Model letter to your MP

 

This is a sample letter that you can use to send to your MP. It is more effective if you can adapt the letter so that it is in your own words. Ask your friends to send it too! Go and see your MP. Put a motion to your Trade Union, Student Union, political party branch, charity, organisation, religious group etc etc - to support FCAP and join the Coalition. We need to create a groundswell on this issue.

 

For more information on contacting your MP, see What you can do. It is easy to send an email to your MP through the Write To Them web site.

 

MODEL LETTER:

 

 

To …………………….MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

 

Date:

 

Dear MP,

 

I am writing to you about the issue of prostitution law reform.

 

I observed recently that amendments on this issue within the Criminal Justice & Immigration Bill have been dropped at the debate stage in the House of Lords. I understand there are reasons for this, but I hope that this does not mean the issue will drop off the agenda of Government or opposition?

 

This issue has had some publicity lately, not least due to the tragic murders of five young women involved in street prostitution in Ipswich. This tragedy has highlighted what we have always known, that prostitution can never be safe and that women deserve routes out which they don't have to pay for with their life.

 

'Paying The Price' estimated that there are around 80,000 people involved in prostitution in England and Wales. There are up to 5000 young people being exploited in prostitution, indeed the global average age of entry into prostitution is only 13 - 14yrs old. The majority of those involved have experience of the Local Authority care system, have survived childhood sexual and/or physical abuse in their families. Many are survivors of rape and domestic violence. They then face further violence and abuse within this so-called industry, from punters and pimps. Canadian studies estimate that women in prostitution are 40 times more likely to be murdered than women not in this industry. They are also disproportionately affected by rape. Global research shows that the majority of those in prostitution want out and would leave immediately if they had other options.

 

Sweden has addressed these issues by taking the brave stance of criminalising the buying of another human being for sexual exploitation. This has de-criminalised all those involved in prostitution and instead criminalised demand. Sweden also invested heavily in exit and support services for those in prostitution. This has been a successful approach, reducing street prostitution by half and drastically reducing the rates of trafficking into the country, especially in comparison to their neighbour countries.

 

I would like to ask you to ensure that the global human rights issue of prostitution remains on the agenda in the UK. As the current ammendments have been dropped, I urge you to utilise this time to call for a more thorough and radical approach, which does not criminalise the vulnerable people within prostitution, but instead criminalises demand.

 

I would appreciate a reply detailing what you are doing to build a Britain where nobody is for sale.

 

I would also like to draw your attention to a new Coalition which has been set up to campaign against the global human rights abuse of prostitution - FCAP: http://www.fcap.btik.com.

 

I look forward to hearing from you,

 

Yours sincerely,

 

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