Statement: GNP+ supports the decriminalisation of consensual adult sex work
4 September 2015, Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) joins voices
with our partners NSWP (the International Network of Sex Work Projects) and MSMGF (the Global Forum
on MSM and HIV) to condemn the targeting of sexual minorities and the ongoing criminalisation of
sex work. We believe that all people should be able to freely exercise personal autonomy in
relation of their sexual rights and health.
Last week, federal authorities in New York raided the offices of Rentboy.com, a male-escort website
in existence for over 18 years, and arrested several of its staff members. The raid provoked
condemnation by local and international human rights advocates as a spurious attack on LGBT
sex workers, and renewed advocates’ calls for the decriminalisation of sex work.
GNP+ supports the rights of sex workers to be free of ideological and political coercion, stigma,
and violence perpetuated by government officials. Globally, HIV prevalence among sex workers
is nearly 12 times as high as in the general population.
“The criminalisation of sex work has fueled the HIV epidemic in many parts of the world due, in
large measure, to unimaginable levels of violence, stigma and abuse that sex workers face. This
interferes with their ability to negotiate and control condom use, as well as to access
treatment, care and support services for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases
which they need to get and stay healthy.” says Suzette Moses-Burton, Executive Director of GNP+.
In August, Amnesty International adopted a position to support the decriminalisation of sex work, joining a
growing number of organisations supporting decriminalisation alongside GNP+, such as the World Health
Organisation, Human Rights Watch and the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women.
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The Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+)
The Global Network of People Living With HIV (GNP+) is the global network for and by people living with HIV. Its mission is to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV. The vision is a powerful and united worldwide social movement of people living with HIV, with their leadership and voices at the centre of the HIV response. GNP+'s objective is equitable access to health and social services for people living with HIV by focusing on social justice, rights and involvement. This will be achieved through GNP's purpose, which is to promote the greater and more meaningful involvement of people living with HIV in programme and policy development (the GIPA principle). For more information, please visit www.gnpplus.net. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
For more information, please contact:
GNP+:
Victoria Clarke,
External Relations & Communications Officer
vclarke@gnpplus.net
Phone: +31-20-423 4114¦ Skype: vclarkegnpplus
"Reproduced with permission - Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+)"
Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+)
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