Amnesty International Can’t Have it Both Ways

The international community is outraged or it should be, in the abduction of over 200 Nigerian schoolgirls by the militant Islamist group – Boko Haram.

Missing now for three weeks, these girls were kidnapped in the middle of the night from their school with reports that they have been trafficked into sexual slavery or are being sold as child brides.

Amnesty International is right to alert the world to take action in demanding for efforts to return these girls safely home. But, this event should give Amnesty pause, to re-examine a possible policy change advocating for the legalization of prostitution.

A recent event at the UN conference on women featured former prostituted women who condemned human rights groups and UN agencies for supporting the legalization of so-called “sex work.”

Rescued women argue that legalizing prostitution will create a “right” for men to buy sex. This increase in demand for young girls can only be satisfied by an increase in trafficked girls. The average age of a trafficked girl into sexual slavery is 12-13 years old.

Contrary to what is being reported to support legalizing prostitution – most prostituted girls and women want an exit strategy.

Amnesty International should take serious note of this egregious human rights abuse and consider how their future advocacy might endanger more vulnerable young girls.

For more information go to the Coalition Against Trafficked Women: http://www.catwinternational.org/

View online at: https://c-fam.org/turtle_bay/amnesty-international-cant-have-it-both-ways/

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