WI hit squad tour brothels
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| Campaigners in favour of a public debate on the legalisation of brothels, including Jean Johnson, fifth right. |
A HIT squad of Women's Institute members scoured Hampshire's streets and brothels on a campaign to legalise brothels in the county.
Women from Hampshire WI group "kerb-crawled" through Southampton streets as well as visiting some of the county's estimated 600 brothels to see the "horrendous" working conditions for prostitutes.
The women were so shocked at what they found they have launched a campaign to highlight the plight of Hampshire's prostitutes.
As part of their campaign the women have also travelled around the world to investigate prostitution in other countries.
The movement has been spearheaded by WI member and advisor Jean Johnson, and has won the support of more than 7,000 WI members nationwide.
The 62-year-old said: "Before embarking on our campaign we carried out lots of first-hand research.
"One of our team members went in to brothels in Hampshire to see first hand the working conditions these girls are faced with.
"Other members and I effectively kerb-crawled through Southampton.
"What we saw was absolutely terrible - it was heartbreaking.
"We saw lots of girls on the streets, working in the most terrible situations.
"I saw two young girls working in one of the most horrendous parts of the city near an industrial area.
"The myth of prostitutes wearing short skirts and low cut tops is totally false - they were just wearing ordinary clothes, but they were in a desperate situation.
"If anything had happened to them, no-one would have known.
"There was another girl who was addicted to drugs, who felt she had to continue working as a prostitute to fund her habit.
"Sadly a lot of girls on the streets are addicted to drugs, probably as a direct result of their work.
"From there it is a downward spiral and there's no-one there to help them."
Investigate laws
In April, Jean and fellow WI member Shirley Landells set off on a round-the-world trip taking in Holland, the USA and New Zealand to investigate the effects that local laws have on prostitution.
"The approach taken in New Zealand was the best we found," Jean explained.
"Instead of criminalising men who visit prostitutes, they are decriminalised.
"This stops prostitution being driven underground and into danger.
"That is what we would ideally like to see happen in the UK.
"We certainly don't condone prostitution, but whatever people think about it it is not going to go away."
To generate support for their campaign, the team held a rally in Southampton on Saturday.
WI members took to Watts Park in a motorhome - dubbed the Best Practice' mobile brothel - to explain how brothels could be made much safer.
Sex trade expert and leading academic Belinda Brooks-Gordon described the campaign as "hugely admirable."
She said: "The campaign follows everything that research has proven - that the decriminalisation of prostitution makes it safer for the girls working in the sex industry.
"Many want to be able to work safely and have the freedom to work for themselves.
"What Jean and the Hampshire WI are doing is hugely admirable."
Cari Mitchell, of the English Collection of Prostitutes, added: "We have been pressing for the decriminalisation of prostitutes for 40 years.
"We are delighted that the Hampshire WI is pushing their campaign forward, and most importantly that they are putting the women's safety first."
The ground-breaking campaign will be the subject of a Channel 4 documentary to air later this year.
12:33pm Monday 23rd June 2008
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CommentPosted by: Please stand back, Southampton on 2:05pm Mon 23 Jun 08
Well done ladies
Getting prostitution legalised would not only help the ladies in question, Help keep them safe with regular health checks and police back up but give their customers some guarentee of fare treatment.
Winners all round.
Well done ladies
Getting prostitution legalised would not only help the ladies in question, Help keep them safe with regular health checks and police back up but give their customers some guarentee of fare treatment.
Winners all round.
Posted by: DSM, Winchester on 2:09pm Mon 23 Jun 08
It's good to see people thoroughly researching before rushing into a new job.
It's good to see people thoroughly researching before rushing into a new job.
Posted by: Bob, Derby Road on 2:13pm Mon 23 Jun 08
"Campaigners in favour of a public debate on the legalisation of brothels, including Jean Johnson, fifth right".
She's also fifth left, which means she's in the middle.
"Campaigners in favour of a public debate on the legalisation of brothels, including Jean Johnson, fifth right".
She's also fifth left, which means she's in the middle.
Posted by: Benny Fitt, Thornhill on 2:28pm Mon 23 Jun 08
Are they on job-seekers allowance?
Are they on job-seekers allowance?
Posted by: Baldy Badger on 2:28pm Mon 23 Jun 08
I think I could be of some help here.........just how do you join the WI ?
I think I could be of some help here.........just how do you join the WI ?
Posted by: Flying Kiwi, Down Under on 2:41pm Mon 23 Jun 08
"The approach taken in New Zealand was the best we found," Jean explained.
"Instead of criminalising men who visit prostitutes, they are decriminalised
...The sheep must look funny in high heels and fishnets!
"The approach taken in New Zealand was the best we found," Jean explained.
"Instead of criminalising men who visit prostitutes, they are decriminalised
...The sheep must look funny in high heels and fishnets!
Posted by: wild bill, redbridge on 2:49pm Mon 23 Jun 08
can we have a brothel in derby road and one in portswood road next to the temple please
can we have a brothel in derby road and one in portswood road next to the temple please
Posted by: Sceptic, Waterside on 3:09pm Mon 23 Jun 08
Well done ladies!
I have always subscribed to the belief that the WI was merely the jam making wing of the conservative party; i am very happy to be proved wrong.
Well done ladies!
I have always subscribed to the belief that the WI was merely the jam making wing of the conservative party; i am very happy to be proved wrong.
Posted by: Dutch Pete, Amsterdam on 3:15pm Mon 23 Jun 08
The ladies of the WI could join forces with the ladies of horizontal refreshment – Maybe a 2 for the price of one offer? Rocks off in the brothel and Rock Cakes at the WI?
The ladies of the WI could join forces with the ladies of horizontal refreshment – Maybe a 2 for the price of one offer? Rocks off in the brothel and Rock Cakes at the WI?
Posted by: St. Ray, St. Elsewhere on 4:09pm Mon 23 Jun 08
How did Belinda Brooks-Gordon get to be a "sex trade expert"? I want to volunteer to become a sex trade expert, I am willing to undergo the necessary training & will work without pay.
How did Belinda Brooks-Gordon get to be a "sex trade expert"? I want to volunteer to become a sex trade expert, I am willing to undergo the necessary training & will work without pay.
Posted by: steve beakhouse, Canad a on 4:37pm Mon 23 Jun 08
I find 600 in one county a staggering number. That seems like a mis-print to me. maybe it ought to read 600 in the country.
I find 600 in one county a staggering number. That seems like a mis-print to me. maybe it ought to read 600 in the country.
Posted by: George on 5:21pm Mon 23 Jun 08
A good start, but lets not rest on our laurels. Decriminalising prostitution doesn't eliminate the problems. Amsterdam - always dragged out as evidence in this ongoing saga - still has a big problem with illegal sex trafficking, even with their laxity on prostitution, for instance
A good start, but lets not rest on our laurels. Decriminalising prostitution doesn't eliminate the problems. Amsterdam - always dragged out as evidence in this ongoing saga - still has a big problem with illegal sex trafficking, even with their laxity on prostitution, for instance
Posted by: Baldy Badger on 5:24pm Mon 23 Jun 08
[quote]nstead of criminalising men who visit prostitutes, they are decriminalised[/quote]
What utter tosh... if women would put out a bit more a bloke wouldn't have to pay for it. A bloke gets a bit fed up with the old right arm after a while.
nstead of criminalising men who visit prostitutes, they are decriminalised
What utter tosh... if women would put out a bit more a bloke wouldn't have to pay for it. A bloke gets a bit fed up with the old right arm after a while.
Posted by: B. Enpie on 5:30pm Mon 23 Jun 08
Um, are you sure all these women are WI ? Think you need to look again at the photo....
Um, are you sure all these women are WI ? Think you need to look again at the photo....
Posted by: tb, soton on 6:22pm Mon 23 Jun 08
If there was a brothel the council would want to charge council tax and planning charges for all the erections going up lol
If there was a brothel the council would want to charge council tax and planning charges for all the erections going up lol
Posted by: George on 8:14pm Mon 23 Jun 08
[quote][bold]tb[/bold] wrote:
If there was a brothel the council would want to charge council tax and planning charges for all the erections going up lol[/quote] Or would they re-introduce the pole tax?
tb wrote:
If there was a brothel the council would want to charge council tax and planning charges for all the erections going up lol
Or would they re-introduce the pole tax?
Posted by: Dave, Southampton on 9:50pm Mon 23 Jun 08
The Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth is supporting the WI's campaign:
http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/news/article-
560265/Legalise-brot
hels-protect-women-p
rostitution-says-bis
hop.html
Needless to say, the Labour MP for Portsmouth North is opposing the campaign, despite the evidence.
The Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth is supporting the WI's campaign:
http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/news/article-
560265/Legalise-brot
hels-protect-women-p
rostitution-says-bis
hop.html
Needless to say, the Labour MP for Portsmouth North is opposing the campaign, despite the evidence.
Posted by: del boy trotter, peckham on 11:12pm Mon 23 Jun 08
[bold]Women from Hampshire WI group "kerb-crawled" through Southampton streets[/bold].
wow these ladies are quite desperate arn't they.
is this what the womens institute has now had to result too?
i know that the W.I. rely on donations & fund raising to get funded but this is so bizaar.
best of luck ladies,
lets hope the partially sighted taxi driver picks you all up.
ha ha ha ha
Women from Hampshire WI group "kerb-crawled" through Southampton streets.
wow these ladies are quite desperate arn't they.
is this what the womens institute has now had to result too?
i know that the W.I. rely on donations & fund raising to get funded but this is so bizaar.
best of luck ladies,
lets hope the partially sighted taxi driver picks you all up.
ha ha ha ha
Posted by: Robert Watmough on 2:39am Tue 24 Jun 08
Problems relating to prostitution can never be totally solved - just eased and attenuated.
Let's see if the gallant ladies who produced the nude calendar can succeed where Lord Longford and many imitators have failed.
In not lowering their eyes bashfully at the first mention of sex the ladies of the WI look set to overcome cultural obstacles that have bedevilled the would-be champions of "fallen women" for decades.
There'll be an explosion of hot air and word-froth from the ranks of the chattering classes and the glossy Sunday supplements. Don't let yourselves be led astray by this. Stand firmly by YOUR vision.
Problems relating to prostitution can never be totally solved - just eased and attenuated.
Let's see if the gallant ladies who produced the nude calendar can succeed where Lord Longford and many imitators have failed.
In not lowering their eyes bashfully at the first mention of sex the ladies of the WI look set to overcome cultural obstacles that have bedevilled the would-be champions of "fallen women" for decades.
There'll be an explosion of hot air and word-froth from the ranks of the chattering classes and the glossy Sunday supplements. Don't let yourselves be led astray by this. Stand firmly by YOUR vision.
Posted by: Stephen Paterson, Colwyn Bay on 2:31pm Thu 26 Jun 08
[bold]Best wishes to Hampshire WI + I very much hope they and all who agree with the cause will join Belinda Brooks-Gordon and I (and some 560 others) in signing our Downing Street petition at:
http://petitions.pm.
gov.uk/sexworkers/[/bold]
Best wishes to Hampshire WI + I very much hope they and all who agree with the cause will join Belinda Brooks-Gordon and I (and some 560 others) in signing our Downing Street petition at:
http://petitions.pm.
gov.uk/sexworkers/ Posted by: chris woollett on 10:10am Tue 5 Aug 08
I am appalled by the WI's stance on this. Both prostitution and brothels should be illegal and both providers and users of the sex trade should be criminalised. Legalising them, suggests these practises to be morally acceptable provided they are 'safe.' Legalising them is in fact incredibly dangerous as it continues to feed men's obsession with sex and the dehumanising of other people as sexual objects. This is tghe mindset that lies behind rape when a woman is used for sexual gratification-a theme that the sex industry plays on. A recent publication suggested police records show 1 in 20 women have been victims of rape and this is just those who have reported their cases! Sex is an exclusive spiritual bond reserved for marriage and allowing people to be bought and sold for sex is wrong-always! It will continue to have detrimental effects on the moral and family life of Britain and other countries that tolerate it. Shame on the WI! Chris Woollet
I am appalled by the WI's stance on this. Both prostitution and brothels should be illegal and both providers and users of the sex trade should be criminalised. Legalising them, suggests these practises to be morally acceptable provided they are 'safe.' Legalising them is in fact incredibly dangerous as it continues to feed men's obsession with sex and the dehumanising of other people as sexual objects. This is tghe mindset that lies behind rape when a woman is used for sexual gratification-a theme that the sex industry plays on. A recent publication suggested police records show 1 in 20 women have been victims of rape and this is just those who have reported their cases! Sex is an exclusive spiritual bond reserved for marriage and allowing people to be bought and sold for sex is wrong-always! It will continue to have detrimental effects on the moral and family life of Britain and other countries that tolerate it. Shame on the WI! Chris Woollet
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