Nurses to air case for legalisation

The Royal College of Nursing is to discuss the legalisation of
prostitution to make it easier for sex workers to access
services.

The Liverpool branch of the RCN is submitting a resolution to an
RCN conference next week for debate in the run-up to the general
election.

The resolution highlights the “significant consequences” of
prostitution for those involved, as well as for the wider
community, adding that it can also involve the abuse of children
and adults.

“There are also close links with sexually-transmitted
infections, including HIV, along with major problems relating to
drug use, and in some cases crime too,” it adds.

The RCN wants to see a “co-ordinated strategy” by health and
social care organisations to address the problems faced by sex
workers.

Countries including Holland, Germany and Australia have created
managed zones for street prostitution and licensed brothels, where
the health and safety of prostitutes is managed by local
authorities.

“Research indicates that these initiatives have resulted in
significant improvements in the health of male and female
prostitutes and have helped to reduce the levels of exploitation
and violence,” the resolution explains.#

In July 2004, the government launched a consultation paper
Paying the Price in England and Wales to review the current
legislation relating to prostitution, which the Home Office itself
admitted was “outdated, confusing and ineffective”.

In Scotland, proposed legislation to allow councils to set up
designated tolerance zones for prostitutes under the Prostitution
Tolerance Zones (Scotland) Bill has been postponed for the third
time until October.