The Scelles Foundation in Mexico promoting the criminalization of the demand for prostitution

Created on Tuesday, 04 October 2016 08:00

Yves Charpenel, the President of The Scelles Foundation and a premier advocate at the Supreme Court of France, stepped in, as part of the International Congress on the fight against sexual exploitation via the demand, to present the French Act of the 13th of April 2016 as well as the major progress that has been made toward reversing criminal charges against prostitutes and fighting the system of prostitution. The conference, organized by Unidos vs Trata and CAP International, took place from the 4th to the 6th of October in the Chamber of Deputies in Mexico City.

Discouraging the Demand: One of the Most Effective Means of Fighting Sexual Exploitation

Do not punish the victims of prostitution but instead punish the perpetrators of their exploitation (the pimps and the clients alike): it is this historic commitment to fighting against the system of prostitution that was enshrined in the French law passed in April, as Yves Charpenel, the president of the Scelles Foundation and a Premier advocate at the French Supreme Court, presented during the Mexican congress “Sexual Exploitation: A violation of Human Rights,” which was held this week.

>>> Read more : « Reversal of the burden of proof, the perspective of the French magistrate » by Y.Charpenel

By reversing the criminal charges and placing responsibility on the client, France responded to a nonsensical requirement. Instead the law now focuses on:  justice and protecting the most vulnerable, putting prohibitions on the purchase another’s body and the end of the right to impose sex by assuring financial remuneration, effectiveness in deterring traffickers from investing in hostile territories that have lax prostitution laws and profiting from the ‘conditions’.

>>> Read more : Communiqué de presse de la Fondation Scelles sur la loi française du 13 avril 2016

With the obvious need to extend this legislative change to the greatest number of states, the burden falls to the magistrate to apply the legislative arsenal at its disposal (despite the many obstacles and pressures that it faces) to protect victims and punish criminals. This will engage an entire society with the protection of the most vulnerable and ending this murderous exploitation of millions of people.

>>> Read more : Yves Charpenel interview on the role of legislation and the magistrate in combating human trafficking

Human trafficking : a crime against the dignity of persons, 2016

An evaluation of the place of repatriation in French law dealing with trafficked persons, 2015

A Historic Turning Point for Latin America?

 “This event is historic because the Lain American demand factor has been studied and, therefore, there are few measures to discourage” confided Rosi Orozco of Unidos vs Trata, a Mexican coalition for combating human trafficking.

This Congress has spread the abolitionist message throughout the Latin American continent, emphasizing the crucial role of demand in the development of this global economic exploitation of human beings. Convinced that the law is one of the most effective weapons against sexual exploitation, organizers and participants will advocate for ambitious public policies on prostitution, which systematically include the prohibition of the purchase of a sexual act.

Many international experts from France, Spain, India, Costa Rica, Colombia, Argentina, Sweden, USA, Vatican, Germany ... will speak at panel discussions on the ethical issues (human rights, slavery, discrimination , violence, patriarchy, tradition ...), health issues (physical, psychological trauma, sexual consequences ...), economic issues (globalization, poverty, trade, profits, costs, ...) and legal issues (legal instruments and results, criminalization of demand, ...) that go hand in hand with sexual exploitation.

>> Read more : A record of prostitution in Mexico and Colombia - figures, legislation, developments, and challenges in the Global Report 2016 of the Scelles Foundation on prostitution

ABOUT

* Unidos vs Trata is a coalition of associations and citizens that has existed in 2013 for the prevention of human trafficking by facilitating the actions of different actors from the political, economic, media, [etc...] spheres.

* CAP International is an international coalition for the abolition of prostitution that brings together 14 associations from different countries both on the ground and in public debate. The Scelles Foundation is a co-founding member (and has been so since 2013).

More information:

* All of the information about the Congress: their objectives, stake holders, roundtables, etc...

* The complete programme

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