Demand Safe Working Conditions for Western Australian Sex Workers
- by: Care2.com
- recipient: Western Australian Government
Western Australian Prostitution Bill 2011 has been up for public comment since June, and so far it appears grossly misguided. The bill is meant to legally regulate prostitution, but it focuses far more on punishment than protection.
A bill geared toward prostitution regulation should have measures in place to ensure the health and safety of sex workers. The most the bill does, however, is to require safe sex practices aimed more at protecting the client than the sex worker.
Sex workers in Western Australia deserve the same right to a safe and healthy workplace as any other professional. Neglecting to consider this or any other significant input from sex industry workers is ridiculous.
Demand that the Western Australian government revise the bill to include sex worker protection measures.
The 2011 Prostitution Bill does much to crack down on illegal brothels, and heavily regulate legal prostitution. It does not, however, consider the safety of the sex worker, and this is unacceptable.
In terms of references to sex worker safety, the bill only briefly mentions measures taken against the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. It neglects to consider implementing measures to create a safe and healthy working environment for Western Australian sex workers.
It is important that sex workers are given a voice in the drafting of this bill. Listen to their input, and develop measures to better provide them with a safe and healthy workplace.
