RCN reacts to Government decision to drop key amendments on sex workers from Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill
Published: 28 February 2008
Reacting to the Government decision to drop key amendments to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill that would lead to the criminalisation of sex workers Dr Peter Carter, RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive said;
“We welcome the removal of these amendments, which would have further criminalised some of the most vulnerable, stigmatised and marginalised people in our society.
“Criminalisation would have driven underground those in need of properly funded and staffed healthcare support. We now hope this is the end of legislation that seeks to further criminalise sex workers. We now urge the Government to look at improving the healthcare and well-being of these workers and begin to provide pathways out for these men and women.”
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Notes to Editors
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Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.