Register for the Sex Worker Freedom Festival here

Registration forms available in English, Chinese, French, Portuguese and Russian.

Come and join us in Kolkata! 

(Video courtesy of ANPSW)

Posted 18 May 2012 by NSWP

NSWP learned today of the tragic news of the death of Abel Shinana, Director of African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA) Namibia.

We send our heartfelt condolences to colleagues, friends and family.  A great friend, colleague and superb emerging sex work leader has been lost.

Posted 17 May 2012 by NSWP

Following on from our story the illegal raid on WONETHA's offices hundreds of sex workers at popular pubs in Gulu Town are on the run, following the arrest of dozens of their colleagues. The northern regional police spokesperson, Mr Johnson Kilama, said they apprehended dozens of sex workers and committed them to court.

Posted 17 May 2012 by NSWP

On the 7th of May 2012, the WONETHA Drop-In Centre in Gulu, Uganda was raided by police and computers and other items taken away.  WONETHA’s staff at the Drop In centre were also arrested and detained.

The arrested outreach workers and 3 other member were taken to court and charged with ‘living on the earnings of prostitution’.

Read the full story on ASWA’s website.

Posted 17 May 2012 by NSWP

On Monday 14th May hundreds of sex workers marched in Satara, India to protest against the violent attack on Anu Mokal, a pregnant sex worker in Satara, who was beaten up by police inspector Dayanand Dhome on April 2, along with her friend Ms. Anjana Ghadge.  Three days later, on 5th April, she suffered a miscarriage.

You can now sign the petition online here to support their demands.

Posted 17 May 2012 by NSWP

NSWP is pleased to announce the following appointments, who will be joining the NSWP Secretariat.

Posted 17 May 2012 by NSWP

Posted 15 May 2012 by NSWP

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee, has recommended Truvada for approval for prescription as HIV prevention for those most at risk of infection.  

Posted 12 May 2012 by NSWP

Sex workers will march in Satara, India on Monday the 14th of May to protest against the violent attack on Anu Mokal, a pregnant sex worker in Satara, who was beaten up by police inspector Dayanand Dhome on April 2, along with her friend Ms. Anjana Ghadge.  Three days later, on 5th April, she suffered a miscarriage.

Posted 12 May 2012 by NSWP

Register for the Sex Worker Freedom Festival here

Application forms available in English, Chinese, French, Portuguese and Russian.

Come and join us in Kolkata! 

(Video courtesy of ANPSW)

 

Posted 12 May 2012 by NSWP

A study published in the American Journal of Public Health highlights the ‘role of safer indoor sex work environments as venues for public health and violence prevention’ and indicates the importance of removing legal barriers to supportive housing programmes.

As reported in the Vancouver Sun indoor sex workers benefit from safer working environments, less exposure to violence and reduced exposure to HIV. 

American Journal of Public Health
Posted 12 May 2012 by NSWP

Raids on flats in London and increased activity by the Metropolitan Police in targeting street-based sex workers have forced women to work underground, begin working outdoors and to move away from areas they know well.  All of which has put them at greater risk of violence and driven them further away from the support services they use and trust, reports the Independent today.

Posted 12 May 2012 by NSWP

In a statement released today the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) expressed its concern over recent actions by Greek authorities involving the arrest, detention, mandatory HIV testing, publication of photographs and personal details, and pressing of criminal charges against at least 12 sex workers.

The full statement on the UNAIDS website can be read here.

UNAIDS
Posted 10 May 2012 by NSWP

Sex workers in Zambia have been in the spotlight this week as both religious leaders and a non-governmental organisation weighed in to the debate on how the police deal with sex work in the country.

Posted 10 May 2012 by NSWP

File 831

Robert Carr, international human rights and HIV/AIDS activist, died a year ago today in Toronto.

Robert was a tireless campaigner for the health and human rights of people living with HIV and men who have sex with men, people who use drugs, sex workers, of all genders and transgender people.  He fought to secure the right of access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for the most marginalised communities. 

Robert remains an inspiration to us and is very sorely missed. 

Posted 10 May 2012 by NSWP

In a deplorable move, Athens police have published photographs of 12 sex workers who have tested HIV positive in the last few days, with more disgraceful abuses being promised in the future.

You can sign the petition to the Greek Prime Minister to stop the forced testing and outing of HIV+ sex workers here.  (Read it in English, Spanish & French) 

Posted 2 May 2012 by NSWP

Geetha, the leader of the Karnataka Sex Workers Union sadly died on 30th April 2012.

"I don't want sympathy, We just want human rights, equal rights, Like other human being and we want labour rights" - Geetha 2009.

Posted 2 May 2012 by NSWP

Sex workers ran a number of exciting and challenging sessions during the AWID Forum in Istanbul. In their interactions with delegates they have been stressing the importance of listening to sex workers and acknowledging sex work as work. There has also been a plea for the silent majority of feminists who support sex workers rights to raise their voices to condemn interventions like anti-trafficking raid and rescues which are often carried out in the name of feminism.

One well attended break out session that combined presentations with film clips was ‘Don’t talk to us about sewing machines: Talk to us about worker’s rights’ which was organised by the Paulo Longo Research Initiative. The panel was moderated by Meena Seshu of Sangram and Laura Agustín and Sachumi Mayeo of Empower spoke.

Watch the videos of this session (with thanks to APNSW): 

Posted 25 April 2012 by NSWP

Video courtesy of Dale at APNSW.

Watch this video in China here这里观看这个视频中国 

Read the speech in Chinese here中国这里讲话 

También puede leer el discurso aquí en español. You can also read the speech in Spanish here.

The Association of Women in Development Forum is currently taking place in Turkey. In a speech of quiet intensity Kaythi Win delivered a plenary that got 80% of the 2000 feminists in the audience on their feet in support of sex workers rights.  Her speech in full follows.

Posted 22 April 2012 by NSWP

Carol Leigh, director of the Bay Area Sex Workers Advocacy Network, explains why sex workers deserve legal rights in this article in the New York Times.

Carol Leigh
Posted 21 April 2012 by NSWP