An Irish sex worker is seeking a judicial review of a law that will criminalise prostitutes’ clients in Northern Ireland.
The human trafficking bill comes into effect on 1 June, after the Stormont assembly ratified it earlier this year. But Laura Lee, an Irish sex worker based in Glasgow, has started legal action to challenge the law.
Earlier this year, Lee told the Guardian she would pursue her case up to the European court of human rights in a bid to overturn legislation she believes will only drive the sex industry further underground.
In a statement on Wednesday morning, Lee said: “It is my intention to initiate a judicial review at Belfast’s high court in respect of provisions contained in Lord Morrow’s human trafficking bill. As a sex workers’ rights advocate, I campaigned long and hard against this legislation because evidence from around the world shows us just what damage the Swedish model does. It places sex workers in grave danger and the bill as presented does not decriminalise us as has been claimed.”
The Swedish model on prostitution criminalises people who pay for sex, but not those selling it.
The Dublin-born law graduate added: “True decriminalisation looks to repeal all of the nonsensical laws around sex work and allows us to work together for safety. That’s not the case in Northern Ireland now, and it will certainly not be the case after 1 June. When two consenting adults meet to have sex then, whether money changes or not, the state has no right to interfere.”
Lee said the 81-10 vote earlier this year in favour of Morrow’s law “sent out a clear message to the sex work community that they don’t care about us, one of society’s most marginalised and stigmatised groups”.
She added: “With this case I’m sending a message right back: we have rights like any other form of labour and I will take this case to Europe if necessary.”
McLernon Moynagh Solicitors, representing Lee, confirmed: “We are instructed by Laura Lee to challenge provisions of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation [Criminal Justice and Support for Victim’s] Act [Northern Ireland] 2015 legislation.”
The law firm added: “Given this live challenge and the potential for litigation, it would be inappropriate to make any comment at this time. Should proceedings issue in the near future, a further statement will be made on behalf of our client.”
