Laura Lee

Laura Lee (25 April 1973 – 7 February 2018) was an Irish sex worker and civil rights activist, who became a campaigner for the rights of those in the sex industry.

Lee was born in Dublin, but moved to Scotland where she lived in Kilmarnock, near Glasgow. She became a prostitute at the age of 19. At one point she took a well paid job in banking, but within a few months she returned to the sex industry. She was an independent escort and had a law degree. She was a member of the board of Sex Workers Alliance Ireland. She later settled in Oban and Kilmarnock, but also travelled to Dublin and Belfast for work. She had a daughter, who was aware of her work. She died suddenly on 7 February 2018 at the age of 39.

Media work

Lee's work with clients with disabilities was featured in the 2013 Channel 4 documentary Sex on Wheels. She also appeared in the 2015 Channel 4 documentary A Very British Brothel. She believed there was no reason for governments to intervene against sex in private between two consenting adults, adding "if money changes hands then that is none of the state's business".

Government committees

On 9 January 2014 Lee appeared as a witness before the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Justice, who were examining the proposed Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Further Provisions and Support for Victims) Bill.This was the first time a current sex worker had ever appeared before a UK government committee.On 29 February 2016 Lee gave evidence before the Home Affairs Committee Prostitution Inquiry in Westminster.Lee remains the only current sex worker to have ever appeared before a UK government committee. As part of her advocacy against the bill, Lee also co-organised the first-ever sex worker protest in Northern Ireland in October 2014.

Legal challenge

Following the passing of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015, Lee initiated a judicial review at Belfast’s high court in respect of the provisions criminalising the purchase of sex. She argued that making it a criminal offence to pay for sex would drive the sex trade further underground and endanger sex workers.Lee's challenge was based on human rights legislation and she stated her intention to bring the case all the way to the European Court of Human Rights.On 28 September 2016 Lee won the right to have a judicial review.At the time of Lee's death the judicial review was reportedly a few weeks away.On 8 March 2018 the legal challenge was formally withdrawn due to Lee's death. In a statement following her death, Lee's solicitor, Ciaran Moynagh, described her as "one of this country's most fearless human rights advocates".