Make Poverty History: Support the European Citizens’ Initiative for an Unconditional Basic Income
Human Rights
International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers – 17th December
I wanted to write something for International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers but I didn't think I could as I've been in too much of a dark place these last few weeks with my own suffering from the repercussions of sexual violence. I wanted to go to London to stand in solidarity with sex workers and allies to mark this day, but for the same reasons, tonight, I couldn't do that either. Then I felt selfish wrapped up with my own pain when tonight there will be women in the sex trade who will be raped, who will be beaten and some will be murdered. So I have to say this...
To Train Up A Child: a child abuse manual – Please support the campaign to get this banned
In the Booth with Ruth – Kevin Jaffray, Drug Harm Reduction & Recovery Activist
Those feelings and the memories of feeling so alone are at the heart of everything I do in the field today. The empathy towards those who are living with the same feelings and fighting against the same demons and stigma that I felt during those years drives me to stay connected to those who are living with addiction and all its surrounding issues.
Taking Ideology to the Streets: Sex Work and How to Make Bad Things Worse
As I make her a cup of hot chocolate and count out free condoms, Dana takes a seat, tells me about last night. She waited on the streets for hours, frequently changing location in order to avoid police attention. The boyracers were out as usual, yelling abuse and throwing eggs as they sped by.... Gradually, the few remaining clients wore her down, and she agreed to do business with them for less than the usual price. She was out so long that she missed her hostel’s curfew and had to stay out...
Chrysalis Network Lures Children to be Sexually Abused on SexWork4U Website
A few days ago, when I was alerted to a website advertising for children to be sexually abused, I never expected it to be satire. The SexWork4U.com website advertised for ‘child sex workers’ to ‘start a rewarding career today’. There was a sign up form for children to make contact and another form to ‘refer friends and family’... SexWork4U had a Twitter account... After only 9 tweets, they had a following of 257 people. A lethal mix of 257 child sex abusers and vulnerable children.
BBC1 Inside Out: The Merseyside Hate Crime Model of Policing Prostitution – Monday 21 Oct, 7.30pm
The Merseyside hate crime model of policing prostitution leads the country. In these two documentaries for Inside Out, airing on BBC1 in the London and North West regions, writer Ruth Jacobs investigates why crimes against sex trade workers are going unpunished, clearly showing the urgency for the Merseyside model to be made UK wide to prevent more rapes and save lives, taking more rapists and murderers off the streets.
Hate Crime Awareness Week 12-19th October 2013
Ruth Jacobs Speaks on Social Networks: The Good, The Bad and The Horrifying
What was your most astonishing experience on a social network? The most horrific was discovering what was very obviously a large interconnected group of child sex abusers on Facebook. Being aware of Facebook’s inadequate policies and procedures, I reported this to law enforcement instead – the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in the UK…
Don’t Put Us Out On The Streets: Soho sex trade workers & supporters protest against evictions – 11AM, Wednesday 9 October 2013
Women in 26 Romilly Street are facing eviction on Wednesday 9 October as a result of a police crackdown... The English Collective of Prostitutes is initiating legal action... Leyla, from Romilly Street says, "I have four children back in Thailand who would not survive without the money I send them. Their lives were turned upside down by the recent floods...” It is believed that the evictions are to make way for a major hotel and luxury flats development.
Speak out: Rape and Sexual Assault in Yarl’s Wood Immigration & Removal Centre
Sexual and racist abuse and other violence by guards have prompted regular protests, even hunger strikes, by women detained in Yarl’s Wood. The same names of guards having sex with women in their care come up over and again. It appears to be so widespread that it is impossible for the authorities, including the Home Office, not to have known about it until it was publicly exposed. Women have been deported without the alleged rape being investigated – a cover up?...
Niki Adams of the English Collective of Prostitutes Discusses Decriminalisation & the Merseyside Model
"Since 1975, the International Prostitutes Collective has been campaigning for the abolition of the prostitution laws which criminalize sex workers and our families, and for economic alternatives and higher benefits and wages.
No woman, child or man should be forced by poverty or violence into sex with anyone. We provide information, help and support to individual prostitute women and others who are concerned with sex workers’ human, civil, legal and economic rights."
Group Nomination, National Ugly Mugs for the Suzy Lamplugh Trust Awards
"We believe Alex deserves this award for his unwavering commitment to NUM, and his fantastic achievements to date. It is also of vital importance that the work of Alex and NUM is now recognised. Sex workers are a minority group who are disproportionately targeted by criminals. For too long the safety of sex workers has not been addressed and this has had terrible consequences for sex workers and wider society. Alex and NUM can save lives."
My most in depth article arguing for the Merseyside model to be made UK wide | The F-Word
Ruth Jacobs 