SEX INDUSTRY
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Stories
As a child, Emma witnessed violence against her mother by her father and ran away many times. By the age of 16 she was homeless and working on the streets of Nottingham as a prostitute.
A client, Trevor Armitage who, at 32, was twice her age, offered her shelter in his home. Emma believed in he loved her, but in fact he subjected her to extreme physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Finally, terrified of being raped, she slashed her wrists and fearing Armitage would use the knife on her, stabbed him once – fatally. Emma was convicted of murder and was sentenced at 17 years old to prison with an ‘indefinite sentence’. On the 7th of July 1995, with the help of ‘Justice For Women’, the Court of Appeal quashed Emma’s conviction for murder and she walked free, greeted by crowds of cheering supporters. 3 years later she died in her sleep after an accidental overdose of prescription medication. Colleagues and friends have set up a memorial prize award in her memory. See Emma Humphreys
A unique art installation that maps the journey of a victim of human trafficking, "The Journey Against Sex Trafficking", uses seven transport containers to illustrate the brutal and harrowing experiences of women sold into the sex trade. This interactive exhibition is based on the real-life stories of young women who leave their home countries in search of a better life but are deceived or coerced by traffickers and forced to work in the sex industry.
The aim of Journey is to show visitors the reality of human trafficking – a crime that happens every day, all around the world – and to encourage the public, politicians and especially consumers to take action.
Each container shows a different stage in the trafficking process, starting with "Hope" that reflects the aspirations of young women planning to leave their home countries. The containers "Uniform", "Bedroom" and "Customer" offer a graphic and disturbing insight into the daily ordeal of women forced to work in the sex industry.
The seven containers have been individually designed by leading artists, including Oscar-winning film designer, Michael Howells, Oscar-winning costume designer, Sandy Powell, and Turner Prize winning sculptor, Anish Kapoor.
The driving force behind Journey is Oscar-winning actress, Emma Thompson, who has teamed up with Sam Roddick, fellow activist and daughter of Body Shop founder, Anita Roddick, to raise awareness of trafficking and the plight of trafficked women. Emma Thompson opened the first showing of the installation in September 2007 on London’s Trafalgar Square, where it received unprecedented media, public and political attention.
She said: "It's time for everybody to say the buying and selling of human beings, for whatever reason, is not appropriate in the 21st century and should never be allowed again."
Watch the video in which Emma Thompson talks about the art work
Hidden for Survival – Read what it's really like inside the industry in a peer research report into the lives of sex-workers within Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside and North Tyneside.
Inside Britain’s Sex Industry
Kerala street workers fight for rights
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