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| Sex worker stall at Brighton university freshers' fairs sparks row | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A row has erupted over the inclusion of a sex workers' support group stall at a university's freshers' fairs. | A row has erupted over the inclusion of a sex workers' support group stall at a university's freshers' fairs. |
| The Sex Workers' Outreach Project Sussex (Swop) attended events managed by the University of Brighton's student union last week. | The Sex Workers' Outreach Project Sussex (Swop) attended events managed by the University of Brighton's student union last week. |
| The decision to include Swop has been branded "beyond disgraceful" by feminist campaigner Julie Bindel. | The decision to include Swop has been branded "beyond disgraceful" by feminist campaigner Julie Bindel. |
| But Union president Tomi Ibukun said it was there to provide support rather than to advocate sex work. | But Union president Tomi Ibukun said it was there to provide support rather than to advocate sex work. |
| A university spokesman said it would be "exploring the matter further" with the union to fully understand the aims of inviting Swop to attend. | A university spokesman said it would be "exploring the matter further" with the union to fully understand the aims of inviting Swop to attend. |
| He added: "We would like to make it clear that the university does not promote sex work as an option to students." | He added: "We would like to make it clear that the university does not promote sex work as an option to students." |
| Swop is part of the Brighton Oasis Project charity and has described itself as a "discreet and confidential" service for women in the sex industry. | Swop is part of the Brighton Oasis Project charity and has described itself as a "discreet and confidential" service for women in the sex industry. |
| It promoted its attendance in a series of tweets, in which it said: "1 in 6 students does sex work or thinks about turning to sex work. We can help." | It promoted its attendance in a series of tweets, in which it said: "1 in 6 students does sex work or thinks about turning to sex work. We can help." |
| Alison Phipps, professor of gender studies at the University of Sussex, thanked Swop for its "great work". | Alison Phipps, professor of gender studies at the University of Sussex, thanked Swop for its "great work". |
| 'Pimped to women' | 'Pimped to women' |
| But critics of the idea have included feminist campaigner and writer Julie Bindel, co-founder of law reform group Justice for Women. | But critics of the idea have included feminist campaigner and writer Julie Bindel, co-founder of law reform group Justice for Women. |
| She said: "This is beyond disgraceful. It makes me so angry that the sex trade's become normalised and pimped to women as though it is a harmless and respectable way to earn a living." | She said: "This is beyond disgraceful. It makes me so angry that the sex trade's become normalised and pimped to women as though it is a harmless and respectable way to earn a living." |
| Speaking to The Sunday Times Mr Ibukun said: "Swop was at our freshers' fair event to raise awareness of the specialist support they provide should it ever be needed. | Speaking to The Sunday Times Mr Ibukun said: "Swop was at our freshers' fair event to raise awareness of the specialist support they provide should it ever be needed. |
| "It is unfortunate that some people have misinterpreted the attendance." | "It is unfortunate that some people have misinterpreted the attendance." |
| Swop said it "never idealised sex work", but added it understood "why students may turn to sex work". | Swop said it "never idealised sex work", but added it understood "why students may turn to sex work". |
| "Navigating the legal precariousness as well as the potential danger mean that students are extra vulnerable and we will help." | "Navigating the legal precariousness as well as the potential danger mean that students are extra vulnerable and we will help." |