A Call to Action to Support Survivors in Our Resolution On
Amnesty International’s “Sex Work” Policy
Reasons to vote in favor of our resolution against Amnesty International’s current policy to decriminalize all aspects of the sex trade
 Research used to justify the resolution was one-sided and incomplete. It recommends full decriminalization, but did not perform research in countries that have decriminalized the sex trade, like Germany and the Netherlands, which have experienced increases in illegal prostitution and trafficking to meet high demand for legal prostitution
 Though the resolution will have widespread impact, not all members were consulted during the research process
 A number of Amnesty country sections, including AI France and AI Sweden, have publicly expressed their opposition to this policy. The Women’s Group of Amnesty Norway has seceded from AI Norway in reaction to the ICM vote to adopt the decision in August 2015
 The decision is short-sighted as it focuses on those currently in prostitution but does not consider the future impact for those at risk for exploitation
 Amnesty International did not consult many survivors of the sex trade and their organizations, which have called for decriminalization of only prostituted persons, and not brothel-keeping, pimping and buyers of sex
 The research failed to consult global grassroots and front-line organizations that serve prostituted women. Longtime supporters of Amnesty are unhappy with this decision, including well-known human right activists such as President Jimmy Carter and Gloria Steinem