A paper by Wendy Lyon titled, Client Criminalisation and Sex Workers' Right to Health, regarding client criminalisation in Ireland.
https://www.academia.edu/8916285/Client_Criminalisation_and_Sex_Workers_Right_to_Health
Conclusion
Client criminalisation has beenpresented asa humanrights-based approach:its advocates frame their arguments in the language of concern for women in the sex industry,and for equality of the sexes generally. But theright to health has received inadequate and superficial consideration in the Irish discourse. There hasbeen some discussion of the violence and generalmental ill-health affecting sex workers, but little serious discussion of the possibility that the proposedlaw could actually promote these adverseeffects. The other health issues described in this article-sexual health, stigma, occupationalhealth and safety, the right to autonomy in health-relateddecision making and the right to participate in shaping the laws that affect one'shealth-have featured little if at all in the debate.
If Ireland is to meet itsobligations in international law, it cannot simply ignore the apparentadverse impacts of legislation it considers adopting. Sex workers are asentitled as the rest of the population to a right to health that is real andnot illusory. Irrespective of our views about the industry they operate in, weshould be extremely cautious about introducing a legal framework that is likelyto impair that right.
https://www.academia.edu/8916285/Client_Criminalisation_and_Sex_Workers_Right_to_Health
Conclusion
Client criminalisation has beenpresented asa humanrights-based approach:its advocates frame their arguments in the language of concern for women in the sex industry,and for equality of the sexes generally. But theright to health has received inadequate and superficial consideration in the Irish discourse. There hasbeen some discussion of the violence and generalmental ill-health affecting sex workers, but little serious discussion of the possibility that the proposedlaw could actually promote these adverseeffects. The other health issues described in this article-sexual health, stigma, occupationalhealth and safety, the right to autonomy in health-relateddecision making and the right to participate in shaping the laws that affect one'shealth-have featured little if at all in the debate.
If Ireland is to meet itsobligations in international law, it cannot simply ignore the apparentadverse impacts of legislation it considers adopting. Sex workers are asentitled as the rest of the population to a right to health that is real andnot illusory. Irrespective of our views about the industry they operate in, weshould be extremely cautious about introducing a legal framework that is likelyto impair that right.
