On the 6th of December 2021, the European Sex workers' Rights Alliance (ESWA) was invited for the public hearing 'Regulation of prostitution in Europe, its cross-border implications and impact on gender equality and women's rights' organised by FEMM Committee of the European Parliament.
'Inacurate', 'biased' and 'methodologically flawed'
The purpose of the hearing was to discuss the findings of recently published research commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the FEMM Committee on 'the differing EU Member States’ regulations on prostitution and their cross-border implications on women’s rights', written by academic Andrea Di Nicola.
In a scathing statement, 175 internationally established academics and researchers denounce Mr Di Nicola's research as 'inaccurate', 'biased' and 'methodologically flawed' and 'recommend not considering Di Nicola’s work as evidence-based and guard against adopting its recommendations.'
How you can help get our voices heard
Send an email to the MEP of your country to call for evidence-based and sex workers' inclusive research, and to remind them that the research discussed at the hearing poses serious problems. The list of FEMM Committee MEPs and the template of the email are accessible HERE