Protesters are calling on peers to "vote for women, not pimps and punters" ahead of today's debate in the Lords on the Policing and Crime Bill. Skip related content
Human rights and women's rights protestors are gathering Parliament Square this morning to call on peers to act as Clause 14 of the policing and crime Bill is voted on.
It aims to make it a strict liability offence "to pay or attempt to pay for sexual services from a woman (or child or man) who has been coerced, deceived or forced into the sex trade".
Prosecution under the new law could be possible if evidence shows that a woman has suffered coercion or exploitation and a man has paid, or intends to pay, to have sex with her.
A total of 64 organisations working with victims of commercial sexual exploitation have signed a joint statement of support for the clause.
The Demand Change! campaign is calling on the government to introduce a human rights-based approach to prostitution by decriminalising the selling of sex.
And it urges support to be provided for those currently in prostitution to help them exit the trade, while at the same time criminalising the purchase of sex to tackle demand for commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking.
Organisers reported there would be visual stunts to link the different aspects of the Bill, including a mock 'strip cafe' and big 'pimp centre plus' placards.
The vote on clause 14 will be whipped, as opposed to a free vote.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The pandemic of swine flu may be hitting a peak in the Northern Hemisphere, global health officials said on Friday, but they cautioned it was far from over.
