Posts tagged ‘health’
The Curious Sex Workers Guide to attending the 18th International AIDS Conference
The XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010), will be held in Vienna, Austria, from 18 to 23 July 2010. It is a chance to assess where we are, evaluate recent scientific developments and lessons learnt, and collectively chart a course forward. The conference organisers also see it as an opportunity to highlight the critical connection between human rights and HIV.
In the past the conference has provided a forum to hear about new HIV initiatives for sex workers, participate in campaigning and advocacy for sex workers rights and hear about cutting edge research related to sex work.
In order to help facilitate sex worker involvement the Global Network of Sex Work Projects has produced The Curious Sex Workers Guide to attending the 18th International AIDS Conference. The Guide provides information on:
- Submitting an abstract
- Participating in the Global Village
- Scholarships
- Travelling to Vienna
- Getting support for attendance
For further information contact the NSWP IAC 2010 Coordinators Faika El-Nagashi and Veronica Munk on iac@nswp.org.
New film from SANGRAM and the International Women’s Health Coalition
To celebrate International Human Rights Day the International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC), SANGRAM, and rural Indian sex worker advocates have released a new short film. The film explores how the creation of a grass roots sex worker collective has helped improve access to health commodities and services, spread information on and understanding of human rights, created spaces for broader discussions on women’s health and rights and facilitated political advocacy.
‘Rights not Rescue’ Mama Cash meeting in Amsterdam, November 10
Recent laws and policies put in place to protect sex workers have in fact resulted in widespread abuses of their rights. Programmes aimed at sex workers often attempt to ‘rescue’ them, without addressing their human rights. Despite enormous challenges, sex workers are calling for legal reform and programmes to end violence and discrimination. They advocate for safer working conditions and access to health care. They want rights not rescue. On November 10 Mama Cash will give the floor to sex workers and activists from around the world for a discussion about sex work and human rights.
The panel discussion features Ruth Morgan Thomas (Scottish Prostitutes Education Project), Pye Jakobsson (Rose Alliance, Sweden), Marianne Jonker (Soa Aids Netherlands) and Macklean Kyomya (WONETHA, Uganda).
Moderator: Marjan Sax.
Mama Cash is organising the event in cooperation with the International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE) and the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP). Date: Tuesday, November 10
Location: De Balie, Amsterdam Grote Zaal
Time: 20.00 – 21.30
Language: English
Sex workers and new HIV prevention technologies
Reacting to a peripheries post on microbicides, Cheryl Overs commented “These [definition of microbicides] are a hint of the skewed propaganda about microbicides and an insight into the absence of consideration of how they will affect the millions of sex workers worldwide. Sex workers will lose any hope of using a 99% effective product against STIs, HIV and unwanted pregnancies, condoms” adding that, “The idea that sex workers will buy and use a combination of different products for different orifices/sex acts is absurd. Especially when one of those products will still have to be a condom.” Cheryl is summing up various concerns expressed in the “Sex work and the new era of HIV prevention and care” report she produced for the Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW).
Can sex workers be scholars? Nikat Ethiopia says yes!
Graduation celebrations at Nikat
Nikat is a sex worker organisation in Ethiopia. It has developed from a small income generation project to an NGO that provides education, social support and health services in the capital and mentors 30 newly established sex workers co-operatives throughout the country
Recently 15 Nikat members graduated in basic computer applications at their Drop in Centre in Addis Abbaba.
Hennock Alemayehu (pictured) director of Timret Le Howit a local NGO that provides support and resources to Nikat said,
“This is a kind of day which helps to continue to work on our ambitious Mission… This is a best example of sex workers’ empowerment”
Cheryl Overs of PLRI said, “This is exactly this kind of work needed to enable sex workers from developing countries to participate in research, programming and policy advocacy meaningfully and effectively. I applaud and congratulate the women of Nikat as well as their supporters such as Timret and condom marketers DKT. Your visionary work and principled commitment is turning high ideals into sustainable reality on the ground.’
The Truth About…Men, Boys and Sex
Cheryl Overs has contributed an article to a new publication from the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), The Truth About…Men, Boys and Sex: Gender-transformative policies and programmes. The report provides information, evidence and practical advice on:
- Why working with men and boys is important;
- What SRH issues and services are particularly important for different men and boys; and
- How programme developers, managers and service providers can integrate a focus on male sexual and reproductive health and gender transformation in their programming.
