Exciting news! We now have over 600 global advocates, survivors and concerned individuals from over 40 countries added to the open letter urging Amnesty International to reject its proposed policy to decriminalize pimps, brothel owners and buyers of sexual acts. The Change.org petition is also steadily rising with over 6,000 signers. Let's keep the pressure on Amnesty to do the right think as they head to their ICM meeting in Dublin, August 7-11. We are extremely grateful to all those who have added their voice to this urgent action. A special thank you goes out to our recent signatories, which include: ...Survivors: Trudee Able-Peterson, USA BUKLOD Survivors – Olongapo, The Philippines Trisha Baptie, Founding Member, EVE, Canada Autumn Burris, Founding Director, Survivors for Solutions, USA Casandra Diamond, Founder, BridgeNorth, USA Natasha Falle, Sex Trade 101, Canada Rosen Hicher, Abolitionist Activist, Marche Pour L’Abolition, France Alika Kinan, President, Instituto de Género Sapa Kippa, Argentina Rachel Lloyd, Founder/CEO, GEMS, USA The Organization for Prostitution Survivors, USA Dr. Alexandra (Sandi) Pierce, President, Othayonih Research, USA Kat Pinder, Amnesty International Australia, QLD Branch Committee Member, Australia Cristina Ruiz, Asoc. Nacional Abolicionista Quilmes, Prov. de Bs. As., Argentina Marjorie F. Saylor, Survivor Leader Network of San Diego (SLNSD) and Runaway Girl, Inc., S.M.E., USA Simone Watson, Director, Nordic Model Australia Coalition (NorMac), Australia Kristy Childs, Founder and Executive Director, Veronica’s Voice, USA ...Male Allies: Jimmie Briggs, Founding Executive Director, ManUp Campaign, and Current Executive Director, LOVE (Leave Out Violence), USA Ted Bunch, Co-Founder, A CALL TO MEN, USA Martin Dufresne, Zéromacho Québec, Canada Neil Irwin, Executive Director, Men Can Stop Rape, USA Gara LaMarche, USA Men as Peacemakers, USA ...The Medical Community Holly G. Atkinson, M.D., FACP, Director, Human Rights Program, Arnhold Global Health Institute at Mount Sinai, USA Julia Geynisman, M.D., Founder, Survivor Clinic, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Presbyterian – Weill Cornell Med Center, USA Dr. Ingeborg Kraus, Scientists for a World Without Prostitution, Germany Dr. Helen Liebling, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology/Associate of African Studies Centre, Coventry University, UK Muriel Salmona, Doctor of Psychiatry, President, Association Mémoire Traumatique et Victimologie, France Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Ireland ...Faith Leaders: Rev. Dr. Katharine Henderson, President, Auburn Seminary, USA Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, USA Pastor Michelle Soto, Fierce Woman Found Ministries, Inc, USA Rev. Jesse Williams, Convent Avenue Baptist Church, USA Mgr. ThLic. Blanka Stráníková, Czech Republic ...and Partners and Other Notable Individuals: Emily and Felicity Blunt Michael Cunningham, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author, USA Hugh Dancy, UK Claire Danes, USA Edwidge Danticat, Haiti/USA Abigail E. Disney, Philanthropist and Film Producer, USA Elizabeth Gabler, President, Fox 2000, USA Chandra Jessee, Philanthropist and Film Producer, USA Ashley Judd, USA Laura Linney, USA Patina Park, J.D., Executive Director, Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center Mandy Patinkin, USA Zac Posen, USA Lynn Rosenthal, Former White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, USA Charlize Theron, South Africa/USA We’ve received significant media attention during the past few days. Below are a just a few links covering this campaign: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/01/world/europe/amnesty-international-weighs-decriminalization-of-prostitution.html http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/07/30/amnesty-international-legalized-prostitution-push-turning-off-celeb-supporters/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3180227/Amnesty-International-s-legalized-prostitution-consideration-turning-celebrity-supporters-like-Kate-Winslet-Meryl-Streep-Anne-Hathaway.html http://www.marieclaire.com/politics/news/a15277/prostitution-legal-sex-work-amnesty-international/ http://www.newstatesman.com/voices/2015/08/amnesty-can-no-longer-claim-defend-human-rights-if-it-backs-decriminalising http://feministcurrent.com/tag/amnesty-international/ Thank you for standing with the victims and survivors of the sex trade. -- CATW