Press Coverage: The Times 

PRESS RELEASE

SOHO ON STRIKE – 8 March 2000

Justice for sex workers in Soho

Prostitute women and maids in London’s most famous red light area are joining the first Global Women’s Strike to demand an end to Westminster Council’s attempts to evict working girls – they are threatening some landlords with compulsory purchasing of their properties. While the Council uses police time and resources to intimidate women, entering flats without lawful excuse, property developers are moving in on the threatened premises, imposing rents of up to £3000 a week. Legal Action for Women has accused Westminster Council of illegality and breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

PRESS CONFERENCE
11am Wednesday 8 MARCH 2000
The Allen Room, St Anne’s Church, 55 Dean Street, London W1

Hear from the women on strike who would be made homeless if Westminster got its way – some have lived and worked in Soho for over 20 years. u Hear from the families of women murdered after being forced onto the streets.

For information call: English Collective of Prostitutes 0171 482 2496

In joining with non-prostitute women who are striking for a millennium which values all women’s work and all women’s lives, Soho sex workers show that we are all the same women, integral to our communities as mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, partners, neighbours, friends – caring and providing for our families. We refuse to be divided into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ girls.

Joan Martyr, a member of Soho Society who has worked in Soho for 20 years, says:

I endorse the petition circulated by sex workers in Soho. They are so much part of the area, if they were evicted its whole character would change. The Soho

Society supports people living here, whatever they do for a living. These and other residents contribute to the social and economic life of Soho, without them, the area would be all office blocks and non-stop clubs -- we have already lost a baker and a butcher. The Soho Society is taking Westminster to court to stop the proliferation of late night licensing.

While there have been no complaints against working women, there are many against granting further late night licences. But Westminster Council gets £21,000 for each sex establishment licence.

Many Soho residents have been signing a petition demanding an end to the evictions, which says:

What women are doing is entirely legal. Many are mothers and grandmothers supporting their families.
Evictions would make over 100 women homeless.
If they are evicted, many women would be forced to work on the streets which is 10 times more dangerous that working indoors. In 1995, after Westminster carried out evictions in Soho, two women who had been forced out and had to move to the Midlands were murdered.
Sex workers make an important contribution to the Soho economy and have every right to stay.

Mayoral candidates Frank Dobson and Steve Norris were quoted saying that the police should not target gay men for ‘victimless crimes’. We agree, but what about prostitute women who are constantly being discriminated against and witch-hunted even when no offence has been committed? While women in flats face eviction, women on the streets face violence and discrimination. Recently a woman accused of loitering won the right to a retrial after being found guilty by a magistrate who knew her and was not interested in hearing the evidence. Another woman faced jail after an attempt to sentence her twice for the same ‘offence’ – the court backed down once LAW accused them of illegality.

The central event of the Global Women’s Strike will take place at:
1-11 pm, Union Chapel, Compton Ave, Highbury & Islington.
Women on strike can be contacted throughout Wednesday on 0956 316 899

The press conference opens the Global Women’s Strike in London. The sex workers of Soho are not alone: women in over 50 countries have joined forces against no pay, low pay and too much work – the very working conditions that force women into prostitution to support their families. United we stand!

 

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