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The Advisory Group offers a greater understanding of the situation of sex workers – an understanding that is necessary to address the abuses they face and to ensure they have universal access to HIV services. Every effort has been made to highlight good practices that enhance human rights protections for sex workers, as well as practices that create barriers to universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

Year of publication:  2011 Theme:  Economics and Development Theme:  Gender and Sexuality Theme:  Health and HIV Theme:  Human Rights and Law Theme:  Migration and Mobility 20111215_Report-UNAIDS-Advisory-group-HIV-Sex-Work_en.pdf Author:  UNAIDS and the Global Network of Sex Work Projects Relevant URL:  Link to the report online

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Sex work is an important feature of the transmission dynamics of HIV within early, advanced and regressing epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa.

HIV prevalence among sex workers and their clients is commonly 20 fold higher than the general population.

Together, these factors may contribute to a differential in HIV transmission potential of more than 1000 times compared with lower-risk populations. Yet, in much of Africa, there is little evidence that transmission of HIV and other STIs in sex work settings has been controlled.

Year of publication:  2011 Theme:  Health and HIV Author:  World Health Organisation Relevant URL:  http://www.afro.who.int/en/clusters-a-programmes/dpc/acquired-immune-deficiency-...

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Report and recommendations from the UN's  first Asia and the Pacific Regional Consultation on HIV and Sex Work.The report contains some very good material as well as evidence of the compromises sex workers rights advocates must accept if they to reach consencus with UN and government agencies 

Year of publication:  2011 Theme:  Health and HIV Theme:  Human Rights and Law Author:  APNSW, UNFPA, UNAIDS Relevant URL:  http://asiapacific.unfpa.org/webdav/site/asiapacific/shared/Publications/2011/Bu...

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Sheila Farmer, a sex worker who worked with other women from premises for safety had charges of brothel-keeping dismissed today in Croydon Crown Court. She worked with other women since being viciously raped and attacked whilst working alone.
 
Ms Farmer left court with over 20 supporters delighted and relieved that she no longer faces a criminal conviction and possible prison sentence. Ms Farmer suffers from severe diabetes and a malignant brain tumour. Her doctor had provided evidence that an onerous and stressful trial would have exacerbated her condition.
 

Year of publication:  2012 Theme:  Human Rights and Law Relevant URL:  English Collective of Prostitutes

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Article in Interface: a journal for and about social movements, Volume 3(2): 271 - 287 (November 2011).

Despite the massive achievements of the Prostitutes Collective of Victoria and the historic significance of this important organisation, sex workers as a community and the funds we had attracted drew an unhealthy level of interest from the health and community sector, stemming from a perception that sex workers were politically unable to run their own collective, and that the funds we had lobbied for could be better spent by people who were not sex workers.

Year of publication:  2011 Theme:  Health and HIV Theme:  Human Rights and Law Author:  Elena Jeffreys, Audry Autonomy, Jane Green, Christian Vega Relevant URL:  Download the article for free

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off THE military regime in Fiji is taking on a new target: sex workers

A report published today by the University of NSW says sex workers, especially in Lautoka, the centre of Fiji’s sugar industry, north of Nadi, have been rounded up by the military and subjected to sleep deprivation, humiliation and forced physical labour.

Karen McMillan, a researcher with the International HIV Research Group at UNSW, said the sex workers were held in outdoor pens at an army base, woken every three hours and made to do duck-walks and squat in the mud.

Year of publication:  2011 Theme:  Health and HIV Theme:  Human Rights and Law Risky_Business.pdf Author:  Karen McMillan and Heather Worth

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Passed to protect women, the 2008 law on human trafficking and sexual exploitation has been used by authorities to justify the harassment and abuse of sex workers.

But, Cambodian sex workers say it’s now time to demand their rights.Hundreds are gathered in the capital of Phnom Penh.They are clapping loudly as the host welcomes the first day of 16 days of activism against gender violence.They are wearing white shirts with the slogan: "United we can end violence against women and bring the peace."

Year of publication:  2011 Theme:  Health and HIV Theme:  Human Rights and Law WNU Anti Violence Protest 2011.doc Author:  WNU

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The claim that the sex workers’ rights movement is a purely white, western phenomenon is one of abolitionism’s biggest falsehoods. In fact, Global South sex workers could teach their Northern counterparts a thing or two when it comes to organising for sex workers’ rights. Here is a videoclip of sex workers in Sonagachi, Calcutta, marching against criminalisation of their industry.

Theme:  Gender and Sexuality Theme:  Health and HIV Theme:  Human Rights and Law

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Heavy-handed comments have been thrown around labeling Thailand as the “brothel of the world,” or “Disneyland for men.” Of course, there are no official figures as to the total number of sex workers in Thailand, but a moderate figure from Thai analysts puts the number at 15,000-22,000 women (with a very small portion consisting of men.) As such, Thailand has a very strong reputation for being a nation with a massive amount of prostitution and sex trafficking.

Year of publication:  2011 Theme:  Health and HIV Theme:  Human Rights and Law Author:  Kyle Merrit Ludowitz Relevant URL:  http://beyondyourdoorstep.blogspot.com/2011/11/can-do-sex-worker-collective.html

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This article originally appeared in the Metro Newspaper on the 29 November 2011.

‘I’m not ashamed. I’m truly proud of what I do,’ says Elena Reynaga. ‘Through my work, I created possibilities for my children, opportunities I didn’t have myself. My children went to school, got jobs. I have nothing to be ashamed of.’

Year of publication:  2011 Theme:  Health and HIV Theme:  Human Rights and Law Relevant URL:  Read the full story in the Metro

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Some people want a world without prostitution and campaign for the criminalisation of our clients. I always argue that the criminalisation of our clients is not going to make us disappear but make our work more clandestine, more dangerous and potentially make us lose (part of) our income.

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There is very little information about the role of Identity Documents in how sex workers access health services and the protection of their human rights. This article from India addresses this important issue.

Year of publication:  2011 Theme:  Health and HIV Theme:  Human Rights and Law Author:  DNA Relevant URL:  The DNAIndia website

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This monograph attempts to demystify and explain the content of the prevalent laws in the region which are relevant to activists and practitioners working in the field. Available legislation and case law have been analyzed from the point of view of the issues of conflation of trafficking and sex work, rights of sex workers to live in liberty and dignity, the right to move freely, the right to reside in a place of choice, the right to migrate, forced and voluntary sex work, entry of minors, rescue and rehabilitation.

Year of publication:  2010 Theme:  Human Rights and Law Rakesh Sex Work Laws In South Asia.pdf Author:  Rakesh Shukla

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The newsletter of  Indian sex worker organisation the DMSC in Kolkata.

Year of publication:  2011 Theme:  Human Rights and Law Bulletin7.pdf Author:  DMSC