NATIONAL UGLY MUGS CALLS FOR THE COMPLETE DECRIMINALISATION OF SEX WORK IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE RIGHTS AND SAFETY OF ALL SEX WORKERS.
National Ugly Mugs (NUM) is a national organisation which provides greater access to justice and protection for sex workers. We exist because sex workers are often targeted by dangerous individuals yet are frequently reluctant to report these incidents to the police because of the fear that they will face investigation and prosecution for the work they do. This happens. Every day, across the UK, Sex workers are told that the ‘crime’ of association with other sex workers, the ‘crime’ of seeking business, makes them liable to prosecution rather than support and public protection and that if they become victims of crime then this is less important than upholding the laws they are breaking.
National Ugly Mugs believes in and advocates for the human rights of sex workers including;
- the right to self determination
- the right to live free from violence
- the right to live free from intimidation, coercion or exploitation
- the right to work as safely as possible
- the right to police protection
Time and again we see complete disregard shown for the rights and safety of sex workers by institutions and services that should provide support for ALL citizens yet become confused and ineffective when called upon to assist sex workers, simply because they exist on the ‘wrong side’ of the law. The current legal settlement by its very nature gives licence to discriminate in this way and this is why we call for complete decriminalisation of ALL laws relating to the sale and purchase of sexual services.
National Ugly Mugs exists because the law does not work for people in the sex industry. It does not support them to organise their labour or to receive the same respect and support accorded to other members of society. The law actively discriminates against sex workers and we know this is wrong.
We ask you to base policy on the broad range of academic literature that has explored the lived experience of sex workers in the UK and globally.
And we ask you to listen to sex workers. They are the experts in their own lives.
By supporting Motion 39, the Trade Union movement will join a global movement (including the World Health Organisation and Amnesty International) that recognises human rights, legal rights and labour rights can only be obtained if the law respects sex workers and recognises their right to fair and equal treatment.
Georgina Perry
CEO National Ugly Mugs