Personally speaking, I would urge you to consider this when reviewing the aforementioned Bill, and think about moving forward rather than returning to outdated attitudes.
 
yours sincerely

 

Carol Watts

RMN,

Representative and Branch Secretary, Cambridgeshire Branch,

Royal College of Nursing.

01487842186/07905225961