DECRIMINALIZE MINNESOTA
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What is Decriminalization?
Decriminalization means removing criminal penalties for consensual adult sex work. It allows sex workers to operate without fear of arrest, creating safer working conditions and access to essential services like healthcare, legal aid, and housing. Decriminalization focuses on harm reduction and human rights, ensuring that sex workers can live and work with dignity and safety.
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Why Do We Want Decriminalization?
We believe that decriminalization is the best way to protect sex workers’ rights and well-being. By removing criminal penalties, sex workers can access critical resources, report violence or exploitation without fear, and work in safer environments. This approach prioritizes safety, autonomy, and respect for all sex workers, empowering them to make decisions about their own lives and work on their terms.
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How is Decriminalization Different from Legalization?
While decriminalization removes criminal penalties, legalization means creating specific regulations and licensing for sex work. Legalization often comes with strict rules about where and how sex work can occur, creating barriers for those who can’t meet the criteria. This can lead to a two-tiered system, where some sex workers benefit from legal protections, while others remain criminalized and pushed into unsafe conditions.
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Decriminalization, on the other hand, offers a more inclusive approach that ensures all sex workers have the same rights and protections. It reduces stigma, promotes safety, and respects the choices and autonomy of sex workers, without forcing them into rigid frameworks or pushing anyone to the margins. We advocate for decriminalization because it allows for a fairer, more just, and safer world for all sex workers.
THE DECRIM REPORT
What is the Decrim MN Report?
The Decrim MN Report is a detailed study and advocacy tool developed by SWOP Minneapolis to support the decriminalization of sex work in Minnesota.
This report combines in-depth research, community input, and firsthand experiences from sex workers to highlight the urgent need for policy change. It explores the legal and social challenges that sex workers face under criminalization and provides a clear roadmap for how decriminalization can improve safety, reduce violence, and create a more just environment.
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By presenting data and stories from those directly impacted, the Decrim MN Report aims to educate policymakers, stakeholders, and the public about why decriminalization is essential for the safety and dignity of sex workers. The report is a crucial resource for those who want to understand the benefits of decriminalization and work toward creating a more equitable Minnesota.
Where do I get a copy?
To learn more about the findings and support the movement, you can purchase the full Decrim MN Report here.
Your support helps fund ongoing advocacy efforts and provides critical resources for sex workers across the state.