CER 23-0211 — International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers Recognition Resolution of 2019

ENROLLED ORIGINAL A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 23-211 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TorecognthInternatDaytEndVioleAgainSexWorrs,antodeclTuesdayDecember eceber1,219,3, ItrntonlDayo2019 ndVileceAanstSxTo orer”recognize ntethe itictfClubia.International Dayto End Violence Against Sex Workers, and to declare Tuesday December 17, 2019, as “International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers” in the District of Columbia.

WHEREASsexokes,oreolewhoffrsxulsrvcsinechngeorsmehigWHEREAS, ofvle,aedipoprinaeysex ageedfrvilnceaoudworkers, hegobeador nteDititpeople fwho Clubi;offer sexual services in exchange for something of value, are disproportionately targeted for violence around the globe and in the District of Columbia;

HEREAS,cimnlzainofsxworkndteaccompanysigaWHEREAS, edtoexcriminalization wrkrsbingiewdaseswothofhavinhirhumargtsesecedndpotce,asof eemlfidbytecommentfGaysex iea,work teGreeRierile,atramitngtoheand mudrsofver0the womeinashngontt,“Ipikdaccompanying rsiuesbcaseIhoghtcoldstigma KlasmanyftheasIantdwihotgtingagh”;lead to sex workers being viewed as less worthy of having their human rights respected and protected, as exemplified by the comments of Gary Ridgeway, the Green River Killer, after admitting to the murders of over 70 women in Washington State, “I picked prostitutes because I thought I could kill as many of them as I wanted without getting caught”;

WHEREAS,sxWHEREAS, okessex ranzedheistnentinlDaytoworkers Sxorganized WorkeonhedtefRigeay’sovito,todraatetonoteimuntyeAanstthe popecommivolneagistexwrkr,first ndteostcessxwokesfaewhentemtigInternational toeotvilnce;Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers on the date of Ridgeway’s conviction, to draw attention to the impunity with which people commit violence against sex workers, and the obstacles sex workers face when attempting to report violence;

WHEREAS,sudieithU.Shavreveedthasmanas80%ofsreet-bsexdWHEREAS, workehavfacevioceithecouofthework;studies in the U.S.

WHEREAS,reseainthDistroColumbhasfouthamorthhalofsexhave workewhoreachoutopolforhelprevealed recnegatreactiandneitenhabeenthat subjtopysicorsexuvioleatthhanoflaenforcement;as many as 80% of street-based sex workers have faced violence in the course of their work;

WHEREAS,hsvolnedipoprinaeyafetseoleivovdincmmrcalsxWHEREAS, whorearialzdinohrwas,schaswomeneolofolr,trngedriniiuas,research irat,andyungpole;in the District of Columbia has found that more than half of sex workers who reached out to police for help received negative reactions, and 1 in 10 had been subject to physical or sexual violence at the hands of law enforcement;

ccrsandeeareueycontesotercsofioeceaaistexworkern.C.hsyarWHEREAS, wherethis violence disproportionately affects people involved in commercial sex whichwho haveare notbeenmarginalized reported;in other ways, such as women, people of color, transgender individuals, migrants, and young people;

ENROLLED ORIGINAL WHEREAS, thetwo Districtofwomen Columbiawere strivestomurdered bethis acityyear thatiswelcomingin andan safearea forwhere allresidentscommercial andsex visitors,occurs and endingthere are surely countless other acts of violence inouragainst communitiessex isaworkers highin priority;D.C.

this year which have not been reported;

WHEREAS, the District of Columbia strives to be a city that is welcoming and safe for all residents and visitors, and ending violence in our communities is a high priority;

and WHEREAS,nteDstitofolmba,ameoraleentasbenpanedbyWHEREAS, communitymembndrgnzainsoreogieInemtonlDaytoEndileceAanstin exWokrs.the District of Columbia, a memorial event has been planned by community members and organizations to recognize International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, thatthisThat this resolution may be cited as the “International Day toEndto End Violence Against Sex Workers Recognition ResolutionofResolution of 2019”.

Sec.2,TheSec.2.TheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiarecognizesthehumanrights Counciloftheofsexworkers, DistrictofColumbiaincluding recognizestheir the human rightsofsex workers, includtheir right to be freeandfree from violence, and declares Tuesday, De2019December as17,17, “InternationEnd2019 as “International Day to End Violence Against SinSex Workers” in the DistrictofColumbia.District of Columbia.

SI Sec.

This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the DistrictofColumbiaDistrict of Columbia Register.