UN Expert Reem Alsalem: Pornography, Prostitution are Human Rights Violations

Reem Alsalem, the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, stated in an interview this week that pornography constitutes a "gross human rights violation." Alsalem, an independent expert, also asserted that both prostitution and pornography represent serious human rights violations, not legitimate employment opportunities.

Alsalem's Stance on Pornography and Prostitution

Alsalem, who serves as a special rapporteur on violence against women and girls at the United Nations Human Rights Council, discussed her views in an interview with the European Center for Law and Justice (ECLJ) released on February 6. She described pornography as "filmed prostitution," claiming it involves "the same perpetrators of violence," "the same exploitation," and "the same consequences in terms of all forms of violence inflicted on women and girls." Alsalem further stated that pornography results in exploitation by pimps and has a "harmful impact on all society," including men, boys, and younger girls, and is "harmful to gender equality overall in society."

Alsalem asserted that the "vast majority of pornography is grotesque, degrading and violent," and that "normalizing consuming pornography has become an issue that is an epidemic as well, on global proportions." She also argued that the "glamorization" of porn and the "discourse that it is empowering" contribute to the exploitation of women. Alsalem contended that free speech protections should not apply to pornography, claiming that "often the consumption of pornography leads to violence in real life."

In the interview, Alsalem discussed her 2024 report titled "Prostitution and Violence Against Women and Girls," which outlined the dangers and harms associated with prostitution. She stated that her report demonstrated prostitution to be "a system of exploitation and violence against women and girls," which is "very gendered," predominantly affects females, and is perpetrated by males. Alsalem's role as an independent expert involves reporting on how various entities address violence against women and girls, an issue she described as having "reached epidemic levels."

Rejection of "Sex Work" Terminology

Alsalem notably refused to use the term "sex work" in her report. She explained that "the term wrongly depicts prostitution as an activity as worthy and dignified as any other work." According to Alsalem, the term "fails to take into account the serious human rights violations that characterize the prostitution system and ‘gaslights’ victims and their experiences." She noted that her use of the term in previous reports only strengthens her current position, indicating that she arrived at her report's conclusions due to being "overwhelmed by the evidence." Alsalem stated that a society cannot achieve equality between men and women if it normalizes men buying women.

Last year, sex worker groups and activists traveled to Geneva to denounce Alsalem’s report, as reported by XBIZ. Kholi Buthelezi of the South Africa-based Sisonke National Sex Workers Rights Movement responded to Alsalem’s report, countering the position that anyone involved in prostitution or pornography is automatically exploited. Buthelezi stated that saying "we are ‘commodities of men’ is hurtful," and that it "confuses trafficking with sex work and uses the code of feminist women and girls." Buthelezi also condemned Alsalem’s attitude as demeaning and warned that it poses a danger to sex workers.

Key Facts

• Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, stated in an interview this week that pornography is a "gross human rights violation."
• Alsalem described pornography as "filmed prostitution" with "the same perpetrators of violence" and "exploitation."
• She claimed that the "vast majority of pornography is grotesque, degrading and violent" and that its consumption has become a "global epidemic."
• Alsalem's 2024 report, "Prostitution and Violence Against Women and Girls," characterized prostitution as a "system of exploitation and violence."
• Alsalem rejected the term "sex work," stating it "wrongly depicts prostitution as an activity as worthy and dignified as any other work."
• Sex worker groups and activists, including Kholi Buthelezi, have denounced Alsalem's report and her stance, arguing it confuses trafficking with sex work.