A United Nations report has recommended the decriminalisation of a range of activities, including all forms of sexual activity. The report appears to endorse not only prostitution but on-line pornography, pimping and brothel-keeping
The “March 8 Principles”, released on International Women’s Day, are supposed to apply the UN’s interpretation of international human rights law to criminal law.
The underlying idea is that offences related to sex, drug use, HIV, and sexual and reproductive health, as well as homelessness and poverty should all be decriminalised.
Amongst the recommendations it says: “Criminal law may not proscribe abortion. Abortion must be taken entirely out of the purview of the criminal law …”
Likewise, “Consensual sexual conduct, irrespective of the type of sexual activity, the sex/ gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression of the people involved or their marital status, may not be criminalised in any circumstances.”
Regarding prostitution, the report says: “The exchange of sexual services between consenting adults for money, goods or services and communication with another about, advertising an offer for, or sharing premises with another for the purpose of exchanging sexual services between consenting adults for money, goods or services, whether in a public or private place, may not be criminalised, absent coercion, force, abuse of authority or fraud.”
