Anti-trafficking nun condemns Amnesty on prostitution

The president of Renate, the European network of Religious combating trafficking and prostitution, has criticised Amnesty International’s decision to support the decriminalisation of prostitution, saying it contradicted the human rights organisation’s foundational beliefs, writes Sarah Mac Donald.

“They are not on the side of the victims [of trafficking],” said Sr Imelda Poole IBVM, who is based in Albania.

Speaking to The Tablet as board members of Renate (Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation) met in Dublin, Sr Imelda called on Amnesty to rethink its policy. “They think they are [on the side of the victims of trafficking] because they are giving rights to prostitution, but they are not because they are not criminalising the punter,” she warned. Sr Eilís Coe, a member of APT (Act to Prevent Trafficking), said Renate was seeking a meeting with Amnesty on this matter.