Bill seeks to decriminalize and support sex workers in New York | The State

The Democratic State Senator Liz Krueger, who represents Manhattan, presented this monday before the State Legislature a new bill to decriminalize and support sex workers in New York, focusing more on punishing pimps and sex traffickers.

Among the details of the proposal, it stands out that while protecting the people who carry out this activity, many of them victims who are forced into prostitution, the pimps and those who pay for these services continue to be punished.

“I believe that the role of the progressive government is to defend those with less power against systems of exploitation that seek to take advantage of their marginalization. That is why I present the Law of Justice and Equality for Survivors of Sex Trade, together with Pamela hunterKrueger wrote on his Twitter account.

I believe the role of progressive government is to champion those with less power against systems of exploitation that seek to take advantage of their marginalization. That is why I’m introducing the Sex Trade Survivors Justice & Equality Act, with @ PamelaHunter128. 1/ pic.twitter.com/oOofwoi4gu

– Senator Liz Krueger (@LizKrueger) January 25, 2021

Hunter is a state assemblywoman who represents District 128 that covers several counties in the north of the state, and who sponsored the project with the senator.

“I am proud to sponsor this legislation in the Assembly. It is time we put an end to the exploitation of the disadvantaged and address these issues head-on. The Law of Justice and Equality for Survivors of Sexual Commerce will do just that, ”the assemblywoman also expressed on her Twitter.

I am proud to sponsor this legislation in the Assembly. It is time that we put an end to the exploitation of the disadvantaged and confront these issues directly. The Sex Trade Survivors Justice & Equality Act will do just that. #JusticeAndEquality https://t.co/oUVeooXhMA

– Pamela Hunter (@ PamelaHunter128) January 25, 2021

The project, which was carried out with the help of survivors of sex trafficking networks in New York and which has been analyzed for more than a year, has the support of various activists and community organizations who, like Krueger, assure that the Most of those involved in sex work are minority youth of color who are forced to sell their bodies for lack of other ways to earn a living.

The very defenders of victims of sex industry they denounce that many, through coercion and not by their own will, find themselves in desperate situations that leads them to prostitution.

And it’s that main aspect of the bill, not criminalizing all aspects of the sex trade, but only the promoters of prostitution and sex trafficking, and maintaining the ‘purchase of sex’ and the possession of brothels as illegal acts, but at the same time not directly punishing the workers, is what so far is the most controversial.

The proposal has already been criticized by other state legislators who had already submitted a similar proposal, but which advocates fully legalizing all aspects of prostitution, which would allow sex workers to have the freedom to transact safely, without themselves or their clients fearing being arrested.

That project was presented in 2019 by the Democratic senator Julia Salazar, who represents Brooklyn (D-Brooklyn) and the Democratic Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, who represents Manhattan.

The main points of the project

• It does not punish sex workers but it does punish pimps, sex traffickers, brothels or brothels.
• Creates a shield against a charge of “promoting prostitution” for those who are currently victims of sex trafficking.
• Offers a wide range of social service assistance to workers.
• Prohibits the use of condoms as evidence of prostitution in criminal trials.
• It would remove any and all prostitution and loitering charges currently on a person’s criminal records, without the need for an application.
• Calls for other crimes committed by survivors of trafficking at the behest of their exploiters to be eliminated.
• Provides stronger protections for children, since previously those who bought sex from children under 15, or anyone under 18 in a school zone, could use an “ignorance defense” claiming that they did not know that the child was under age, but now that would be removed.
• In addition, there are fines against sex buyers based on their income of up to $ 50,000 instead of jail time, as it is unlikely that most clients will be jailed for a misdemeanor.