Amnesty's stance on sex trade draws protest here

By Kim Se-jeong

Korean women’s rights groups are protesting Amnesty International’s recent decision to advocate for the decriminalization of the sex trade.

They argue that such a stance will give legitimacy to pimps and brothel owners, and allow the sex industry to thrive.

At a meeting of its international council that took place in Ireland on Aug. 11, the world’s most reputable rights organization concluded that decriminalization is the best way to protect sex workers. It will start to lobby governments to abolish local laws that punish the commercial trade of sex as early as next year.

Amnesty International said that people who sell sex are adults who have the freedom to do whatever they want, and the state’s crackdown for a consensual sexual activity is a violation of human rights. It claimed that decriminalization will reduce risks for sex workers who are often exposed to harassment and violence. The decision clashes with legislation in many countries including Korea, where both people that buy or sell sex are subject to a punishment of up to a 3 million won fine or one year in jail.

The Korean Women’s Association United expressed its disappointment with the organization.

“We strongly protest the group’s decriminalization drive because it will only legitimatize those who purchase sex, pimps, brothel owners and sex traffickers. And this will only put sex workers in further jeopardy,” the organization said in its press release.

An anonymous activist working to uproot prostitution said, “In principle, sex is not for sale. But it is happening; it is a crime, and should remain that way.”

Amnesty International’s Korea chapter is in a difficult situation because of the recent decision, as it now has to take a different stance on most human rights groups in Korea.

The office has received critical calls from local members since the news circulated. It is unknown whether the Korean chapter voted for decriminalization during the Aug. 11 council meeting as it was a secret ballot.

Although the headquarters gives the national chapter the freedom to choose whether to campaign and lobby for decriminalization of the sex trade, the Korean chapter may have to follow the headquarters’ direction in a broader sense.

“We don’t know yet whether we will actually stage campaigns on this. We still need time to study the subject more before we decide anything,” the official said.

The Korean office has not staged any campaign about the sex trade yet. Most recently, it has advocated for freeing conscientious objectors for military service, the rights of migrant workers and the abolishment of the national security law.