Monday, May 29, 2006
No to Sexual Exploitation at the World Cup, Germany 2006
From June 9 - July 9, 2006, 12 German cities will host the football world cup. Approximately 3 million football fans will attend. In 2002 Germany legalised pimping and the sex industry however it is predicted that the legal red light districts will be too small for the thousands of sport/sex tourists in attendance. It is estimated that up to 40000 women will be "imported" from Central and Eastern Europe into Germany to "sexually service" the men. But buying sex is not a sport and it simply should not be considered an acceptable practice It is sexual exploitation in which women are physically and psychologically harmed, and women's bodies are treated as commodities to be bought and sold.
There is a petition to protest this sexual slavery. If you wish to sign this the petition is available here. More details on on the campaign are available here
But now for the "However".
I cannot underline enough that I support the goals of the campaign - ending sexual slavery and the exploitation of women at the world cup. However while I am happy to draw attention to the petition I will not sign it myself. First of all I have a bit of a problem with online petitions, in the same way as I have a problem with the Make Poverty History wristbands. I think it encourages the notion that by signing my name to something, or by wearing a white wristband, that means my responsibility is up. I think the implication must always be that this should only be the start of one's involvement in an issue, not the end as it is for so many people. However the awareness raising aspect can only be seen in a positive light hence why I bring the campaign to your attention.
The other issue that prevents me from signing this particular petition is that it is organised by the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute. C-FAM are anti-choice and anti stem-cell use and while I am supportive of their ending prostitution campaign the reasons they are anti World Cup prostitution are light years away from the reasons I have. It is a worthy cause but I am simply uneasy putting my name towards something organised by a group like C-FAM.
While on the subject of prostitution there is a good piece at Gendergeeks that is worth a read.
There is a petition to protest this sexual slavery. If you wish to sign this the petition is available here. More details on on the campaign are available here
But now for the "However".
I cannot underline enough that I support the goals of the campaign - ending sexual slavery and the exploitation of women at the world cup. However while I am happy to draw attention to the petition I will not sign it myself. First of all I have a bit of a problem with online petitions, in the same way as I have a problem with the Make Poverty History wristbands. I think it encourages the notion that by signing my name to something, or by wearing a white wristband, that means my responsibility is up. I think the implication must always be that this should only be the start of one's involvement in an issue, not the end as it is for so many people. However the awareness raising aspect can only be seen in a positive light hence why I bring the campaign to your attention.
The other issue that prevents me from signing this particular petition is that it is organised by the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute. C-FAM are anti-choice and anti stem-cell use and while I am supportive of their ending prostitution campaign the reasons they are anti World Cup prostitution are light years away from the reasons I have. It is a worthy cause but I am simply uneasy putting my name towards something organised by a group like C-FAM.
While on the subject of prostitution there is a good piece at Gendergeeks that is worth a read.
