As a coalition dedicated to advocating for people with experience in the commercial sex trade and to addressing the harmful nature of buying sex, we strongly reject the claims that buying sex is a victimless crime.
The Emma Coalition recognizes the sex trade to be inherently violent and exploitative, putting vulnerable people at great risk of harm on a regular basis. In examining the documents related to the Cambridge brothel case and the recent probable cause hearings for the men accused of buying sex there, we find the circumstances to reflect the exploitation and vulnerability commonly found in the sex trade.
Sex buyers benefit from the vulnerabilities that lead most into the sex trade and often expose them to great harms during commercial sex transactions. People in prostitution face increased mortality rates because of the extraordinary violence they experience at the hands of sex buyers. Oftentimes they will stay in the sex trade, knowing the risks it poses, solely because they have few other options due to economic need and a lack of alternative economic options. Research has shown that an estimated 87 percent of people involved in prostitution would leave their situation in the sex trade if they could, but lack an economic alternative for survival. From there, the impact of commercial sex perpetuates their poverty, addiction, housing insecurity and more, and much of this is due to the long-term mental, physical and emotional impact of being bought for sex.
Statistically, those bought for sex face extremely high rates of PTSD, suicidal ideation, addiction, homelessness and self-harm, regardless of whether they are trafficked.
Buying sex anywhere at any time perpetuates a system built upon gender-based violence and exploitation. The act of buying sex needs to be met with an understanding of the severe impact this has on a person’s life and should not be dismissed, downplayed, or excused because of a sex buyer’s background, family, education, position or positive contributions to a community.
Mary Speta
The writer is executive director of Amirah, which works to dismantle systems of violence against people in prostitution with the organizations the Safe Exit Initiative, My Life My Cchoice and Ready Inspire Act.
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