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Nadine Mortimer-Smith; Prostitution; Women of the World

Soprano Nadine Mortimer-Smith. Former sex workers explain why they're keen on proposals to criminalise paying for sex. And young people at the Women of the World Festival.

Soprano Nadine Mortimer-Smith on singing Aaron Copeland's Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson. Woman's Hour is looking at the issues of selling and paying for sex. Today we hear from women who describe themselves as 'survivors of prostitution' and get their views on proposals to criminalise paying for sex. And young people at the Women of the World Festival tell us how they've been inspired.

Presented by Jane Garvey
Produced by Lucinda Montefiore.

Available now

58 minutes

Chapters

  • Prostitution

    The stories of two former prostititutes & the women who support those who sell sex

    Duration: 27:58

  • Women of the World

    We speak to the young women at the festival & find out what issues really matter to them.

    Duration: 08:10

  • Nadine Mortimer-Smith

    Nadine left school at 16 & worked in corporate finance, before becoming an opera singer

    Duration: 06:54

Prostitution

Today and tomorrow, Woman’s Hour looks at prostitution and the move to change the laws for the first time in twenty years. Campaigners want to see those who pay for sex criminalised and those who sell sex decriminalised. The opposing side say that making payment for sex illegal will not get rid of prostitution but will make the selling of sex much more dangerous for those involved, and why should, what is apparently, consensual sex be against the law? We hear from , an ex- street prostitute who worked for seven years from the age of 15, Ana, a young woman trafficked into prostitution from the streets of North London and two women who have spent years working with and supporting those selling sex on the streets. They argue the case for criminalisation of the client.


Rachel Moran, is an Irish survivor of prostitution and sex trafficking, and author of Rachel Moran was prostituted in Dublin and other Irish cities from 15 to 22.

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Nadine Mortimer- Smith

The soprano Nadine Mortimer-Smith was born in Brixton, in London, left school at 16 and went to work in corporate finance. After a successful career as a city trader she gave it all up to become a professional opera singer. That was in 2010 and since then she has performed in a number of classical and contemporary operatic roles, her latest of which will be at the Southbank Centre in London this week.

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Women of the World

Catherine Carr has been at the Women of the World Festival at the Southbank Centre in London this past weekend.Ìý She Ìýhas been talking to the Ìýyoung women and girls Ìýat the festival, hearing their views, opinions, their thoughts about the speakers and events and finding out what issues really matter to them.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jane Garvey
Interviewed Guest Rachel Moran
Interviewed Guest Nadine Mortimer-Smith
Producer Lucinda Montefiore

Broadcast

  • Mon 10 Mar 2014 10:00

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