Sex Workers | Right to Life with Dignity?

About a year ago, Supreme Court of India declared "Prostitution is a profession like any other profession. Sex workers are entitled to equal status and equal protection under the law of the land." 

"Whenever there is a raid on any brothel, since voluntary sex work is not illegal and only running the brothel is unlawful, the sex workers concerned should not be arrested or penalised or harassed or victimised. ... When it is clear that the sex worker is an adult and is participating with consent, the police must refrain from interfering or taking any criminal action."

Sex workers are also entitled to equal protection and dignity in the eyes of the law. A sex worker is an adult and is doing so subject to consent. In this case, the police will not be able to intervene unnecessarily. Article 21 of the Constitution gives every citizen of the country the right to live a dignified life.

"...this basic protection of human decency and dignity extends to sex workers and their children, who, bearing the brunt of social stigma attached to their work, are removed to the fringes of the society, deprived of their right to live with dignity and opportunities to provide the same to their children."

However, voluntary sex work is legal, running a brothel is illegal in India, as per existing laws covering sex work and human trafficking. The Parliament is yet to make proper laws governing and regulating the sex trade industry. 

I strongly believe that sex workers' should be treated with respect and their work, working conditions need to be regulated and sex work needs to be decriminalised in order to safeguard their basic human rights, and save them from exploitation and abuse. 

Decriminalisation is a way to empower sex workers to combat the violence and discrimination they commonly face. Punitive laws that criminalise and punish sex work act as instruments through which sex workers are harassed and regularly have their human rights violated by law enforcement agencies, health authorities and non-paying clients. 

The health and safety of sex workers is undermined by the continued criminalisation of sex workers, their clients and the organisation of their work, as well as the repressive use of other kinds of laws. Punitive legal environments and practices lead to multiple violations of sex workers’ rights, including the rights to life, liberty, and security of the person, safe working conditions, privacy, equality, freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and the highest attainable standard of health.

The distinction between sexual exploitation and consensual adult sex work is crucial as it enables sex workers and their advocates to legally contest oppressive and forced sex work towards creation of safe and dignified work conditions for sex workers.

TLDR : I strongly believe that sex workers' should be treated with respect and their work, working conditions need to be regulated and sex work needs to be decriminalised in order to safeguard their basic human rights, and save them from exploitation and abuse. 

Do you think Decriminalisation of Sex Work will lead to breaking of the social fabric of the country?

Thoughts?

Edited by Satrangi_Curls - 11 months ago

The distinction between sexual exploitation and consensual adult sex work is crucial as it enables sex workers and their advocates to legally contest oppressive and forced sex work towards creation of safe and dignified work conditions for sex workers.

I strongly believe that sex workers' should be treated with respect and their work, working conditions need to be regulated and sex work needs to be decriminalised in order to safeguard their basic human rights, and save them from exploitation and abuse. 

Do you think Decriminalisation of Sex Work will lead to breaking of the social fabric of the country?

Thoughts?

I believe a sex worker has the right to live life with dignity. They should not be judged for what they chose to do. You aren’t the one paying their bills, giving them a shelter or providing them food. Yes, if they have been forcefully dragged into this, you can always help them to get out of it. But again, it should be their choice. Why would you even criticise them in the first place? What about those men or women of society whom often take advantage of their services? Why won’t you judge them? The hypocrisy within the people is appalling. If p*rn stars can live a normal life with dignity, sex workers are most likely righteous to it as well.

Edited by SarafWasima - 11 months ago

Yes, the government should have laws to define the responsibilities of sex work institutions - the difference between a manager-bouncer and an exploitative pimp.

It is not safe to drive brothels underground so that clients and police can abuse sex workers with impunity.

Whoever is practising sex work on the streets should have the option to do it in an establishment that practises health and safety precautions.

Originally posted by: BrhannadaArmour

Yes, the government should have laws to define the responsibilities of sex work institutions - the difference between a manager-bouncer and an exploitative pimp.

It is not safe to drive brothels underground so that clients and police can abuse sex workers with impunity.

Whoever is practising sex work on the streets should have the option to do it in an establishment that practises health and safety precautions.

In 2011, a committee was constituted by the Supreme Court which has presented 15+ interim reports but the parliament has not made any laws regarding it until now. 

Decriminalization and regulation is very much needed. 👍🏼

Before speaking about this I want to point out society's hypocrisy. Society will shame and humiliate the sex workers but not their clients kyu bhai?? Clients kya doodh pite bachche hai jo sex workers ke pass lust ke liye jate hai?? If sex workers are shamed then these clients should also be equally shamed and humiliated as by the logic they also don't have any right to live with dignity and respect right??

Having said that sex workers have full right to live with dignity and respect. Prostitution is a profession and it should be respected by everybody 

Originally posted by: RockingSunny

Before speaking about this I want to point out society's hypocrisy. Society will shame and humiliate the sex workers but not their clients kyu bhai?? Clients kya doodh pite bachche hai jo sex workers ke pass lust ke liye jate hai?? If sex workers are shamed then these clients should also be equally shamed and humiliated as by the logic they also don't have any right to live with dignity and respect right??

Having said that sex workers have full right to live with dignity and respect. Prostitution is a profession and it should be respected by everybody 

Indeed. Our society puts the baggage of modesty and shame on women's head. 

Originally posted by: SarafWasima

I believe a sex worker has the right to live life with dignity. They should not be judged for what they chose to do. You aren’t the one paying their bills, giving them a shelter or providing them food. Yes, if they have been forcefully dragged into this, you can always help them to get out of it. But again, it should be their choice. Why would you even criticise them in the first place? What about those men or women of society whom often take advantage of their services? Why won’t you judge them? The hypocrisy within the people is appalling. If p*rn stars can live a normal life with dignity, sex workers are most likely righteous to it as well.

well said. 👍🏼 

Society apni hai hi aisi 😭

I feel like this was much needed. Even with it being illegal, it wasn't something that was being curbed. And honestly many women choose this profession either because of the money or because they have no other choices, so why can't they get respect and a right to a proper life?

Originally posted by: MinionBoss

I feel like this was much needed. Even with it being illegal, it wasn't something that was being curbed. And honestly many women choose this profession either because of the money or because they have no other choices, so why can't they get respect and a right to a proper life?

the problem with Indian laws is, it isn't illegal if done privately. Organised crime is illegal. 

Society, on the other hand, treats them as they don't exist. And Bollywood treats them as someone exotic. There's no middle line. Amar Prem was one of the rare movies that did a good job with the portrayal.