Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A bill pending in the General Assembly to criminalize prostitution in Rhode Island is being opposed by groups who say it will harm victims of sex-trafficking and drive the problem underground.

Andrea Ritchie, director of the Sex Workers Project of the Urban Justice Center in New York City, urged state lawmakers to oppose legislation to make sex-for-money a crime, saying that it will only hinder any efforts to root out sex-trafficking by alienating the victims.

"We urge Rhode Island to go forward, not backwards, in the fight against human trafficking,'' Ritchie said at a State House news conference Wednesday morning. Rhode Island should stick with the "sound policy it has adopted -- whether intentionally or unintentionally'' of not prosecuting indoor prostitution.

She was joined by members of the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, Direct Action for Rights and Equality, Amos House, the Rhode Island National Association of Social Workers and the Rhode Island chapter of the National Organization for Women.

The House of Representatives three weeks ago passed a bill introduced by Rep. Joanne M. Giannini, D-Providence to outlaw prostitution, regardless of where it occurs. The 30-year-old law contains no reference to prostitution as a crime -- a problem, say police and prosecutors, when it comes to investigating and prosecuting cases of sex-trafficking.

But opponents of the bill said that there is nothing to be gained by criminalizing prostitutes -- and much to lose.

"I don't think the state should criminalize any consensual sexual activity between adults,'' Ritchie said in response to a reporter's question. If Rhode Island wants to "eradicate prostitution,'' she said, the way to do that is to address the underlying causes, which include sexual abuse, drug addiction and economic hardship.

A separate bill designed to strengthen the state's laws against sex-trafficking, also sponsored by Rep. Giannini, is scheduled for a hearing Thursday in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

On Tuesday afternoon, Giannini issued a statement in response to the opponents of the bill, saying:

"...If we really care about the women who are the victims of prostitution and human trafficking, we need to shut down the industry. This bill gives the police the tool they need go after the perpetrators, and it provides immunity to the women who are its victims.

"Opponents of this bill say they want to protect women, but keeping the status quo is not going to help victims at all. Every state in the United States has a prostitution law except Rhode Island. Hundreds of trafficking victims have been identified and assisted throughout the United States. Not one trafficking victim has ever been prosecuted."

 Tags  legislation Providence RI R.I. General Assembly Rhode Island

Comments

Game Time said:

The point of the bill in the first place was to make street walking (self employed) prostitutes criminals. If women want to do it they have to work for someone who is giving a cut of the money into the system.

Why on EARTH would the GA want to do something that disrupts a MASSIVE money making enterprise for organized crime?

This dog and pony show will work nicely as the GA will not vote to take a swipe at their handlers. They had their show vote earlier and people presume it's not against the law.

The game goes round and the people are none the wiser...Classic RI

Link | June 10, 2009 2:28 PM
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Cal5 said:

I agree with Andrea Richie that criminalizing consensual sex does not help but actually harms the victims of the sex trade. The victims (the girls in the sex trade) become criminals. What sounds like a no-brainer to support in reality is indeed NO-brainer legislation that makes all many lawmakers feel and appear to be 'righteous' while, in effect the law will harm innocent people. Read the literature on how anti-prostitution laws work globally to reduce the global sex trade the conclusions are fairly clear--getting tough on the 'traded' girls and what they do, just penalizes THEM and not those who trade them (the real criminals here). Read folks...don't just 'be righteous' and go with your gut.

Link | June 10, 2009 3:02 PM
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Julia Liu said:

http://providencedailydose.com/2009/06/05/happy-endings/

If you want more info on this topic, Tara Hurley, a local filmmaker, produced a documentary about Providence, RI massage parlors and indoor prostitution.

Link | June 10, 2009 3:18 PM
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