The South African government is considering fully decriminalising prostitution.

THE TRUTH IS prostitution is a gross violation of human dignity and inherently exploitative. It exploits the vulnerability of those who are desperate to survive and provide for their family. And turns women into products in a system built on gender inequality.

If we care about people who are exploited in the system of prostitution, full decriminalisation is NOT an option.

All people have the right to flourish, to be protected and kept safe from sexual abuse and exploitation. Everyone deserves real choices to make a living, instead of being forced into prostitution for survival.

“[T]o be prostituted is humiliating enough; to legalize prostitution is to condone that humiliation, and to absolve those who inflict it. It is an agonizing insult.” (Rachel Moran – prostitution survivor, activist, and author)

The SALRC’s authoritative 2017 report found adult prostitution should not be fully decriminalised.

Sign this petition to make a stand for HUMAN DIGNITY and against EXPLOITATION. Join us in getting this critical message to the South African government and our law-makers: 

1. STOP THE DEMAND

• Do not legalise sex-buying. It should remain a criminal offence.
• Proactively prosecute sex-buyers to put an end to sexual abuse and exploitation of persons trapped in prostitution.

2. ABOLISH THE SYSTEM OF PROSTITUTION

• Do not decriminalise the activities of pimps, brothels and others profiting from the sexual abuse and exploitation of persons in prostitution.
• Proactively prosecute those who enrich themselves by selling others for sex.

3. HELP VULNERABLE AND MARGINALISED PEOPLE –

• Provide viable opportunities to exit the system of prostitution for good, or
• Not to enter the system of prostitution in the first place,

through empowerment, education and employment, rather than submitting to prostitution to survive.

Each signature shows government we will not tolerate exploitation of valuable human beings through prostitution, and calls for the actions of sex-buyers, pimps and brothels to remain criminalised.

CLICK HERE for a more detailed explanation of why prostitution is a human rights violation and inherently exploitative.

Endorsed by:

Centre Against Sexual Exploitation, South Africa; National Freedom Network; Hope Risen Foundation; Embrace Dignity; Mickey Meji; Brave to Love; Straatwerk; Freedom Ports Alliance; Project Exodus; Shattering Shackles & Impumelelo Yethu Foundation