Regional updates: Asia and the Pacific

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NSWP regional opportunities - HIV policy consultants

NSWP has received short term funding from the Robert Carr Civil Society Network Fund (RCNF) to support our regional networks in identifying and documenting good practice in sex worker led HIV programming; sex workers access to treatment and the impact of free trade agreements; and the impact of HIV programming for sex workers that fails to reflect a rights based approach.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS:  Friday, 12 April 2013 @ 24.00.

26th March 2013 by NSWP
NSWP opportunities in Asia Pacific - APNSW policy consultant

NSWP has received funding to support the development of advocacy tools around rights based economic empowerment for sex workers. The first year of this three year project will focus on documenting the work done by sex worker led groups in Asia Pacific, the final two years of the programme will focus on building capacity and documenting of sex worker led responses in Africa.  APNSW are seeking to recruit a policy consultant to work with APNSW/NSWP members in developing economic empowerment advocacy tools that can be used at national, regional and global levels. This project is part of the Dutch collaboration Stepping Up, Stepping Out 2 funded by Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs until 31 December 2015.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS:  Wednesday, 10 April 2013 @ 24.00.

26th March 2013 by NSWP
Indian Activists welcome distinction between consensual sex work & sexual exploitation

Adult consensual sex work not in ambit of Section 370: Activists Welcome Move

Delhi 23 March 2013:

Sex workers and Women’s rights activists across India welcome the Government’s move to drop the word `prostitution’ as exploitation from the amended Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code. The new formulation targets sexual exploitation and not adult consensual sex work.

26th March 2013 by NSWP
Indian Sex Workers appeal to President to reject new Bill

The National Network of Sex Workers in India have appealed to the President of India to reject the 'Ordinance on the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2012' which was cleared by the cabinet on 1st February. 

A proposed section in this bill conflates trafficking with sex work and essentially defines all 'prostitution' as exploitation, further eroding the dignity of voluntary and consenting sex workers, against the internationally recognised interpretation of the UN Protocol, 2000.  If accepted this bill will criminalise sex workers.

You can read the 2 page (PDF) press release (in English) as published on SANGRAM's website below.

Yo can read more coverage regarding the press relase as reported in the Times of India and The Hindu.

4th February 2013 by NSWP
22nd Bulletin from Durbar

The Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee is a collective of 65000 female, male and transgender sex workers in West Bengal, India. Their most recent Bulletin (No 22.) includes recent news and a report of their AGM.

4th February 2013 by NSWP
New UN report on Sex Work and the Law in Asia and the Pacific
  • Criminalisation of sex work increases vulnerability to HIV by fuelling stigma and discrimination, limits access to sexual health services and condoms.
  • Removing legal penalties for sex work allows HIV prevention and treatment programmes to reach sex workers and their clients more effectively.
  • There is no evidence that decriminalisation has increased sex work. 

These are some of the findings in an unprecedented study issued today by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

24th October 2012 by NSWP
Supreme Court in India backs inclusion of DMSC and USHA

India's Supreme Court (Apex Court) backed a decided not to exclude West Bengal-based NGO Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) and Usha Cooperative from a committee of senior lawyers, NGOs and Government officials, which is constituted in July last year, to suggest measures on sex workers dignity.

The court confirmed the need to get views from the concerned people about whom the committee is formed, after an objection was lodged by the Ministry of Women and Child Welfare.  They had argued that as these organisations 'openly advocated for the rights of sex workers' that this would make their inclusion contrary to the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act.  This was rejected by the Supreme Court.

The delegates at the Sex Worker Freedom Festival welcomed the news.  NSWP President Andrew Hunter said, “The Supreme Court of India has reiterated that “right to live with dignity” is a Constitutional right. This would help our struggle worldwide to go a long way ahead.”

Read more on this story in The Sunday Indian.

23rd August 2012 by NSWP
Review of “Dangerous Sex, Invisible Labor: Sex Work and the Law in India”

From Rightswork.org

Read the review of Prabha Kotiswaran’s “Dangerous Sex, Invisible Labor: Sex Work and the Law in India” By Chaitanya Lakkimsetti at Rightswork.org.  This new book dispels this myth of sex workers as predominantly trafficked and as quintessential victims of violence.

19th July 2012 by NSWP
15th Bulletin from Durbar

The Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee is a collective of 65000 female, male and transgender sex workers in West Bengal, India. Their most recent Bulletin (No 15.) includes news about discussions regarding a Universal Pension Scheme, a recent Film Festival hosted by DMSC celebrating 20 years of Sonagachi, and news of a joint DMSC / UCLA study on ART adherence.

8th July 2012 by NSWP
Empower video: Women's House Productions

Check out Empower's video pitch for Project Inspire: 5 Minutes to Change the World. 

Sachumi and her friends are sex workers in Thailand and leaders in Empower Foundation. They want to have the skills and resources to create their own production company to make their own films by sex workers, about sex workers!  Visit www.5MinutestoChangetheWorld.org to find out more about how you can join them to help empower women and girls.

29th June 2012 by NSWP