Buying and Selling Sex – the Big Debate

Sex work is work. Prostitution is violence against women. These two sentences encapsulate the polarised and often bitter feminist debate over the buying and selling of sex. So what can the two sides agree on?

In this special London Thinks, hosted in association with the New Statesman, we will hear from current sex workers and prostitution survivors about the reality of the sex trade, and take floor contributions from academics, charity workers and other experts. Can selling sex be empowering, or a job like any other -- or should we try to 'end demand'? And what does the evidence say is the best way to keep women safe - legalisation, decriminalisation or the 'Nordic model' of criminalising punters, but not prostitutes?

Confirmed panellists include:

Margaret Corvid is a writer, activist and professional dominatrix living in the south-west of England. She writes for the New Statesman on sex, power and social change.

Fiona Broadfoot was exploited into prostitution at the age of 15 and exited in 1996 after someone close to her was murdered. She now works for SPACE, an organisation which supports women leaving the industry.

In addition to our panellists, we will also take floor contributions, and we invite audience members to submit testimony which can be read aloud by the chair or delivered anonymously in the hall, from behind a screen. Please, email statements to be read out to ian.steadman@newstatesman.co.uk with the subject line 'Conway Hall' and include details of how you would like to be referred to.

The panel will be chaired by Samira Ahmed.