Caused by the Refraction: The film that gives an inside look at issues facing sex workers in Myanmar, and tells some of the fascinating story of how sex workers have organised and responded to HIV and to claim their rights.http://sexworkerspresent.blip.tv/file/3977331
Posted in apnsw | Tagged sex worker, sex, prostitution, prostitute, Condoms, apnsw, human rights, Cheryl Overs, HIV, sex workers, Asia and the Pacific Network of Sex Workers, sex work, Myanmar, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, AIDS 2010, AIDS2010, andrew hunter, kaythi win, dale, selvi, tini, pon pon, Aldo, Meena, Pisey Ly, Leela Neena, meena saraswathi seshu, Meena Seshu, Khartini Slamah, Star Whores, Star Whore III, Caused by the Refraction | Leave a Comment »
Ricky Swuanpyae spoke at the opening plenary for the thematic session of The UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) in Geneva on 22-24 June, 2010 This is his speech….
My name is Ricky and I am a male sex worker from Myanmar. I started to work as a sex worker when I was 18 to help pay for my schooling costs. I was at the time working as a housekeeper in a hotel. In fact, one night as a sex worker , I earn the same as a month as a housekeeper.
However when I first started as a sex worker I had no knowledge about STI and HIV and did not know how to insist on condom use. So I developed STIs. I only got to understand HIV and STIs when I was introduced to a Clinic where HIV and STI related health services are available. From such centres I and my friends learned from our peer sex worker about the risks of getting STIs and HIV. It was also there that I made a decision to be also be a peer sex worker to ensure others like me have access to prevention information and services. So increasing accessibility to such centres where one can get information and awareness about HIV and STIs is much needed.
Ladies and Gentlemen.
The reports of the Commission on AIDS in Asia and Commission on AIDS in the Pacific have been fundamental in recognising sex work as a central driver of the HIV epidemic in the region. The Asia report calculates that up to 10 million women in Asia sell sex to an estimated 75 million men, who in turn have intimate relations with a further 50 million people. HIV prevention coverage reaches only one third of all sex workers in the region and programmes to reduce the demand for unprotected paid sex are simply not adequate. Coverage for male sex workers is unknown as they are rarely dissagregated from MSM statistics.
As a result of discriminatory laws and social practices, sex workers experience debilitating stigma and discrimination that undermine their ability to protect their health and well-being. Hence a crucial component of Sexual and Reproductive Health services must be identifying mechanisms for encouraging respect and acceptance of sex workers.
Sexual and reproductive health information and services must recognise the sex worker as a whole man, woman or transgender person. We have to acknowledge that female sex workers have sexual reproductive issues like other women but also understand they have special needs as sex workers as well. For example the need for more frequent pap screening. Further, SRH services for all sex workers must cover sexual and reproductive health issues such as access to a full range of contraceptives, including emergency contraception, and abortion; and screening and treatment for STIs including hepatitis.
Male and transgender sex workers need STI services that are equipped to diagnose and treat anal, oral and genital STIs. While stopping work when an STI is present is ideal, many sex workers may not be able to afford to do this. Male sex workers can be encouraged and taught to provide services that do not transmit STIs, for example not offering receptive an anal sex while they are being treated for an anal STI. Transgender sex workers may need access to specialist services that can address their HIV and sexual health needs alongside the issues created by use of hormones and sexual reassignment surgery.
All sex workers need access to competent and caring health care workers that are free from judgement, stigma and discrimination.
The basic idea of the 100% Condom Use (CUP) program was to increase use of condoms to 100% of the time, in 100% of risky sexual relations, in 100% of sexual acts taking place within sex entertainment establishments. Sex workers who do not comply with the requirements of the programme, and are discovered to be infected with HIV or and STI, usually face severe consequences, such as being dismissed from brothels, thus depriving them of income and healthcare.
The 100% condom programming continues to be used as a justification for the State to police and arrest sex workers and to justify compulsory testing.
In Myanmar, the 100% CUP is being implemented in 51 townships supported
by UNFPA and WHO and National AIDS Program providing STIs treatment, VCT services and free condom distribution . In 2009, National AIDS Program reached only about 5000 sex workers all over the nation and distributed 14 million condoms. Sex workers are afraid to use Government facilities as the police continue to harass sex workers and arrest based on claiming that condom as evidence of sex work. On the other hand, NGOs with by sex workers as peer educators are reaching much larger number of sex workers. In view of their impact the Government and UN have finally renamed the programme “Targeted Condom Program”.
Law that does not allow selling or buying of sexual services, operating sex businesses and many anti-trafficking measures prevent female, male and transgender sex workers from accessing safe places to work, health and social services and benefiting from legal and civil protections..
I urge Member States to support calls for the removal of punitive laws, policies and practices that block effective responses to HIV and progress towards the Millennium Development Goal. We need protective law enforcement practices and UNAIDS can help facilitate regular dialogue between sex worker groups and Ministries of Health, Justice and Interior, Parliaments, Judiciaries and police, and AIDS Authorities. There will be a decision point related to this at the PCB meeting under Non Discrimination of AIDS Responses and I urge Member States to support it.
Approaches to condom programming needs to address the power differentials which often exists between sex workers and police, government officials, health authorities and brother owners. The power given to police and brothel owners in the 100% CUP design reinforces already exploitative power dynamics, leaving sex workers open to further abuse and corruption. Condom programming must pay attention to clients and sex worker’s intimate partners, as well as male and transgender sex workers.
Here in Asia Pacific region, there is a need for comprehensive condom programming. Access to good quality condoms and water-based lubricants is essential. While there has been 100% condom use programme in place, there remains the problem of supply, lack of access and a failure to include sex worker organisations and sex workers in the design, implementation and evaluation of these programmes.
Finally I would like to conclude that, we, the sex workers community would ask for those present here help us demand that UNAIDS and co sponsors include sex workers in the design, implementation and evaluation of all programmes with sex workers and that we shift from a 100% CONDOM USE programme to a 100% CONDOM ACCESS programme at country level.
Ricky Swuanpyae
APNSW Myanmar
22nd June Geneva, PCB
Redefining AIDS in Asia; Crafting an Effective Response (2008): HYPERLINK “http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2008/20080326_report_commission_aids_en.pdf” http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2008/20080326_report_commission_aids_en.pdf.
Turning the Tide; An OPEN Strategy for a Response to AIDS in the Pacific (2009): HYPERLINK “http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2009/20091202_pacificcommission_en.pdf” http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2009/20091202_pacificcommission_en.pdf
Posted in apnsw | Tagged sex worker, sex, prostitution, prostitute, Condoms, human rights, HIV, Global Campaign, sex workers, Asia and the Pacific Network of Sex Workers, PCB, UNFPA, Rathi Ramanathan, sex work, Brothel Raids, Reproductive Health and HIV Services, Gender based violence, SRH, Myanmar, STI, MSM, Transgenders, Ricky, 100% Condom Use, CUP, VCT services, Condom Program, UNAIDS | 3 Comments »
In April 2010 APNSW conducted a training workshop for sex workers to learn skills in Video Advocacy. The training was organised by Dale from APNSW and Ryan Schlief from WITNESS. Sex workers from China, Myanmar/Burma and Malaysia came to the week long workshop, which was supported by a grant from OSI. These newly trained film makers made a video action plan for their first film and will be making these films in their country in the next few months with technical support from APNSW.
You can watch the video report from the workshop here: http://blip.tv/file/3653573
Posted in apnsw | 1 Comment »
Recent pronouncements by the Prime Minister in Cambodia that sex work is an affront to traditional Cambodian culture and to the dignity of Cambodian women have led to more raids on bars and arrests of sex workers.
Sex Workers are meant to learn “dignified” professions such as sewing to work in garment factories- but garment factory workers are rebelling against their conditions:
So Women’s Network for Unity in Cambodia, along with their sisters in the garment industry, and the parents and children of sex workers held a Buddhist ceremony known as Bon Pkar- which is a solidarity ceremony where a group of people come together to raise funds for a temple and for a righteous cause.
The sex workers raised money for a temple restoration at a temple with a very progressive Abott and monk They also raised money for children of sex workers and poor students living at the temple for school books.
In this video you can see the sex workers ceremony and their procession through the capital city showing that they are not outcasts from Cambodian Buddhist Culture- but that by feeding their families, supporting students and the religion, they claim their rightful place as women, men and transgenders doing the best they can to build up their country and to reject an unjust law that undermines their livelihood
See the video with the procession and the speech by the temple Abbot here where he calls for recognition of the righteous actions of Cambodian Sex Workers to be recognised by society:
Cambodian Sex workers: From Poverty to Pride.
Posted in apnsw | Tagged sex, prostitution, prostitute, Condoms, apnsw, human rights, sex workers, Asia and the Pacific Network of Sex Workers, sex work, Brothel Raids | Leave a Comment »
“Brothel Raids and forced rescues of sex workers are an ongoing issue across Asia.
In this article Pornpit Pukmai of Empower Foundation writes about recent raids in Phuket, Thailand”
Once again we see the news of raids and arrests with or without entrapment games and the media taken along for the show. Time and time again..over and over again year after year. It seems like the perpetual symbol to show the good works of a whole range of people in positions of authority.
It’s maybe the authorities and politicians way of declaring “See I have these problems in my area all sorted and under control” or maybe to take the public’s mind off other issues, to answer the USA or their own superiors, to fit in with the propaganda against migrants, or to promote the anti-trafficking law, or the drug law or to get a good TIP Report or.. or ..or….
It seems that we sex workers are the most popular group to become scapegoats for any department wanting to show their good works on any issue. Take for example the crackdown on the registration of migrant workers that takes place at the beginning of every year when old permits expire and new ones must be made. This occurs at the same time as the inspection for the registration and paying taxes for Entertainment Places so why not kill two birds with one stone and carry out both? Better yet, while they’re about it they may as well test our urine for drugs to follow the drug law, check our music for copyright infringements, and of course make a few arrests for prostitution. Our workplaces become one stop centre for authorities wanting to produce a good record with very little trouble.
The Phuket Governor was reported to say, in part, he organised the recent raids as the businesses were bothering the tourists. But did the raids really make the tourist’s holiday better? After all sex workers are one of the main reasons tourists come to Thailand from all over the world following the governments own tourism promotion.
How do raids, crackdowns and arrests for prostitution improve the situation? Do the video and pictures of armed police and army intimidating partly dressed tiny women add to the dignity of the police and armed forces? Will raids and arrests bring an instant end to our profession? If it did, what high paid jobs has the government prepared for the hundreds of thousands of us to work in immediately? Our families and communities depend on our incomes. What would the government do? This is without considering all the migrant sex workers who will need work. Furthermore what would happen to the 7% GPD we earn for Thailand?
Arresting sex workers is easy, we make very good scapegoats as most often we cannot assert our rights and speak out. When will those in authority finally recognize that accepting our work is work is the only way to solve the problems in our industry? Instead they prefer to profit from fining us … think about how much money is taken from us year after year…how much is earned in our name … how many eat from the fruits of our labour? Are migrant sex workers especially good to arrest because we have a price on our heads? The law provides for awarding cash rewards to those that inform on and for those who arrest undocumented migrants.
When laws are given more importance than human rights then we cannot access our rights. Laws become a barrier to the achievement of human rights, especially for undocumented migrant sex workers in Thailand. The laws do not protect us the laws only punish us and leave us open to exploitation. How do we assert our rights when the laws against us are so numerous and so strong? Sex workers, both migrant and non-migrant, do not want to break any law but we cannot accept to sacrifice our human rights especially in favour of unjust laws that are used against us for promotion and exploitation
Deportation…is that really an answer? We all know migrants from Burma must and will return again. There are now said to be around 4 million migrants from Burma in Thailand. Can they all be arrested and deported? Is it practical to arrest 20 or 30 at a time or is it a show? Is raid and deportation going to solve any of the problems?
When Thailand began to allow undocumented migrants to register and work legally the government did not include our work, Entertainment Work, in the categories for registration. This is despite the numbers of migrant workers in the industry; despite the support to work from Thai sex workers and employers; despite the fact there are enough customers for all and despite the fact we work in legally registered establishments. Instead of allowing migrant sex workers to obey the law and access our rights, the government keeps migrant sex workers as undocumented and outside the law; ready and available for arrest whenever needed!
Have authorities ever considered having employers cooperate in taking responsibility for their workers? Just registering the establishment, as a legal entertainment place is enough is it? If the requirement to register their workers with Social Security was enforced, and if migrant workers could gain work permits then no one is outside the law like out laws anymore…the business and the workers become just like other workers.
Is anyone serious about improving the situation or do we want to keep up this wonderful tradition of going through the raid and arrest ceremony on special occasions or whenever there is a need to demonstrate that “I am the one who can get things organized and sort out these problems in my town”?
Pornpit Puckmai
Empower Foundation
www.empowerfoundation.org
Enquiries: empower@cm.ksc.co.th
28/01/ 2010
Posted in apnsw | Tagged sex worker, sex, prostitution, prostitute, anti-trafficking, trafficking, Condoms, apnsw, human rights, Human Trafficking, sex workers, Asia and the Pacific Network of Sex Workers, sex work, Brothel Raids, Raids, Empower Foundation, Empower, Thailand, Empower Foundation Thailand, raids in Phuket, anti-trafficking law, trafficking law, Pornpit Puckmai | 2 Comments »
India’s first national Transgender beauty contest- Miss Indian Super Queen is being organised by Laxmi, who is a long time member and activist with APNSW.
If you wondering what is so great about the yet another talent hunt or another beauty pageant think again as ‘Indian Super Queen’ is the first ever beauty pageant for the transgender community in India.
The commendable initiative by Twelve Noon Entertainment, an initiative of Laxmi Narayan Tripathi along with VCare, a diversified business conglomerate saw its launch on Tuesday, Jan 19 with the support of Bollywood stars Celina Jaitley and Seema Biswas.
“’Indian Super Queen’ would bring the community of transgenders to unite and give a positive vibe about who and what they are,” said Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, known as Laxmi, CEO of Twelve Noon Entertainment.
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/01/19/india-first-transgender-beauty-pageant-starts.html
Posted in apnsw | 3 Comments »
“Sex work organizations: Programs, advocacy, and opportunities for Chinese NGOs”.
This is a memo from Asia Catalyst based on research and outreach conducted over the past six months into international sex work organizations and their current programs and advocacy. The aim is to share this information with Chinese sex worker groups as they develop programs and advocacy campaigns.
附件有亚洲促进会发表的简报，“性工作者组织：给中国非政府组织介绍国外机构的项目和倡导机会”. 亚洲促进会在过去的六个月中对国际性工作组织和她们现有的项目与倡议进行了研究与调查，并基于此形成了这篇备忘录。我们的目的是与中国的性工作团体分享信息，以帮助她/他们将来制定项目计划和倡议运动。
Download PDF below in Chinese/English
Sex work organizations: Programs, advocacy, and opportunities for Chinese NGOs
Posted in apnsw | Tagged China, HIV, NGO, sex work | 4 Comments »
Here is the first of our reports from the UNAIDS Program Coordinating Board meeting in Geneva, where Rathi Ramanathan is representing APNSW as one of the new NGO representatives for Asia Pacific.
We raised the issue of whether Pepfar restrictions on sex work would be reviewed under the administration.
Goosby: Prostitution clause – in middle of law suit 0 confident that we have internal agreement to minimize impact at global level. Will not require written statement to accept funds. Afraid to try to change language so as not to disrupt law suit. Getting sued is the correct approach. Confident we will be able to have it not impact the way it was intended to impact.
Goosby, the head of Pepfar and head of US delegation at the PC responded was that while language around Pepfar would not be reopened because too many detractors however two US based NGOs are now challenging the restrictions and should they be successful, that could open some opportunity for policy to be revised and he said the Obama administration was more open to the idea of relaxation the prostitution pledge. However, Michelle Moloney-Kitts, assistant coordinator of Pepfar who while insisted that funding around sex workers and access to prevention and other services (food, microcredit, eduaction, condoms availabiility) was still possible under Pepfar but insisted that monies could not be used for legalisation of sex work. When asked after the briefing Goosby’sposition on sex work, he said he was sympathetic but difficult to rally public support for Pepfar to fund legalisationof sex work in view that most americans do not view the legalisation of sex work favourable but he indicated, he would not object to international language drafted around legalisation of sex work . Michellle, part of the remaining Bush camp still holds a lot of weight especially around issues around gender and gender based violence and clearly anti-trafficking at the international fora. The current health attache of the US mission in Geneva is also an abolitionist.
Discussion with Michelle Sidibe and cosponsors
Met up with Steve Krause of UNFPA and he says, there is money for core funding for sex work related activities for 2010 but advised that proposals are sent in by end of Jan. For Asia Pacific proposals be sent to Bangkok office and him. Asked whether advocacy around MDG summit would be accepted, he said he would take a look. Rathi is talking to Vince about a collaborative proposals between Seven sisters and APNSW to build capacity and advocacy around MDG Summit and follow up for Universal Access review in 2011. We understand from Michelle Sidebe that he intends to lobby China, South Africa and another State (yet to be determined) to hold a HIV dialogue to review universal access after 2010 (UNGASS+). So it is important to start strategising around this Summit and securing funding for sex workers networks to attend.
Sidebe is expected to announce a high level task force on prevention which we view as positive especially in view that with of potential cutbacks by donors as a result of the financial crisis. This task force could garner political will to increase funding on prevention, an area the second evaluation has admiteed that UN joint programme has neglected. He also expressed concern around punitive laws as a barrier for key populations to access to HIV services. As a result we didn’t follow up spefcially with him on the idea of a thematic issue of punitive laws affecting key population. Vince of seven sisters who is also on the Bureau raised this issue of thematic on punitive laws but was informed that there is a list of themes already slated. He said he would email list to APNSW. However on a positive note, the PCB NGO delegation have also committed that that in view that stigma and discrimination is an agenda item for the June 2010 PCB, punitive laws which act as barriers to key populations would definitely be raised at the meeting.
Rathi Ramanathan, APNSW and Gulnara Kurmanova, Tais Plus
Posted in apnsw | Tagged sex worker, sex, prostitution, prostitute, Condoms, apnsw, human rights, HIV, Global Campaign, sex workers, Asia and the Pacific Network of Sex Workers, PCB, Pepfar, Michelle Moloney-Kitts, Goosby, Bush camp, Michelle Sidibe, Steve Krause, UNFPA, UNGASS+, MDG, Rathi Ramanathan, Gulnara Kurmanova, Tais Plus, Vince, seven sisters, 7 sisters | 1 Comment »
It has come to our attention that their is still continuing debate around the issue of the French Culture Minister,
Frédéric Mitterrand, and his admission that he paid for sex with male sex workers in Thailand. We have seen attacks on him from both the left and the right of French politics- attacks which we see as both homophobic and anti-sex worker.
Worse we see the racist, orientalist views of the elites on both sides of French politics who construct Thai sex workers as somehow “backward” and unable to choose what we do. In Thailand all male sex workers are referred to by the term “Nong” which means boy. We are not duped under age boys forced into “sexual slavery.” We are people in a poor country exercising our choices to live and earn money to support ourselves, our family and our country.
The money we earn and send home to the rural areas of Thailand is far larger than any international development programme and supports far more people.
Tourism to Thailand is our country’s second biggest industry- and people have sex on holidays. Are they meant to be celibate? Is it now unacceptable for Europeans to have sex with Asians in case they are exploiting us? If French politicians are so concerned about our exploitation they would do better to support labour laws for sex workers and to push the ILO to recognise sex work as work.
When and until the parties of the Left and the Right of French politics agree to substantially increase development aid to redistribute the wealth that France and other former colonial countries stole from the developing world, we would appreciate it if you keep sending us your tourists so that we can show them a good time and get some of your hard won cash.
————————————————————————————————
Il a été porté à notre attention qu’il y a toujours un débat en cours autour de la question du ministre français de la Culture,
Frédéric Mitterrand, et son aveu d’avoir payé pour des rapports sexuels avec des professionnels du sexe en Thaïlande. Nous avons vu ces attaques contre lui provenant à la fois de la gauche et de la droite de la politique française- attaques que nous voyons à la fois comme homophobes et anti-travailleurs du sexe.
Pire encore, nous les voyons comme racistes, une vision orientaliste des élites des deux côtés de la politique française qui construisent une representation des travailleurs du sexe thaïs, en quelque sorte «en position de passivite» et incapable de choisir ce que nous faisons. En Thaïlande, tous les travailleurs de sexe masculins sont désignés par le terme «Nong», qui signifie garçon. Nous ne sommes pas des garçons forces en dessous de l’age legal contraints à l’esclavage sexuel. ” Nous sommes des gens dans un pays pauvre qui exercons notre choix de vivre et de gagner de l’argent pour nous memes et soutenir, notre famille et notre pays.
L’argent que nous gagnons et que nous envoyons chez nous dans les zones rurales de la Thaïlande est beaucoup plus important que tout programme de développement international et soutient beaucoup plus de personnes.
Le tourisme en Thaïlande est la deuxième industrie de notre pays et les gens ont des rapports sexuels pendant les vacances. Sont-ils censés rester célibataires? Est-il aujourd’hui inacceptable pour les Européens d’avoir des rapports sexuels avec des Asiatiques au cas où ils nous exploiteraient? Si les politiciens français sont si préoccupés par notre exploitation, ils feraient mieux de soutenir des lois protegeant le travail des travailleurs du sexe et de pousser l’OIT à reconnaître le travail du sexe comme un travail.
Tant que et jusqu’à ce que les partis de la gauche et la droite de la politique française acceptent d’augmenter substantiellement l’aide au développement pour redistribuer les richesses que la France et d’autres anciens pays coloniaux ont volé au monde en développement, nous serions reconnaissants si vous continuez à nous envoyer vos touristes, afin que nous puissions leur montrer ce qu’est passer du bon temps et obtenir une partie de votre argent durement acquis.
Khun Chutchai
Réseau Asie-Pacifique des travailleurs du sexe, Bangkok. Thaïlande.
Posted in apnsw | 7 Comments »
Paradoxical and shocking though it may seem, human rights are
being used to violate sex workers rights. The very framework
of human rights does this because it depends on interpretation
– and interpretation is easily laced with social prejudice. When,
as is often the case, sex work is interpreted as removing a
woman’s ‘dignity’, and being of moral harm to all women, then
the principle of indivisibility – all rights are equally important –
becomes an oppressive tool to those who want to practice sex
work for economic or other reasons. The right to do sex work is
dismissed because sex work is deemed oppressive and a human
rights violation to women. Perhaps what is more disturbing is
that everybody thinks this is correct. In the name of human rights,
unethical and even violent actions against sex work populations
are not only widely endorsed, but given accolades.
Click below for PDF file:
Who stole the tarts_small
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
