Commends the Cambodia Assessment in U.S. State Department’s 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (June 17, 2009)

The Asia and the Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW) would like to commend the U.S. Department of State on their 2009 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, with specific reference to their recognition of Cambodia’s failure to properly implement and enforce minimum international standards with it’s law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation. The TIP Report acknowledges a number of the issues arising from the conflation of sex work and trafficking in Cambodia, as well as the misguided enforcement of the law. The root of this being that “Not all government officials have appeared to distinguish between the law’s articles on trafficking offences and non-trafficking crimes such as prostitution … as a result law enforcement has focused on prostitution-related crimes…”. As noted in the TIP report “Following the passage of the law Cambodian police conducted numerous raids on brothels and detained a large number of women in prostitution while failing to arrest, investigate or charge any large number of persons for human trafficking offences.” APNSW hopes that the focus of the enforcement of the law will be shifted from the policing, arrest and detention of sex workers as “traffickers” to the investigation and prosecution of major traffickers, in line with the recommendations given by the U.S. Department of State in the TIP Report. As a result of these detentions, a number of human rights abuses against sex workers have been reported upon their release. Some of which are mentioned in the TIP report including rape, physical beatings and extortion, all said to have been committed by some police and Ministry of Social Affairs officials. Due to this failed enforcement and lack of trafficking convictions Cambodia has been placed back on the Tier 2 Watch List for trafficking. APNSW and Women’s Network for Unity have advocated strongly for the recognition of this issue and it is with cautious optimism that we welcome the report. It is good to see the US government at last treating seriously the issues that sex workers have raised. Given Secretary Clinton’s commitment to assessing US anti-trafficking efforts and the millions of dollars in anti-trafficking funds committed by the US Department of State to anti-trafficking efforts in Cambodia; it would be useful for the US government to look into why their programs to improve standards have clearly failed. We look forward to working with the Cambodian and US governments to develop programs to address sex workers health and human rights which are based in evidence and rights.

http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/reports/2009/121506.htm

Global Campaign for Microbicides Recounts Lessons Learned from PrEP Trial Cancellations

Between August 2004 and February 2005 the HIV prevention world was rocked by the suspension and cancellation of PrEP effectiveness trials in Cambodia and Cameroon. To the considerable surprise of researchers, advocates, and donors, the trials became embroiled in escalating controversies and sparked protests by advocates speaking on behalf of the communities where trial participants were being recruited. The activists not only raised questions about how the research was being conducted, but also challenged the fundamental ethics and underlying motives of the research. The Global Campaign for Microbicides is launching two in-depth case studies relating the events that led to these cancellations and extracting the lessons they provide for current and future research. Acknowledging that no single version of the events constitutes the “real story”, the case studies are built from extensive interviews with researchers, policymakers and other government officials, donors, NGO staff, and advocates to reconstruct often incompatible accounts of what eventually led to government intervention that halted the research. The case studies capture the political context and backdrop against which the controversies arose and the underlying and unaddressed conflicts that led to the costly collapse of two Phase 3 trials. These reports are important and exciting reading for anyone interested in sound science, human rights and communication across enormous cultural, social, and economic disparities. The HIV prevention field has made substantial progress since 2005 in forging mechanisms to be transparent and build trust between trial communities and researchers. But much remains to be done, and that the potential for conflict remains. As the first PrEP trials move toward completion this year, these case studies offer a timely look at what we have learned and what pressing challenges remain unaddressed.

The two case studies are available on-line at http://www.global-campaign.org/ethics-resources.htm

Caught Between the Tiger and the Crocodile : The Campaign to Suppress Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Cambodia

This is a monograph by Cheryl Overs about  events surrounding the introduction of the Suppression Exploitation and Human Trafficking in Cambodia in 2008. We welcome suggestions for corrections or modifications for the final draft, discussion about the law and relevant updates.

The APNSW March 2009.

Click here for PDF file:    caught-between-the-tiger-and-the-crocodile

Sex Workers Group Wins HIV and Rights Award Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers Honored at AIDS Conference (Mexico City, August 6, 2008)

Sex Workers Group Wins HIV and Rights Award APNSW Honored at AIDS Conference (Mexico City, August 6, 2008)

Sex Workers Group Wins HIV and Rights Award Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers Honored at AIDS Conference (Mexico City, August 6, 2008) – The Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW) is the recipient of the 2008 international Award for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and Human Rights Watch announced today. The award, which recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations that protect the rights and dignity of people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, was presented in Mexico City on August 6, 2008, at the XVII International AIDS Conference. “Sex workers routinely face human rights abuses, including the discriminatory denial of health services, arbitrary detention by police, harassment, and sexual and physical violence,” said Richard Elliott, executive director of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network (www.aidslaw.ca). “This award recognizes the extraordinary contribution of the Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers in the struggle for sex workers’ rights.” Since 1994, the network has represented sex workers in various policy and educational forums, promoting the participation of sex workers in HIV/AIDS programs and supporting dialogue between nongovernmental organizations, governments and activists. The group has challenged the increasing criminalization of all forms of sex work and unethical drug trials with sex workers as subjects. The Asia Pacific network has shaped policy at the global and regional levels, and built the capacity of local grassroots sex worker organizations, including creating a network of transgender activists. Throughout Asia, the network has been challenging gender-based violence, promoting access to health care for sex workers, and advocating for the decriminalization of sex workers. “I am honored to accept this award on behalf of the Asia Pacific Network for Sex Workers,” said Andrew Hunter, the Network’s policy director. “International recognition of sex workers’ human rights, and the active inclusion of sex workers, are important elements of efforts to curb the HIV pandemic. Governments and UN agencies need to hear – and heed — this message. We need sustainable, comprehensive HIV prevention and care initiatives for sex workers that are community-led and aim to protect and promote sex workers’ human rights.” The stigmatization, social exclusion and legal marginalization of sex workers contribute to human rights violations, and can exacerbate their risk of HIV infection. Increasingly, according to the Asia Pacific Network, anti-trafficking efforts and laws criminalizing transactional sex have resulted in violence and human rights abuses faced by sex workers at the hands of police. The organization pointed to new anti-trafficking legislation in Cambodia, where sex workers have been sent to “rehabilitation” centers and subjected to sexual violence and beatings, and had little access to healthcare or food. “Being a part of APNSW – working in solidarity with tens of thousands of sex workers in the region – has allowed us to challenge the way the authorities have applied this law in Cambodia and to gain strength to bring this issue to international attention” said Kao Tha from the Women’s Network for Unity, a sex worker rights organization in Cambodia. “The International AIDS Conference presents a forum in which to focus worldwide attention on the epidemic and our global response,” said Joe Amon, director of the HIV/AIDS program at Human Rights Watch (www.hrw.org/hivaids). “Unfortunately, too often that response has been tainted by prejudice and misinformation. Only by ensuring the health and human rights of sex workers will governments, UN agencies, donors and non-governmental groups be effective at reducing the vulnerability of sex workers to HIV infection. The Asia Pacific Network’s work epitomizes this.” The Awards for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights were established in 2002 by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and Human Rights Watch. An award is presented annually to one Canadian and one international recipient. This year’s Canadian recipient was Peter Collins, a prisoner and health activist in Ontario, Canada. To learn more about the Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers, please visit:

http://apnsw.org/apnsw.htm

https://sexworkerspresent.blip.tv/#9772333

http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/hivaids/Awards_for_Action/past_recipients.htm

http://www.aidslaw.ca/awards”

For Immediate Release / Embargoed Until Wednesday August 6th, 2 pm Central Daylight Time (UTC – 5 hours)

Anti-traficking Cambodia The Reality

OPEN DAY OF ACTION TO STOP SEX WORKER RAIDS AND CALL FOR REPEAL OF THE TRAFFICKING LAW THAT THE CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT PASSED UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE UNITED STATESSex Work Is Work

Defend the Right to Livelihood

June 04th 2008: The Women’s Network for Unity (WNU), a group of sex workers who work to empower vulnerable women and who are involved in the reduction of the spread of HIV/AIDS, closely collaborating with the Cambodian Prostitutes Union (CPU) and Cambodian Men, Women Network for Development (CMNWD), will organise an Open Day of Action to stop sex worker raids and call for the repeal of the ?Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation? that the Cambodian Government passed recently, under pressure to comply with the United States policy on human trafficking. The Open Day of Action also has strong support from the Asia Pacific Network for Sex Workers (APNSW). The law was introduced to eliminate trafficking by stamping out the sex industry. Since then brothels, bars, street areas, and karaoke clubs across the country have been closed or gone underground. Hundreds of women have been arrested and imprisoned, or have had to move. Dozens have been raped and beaten by police and prison guards. HIV prevention and care programs have collapsed. This law makes us easier prey for traffickers, and makes it impossible for us to use condoms. The negative impact of the law will be shown by sex workers through role play, speech and video evidence of the brutality and misery this new law is causing. There also will be two sex workers from India who will speak about sex workers fight against trafficking, a model of anti-trafficking that respects human rights, is effective and not in conflict with HIV prevention programs. There will be a video about the activities of sex workers in Sonagachi, India, to fight trafficking. The Messenger Band will sing a song on sex workers defending the right to livelihood. We, strongly call for repeal of the law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation and for an end to raids on sex workers. Don’t be fooled by talk of rescuing ’sex slaves’ until you have heard our testimonials and seen video evidence of the brutality and misery this new law is causing. When: 08:00 – 12:00 Where: Women Network for Unity Office (On the Barge, formerly Vimean Kongkea Dancing Club) #01, Sisowat Quay, Sangkat Srah Chak, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh (Along the river, opposite Camnitel Office near by Kompong Dor Arey Khsat Feery) Contact: 012 471 093 – 012 222 171

Click below to watch video

http://www.sexworkerspresent.blip.tv

 

New Anti-Trafficking Law in Cambodia

The new Cambodian Anti-trafficking act. This act makes prostitution illegal in Cambodia and also makes it illegal to try to stop (illegal) rescues of sex workers by NGO’s.

It is currently being used to close down the entire brothel sector in Cambodia and large numbers of street sex workers are also being forcibly rescued or jailed

<object type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” data=”http://blip.tv/scripts/flash/showplayer.swf?enablejs=true&file=http%3A%2F%2Fsexworkerspresent%2Eblip%2Etv%2Frss%2Fflash%2F%3Freferrer%3Dsexworkerspresent%2Eblip%2Etv&showplayerpath=http%3A%2F%2Fblip%2Etv%2Fscripts%2Fflash%2Fshowplayer%2Eswf” width=”400″ height=”255″ allowfullscreen=”true” id=”showplayer”><param name=”movie” value=”http://blip.tv/scripts/flash/showplayer.swf?enablejs=true&file=http%3A%2F%2Fsexworkerspresent%2Eblip%2Etv%2Frss%2Fflash%2F%3Freferrer%3Dsexworkerspresent%2Eblip%2Etv&showplayerpath=http%3A%2F%2Fblip%2Etv%2Fscripts%2Fflash%2Fshowplayer%2Eswf” /><param name=”quality” value=”best” /><embed src=”http://blip.tv/scripts/flash/showplayer.swf?enablejs=true&file=http%3A%2F%2Fsexworkerspresent%2Eblip%2Etv%2Frss%2Fflash%2F%3Freferrer%3Dsexworkerspresent%2Eblip%2Etv&showplayerpath=http%3A%2F%2Fblip%2Etv%2Fscripts%2Fflash%2Fshowplayer%2Eswf” quality=”best” width=”400″ height=”255″ name=”showplayer” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash”></embed></object>

 

New Guidance on HIV and Sex Work

The Global Working Group on HIV and Sex Work Policy was convened by the Global Network of Sex Work Projects to formulate sex workers and civil society groups response to the new UNAIDS Guidance note on Sex Work. The group is a broad based coalition that believes in evidence informed, rights based programming in relation to HIV. This video shows the launch of our reworked Guidance Note and explains the principles we used in formulating it. We hope that this reworking is the start of a dialogue between sex worker organisations, HIV organisations, programme implemeters, governments UNAIDS, UNFPA and the other cosponsors. The document can be downloaded from sexworkpolicy.wordpress.com

http://sexworkerspresent.blip.tv

Strategies for the South

In July APNSW hosted a regional Dialogue of Networks working in the areas of HIV/AIDS, sex work, sexual and reproductive rights, women’s rights and migrant rights organisations. It was an exciting event- being held at our newly renovated offices in Bangkok

It was the regional meeting for a project called : Building
Synergies in HIV/AIDS and sexual and Reproductive Health and
Rights” You can read more about it here
www.asiapacificdialogue.wordpress.com

Sex Workers Oppose the UNAIDS 3 Pillars

This is a document produced by APNSW and endorsed by all the regional sex worker networks. It outlines sex workers opposition to the new UNAIDS guidance on sex work.
We took this to the UNAIDS Program Coordinating Board meeting in Geneva in June and got a motion passed that effectively makes the guidance a draft again and requires UNAIDS to again work with sex workers.
click link below for full document in PDF
Geneva June 2007

Don’t talk to me about sewing machine