The “Pledge”

The Pledge we’re referring to is the anti-prostitution pledge that international organizations were required to abide by in order to receive USAID funding. The Pledge is the brainchild of Randall Tobias (ironically enough).

The Pledge has adversely affected sex workers the world over and always the ones who need the most assistance – particularly in the fight against AIDS. Sex workers in impoverished conditions enter sex work for survival, not because they want big-screen TVs and SUVs. These sex workers are usually supporting their own children and often extended family members. Becoming ill and dying through sex work lessens the chances their children will survive and increases the chances their children will have to enter sex work at a young age in order to survive. Condoms can mean the difference between life and death for these women (survival prostitution is often the burden of women). Condoms are often too expensive to buy – if they’re even available. Sex workers all over the world rely on organizations to help them obtain condoms.

What are the effects of The Pledge?

For a look at the effects of the Pledge, watch “Taking the Pledge”. It takes 15 minutes and clearly illustrates how morality-based policies do not work in the real world.

The Pledge and AIDS

The effects of the Pledge on the fight against AIDS has already been documented by the medical community:

The rise in HIV transmission is a perfectly predictable effect of the Pledge. Instead of helping to adjust the “morals” of women it’s a death-sentence.

Why We’re Pledging Action

And so, in a fit of compassion, we decided to create our own Pledge; one borne of compassion and practical action. Giving condoms to those who need them to survive won’t solve the world’s problems and it won’t even solve all the problems in the lives of those we help.

But we feel these little pieces of latex can help solve a big issue in their lives: living.