The Action Conference on International Progressive Trends for Regulation of the Sex Industry and Sex Workers' Protection and Rights

Taipei, May 24-27, 1998

1. Aims of activity:
   1. To provide a comprehensive description of progressive world trends of regulation of the sex industry, and produce a document stating which policies and actions constitute International Progressive Trends for Regulation of the Sex Industry.

   2. To discuss government policy and its effects for sex workers and community in countries where sex workers are still subject to legal repression and discrimination.

   3. To discuss new progressive policy developments regarding regulation of the sex industry in different countries, recent international conventions, and programs to empower sex workers against danger, disease, exploitation and abuse.

   4. To draw the attention of the governmental and academic representatives who attend the Taipei Mayor's World Capital Forum in late May, to the need for to consider these international progressive trends in their urban planning and legal policies. (The Taipei Mayor's Global Capital Forum is in no way related to this International Conference's organizers.)

   5. To visit in various public places and give speeches, explaining the experiences of Progressive Regulation of the Sex Industry, in order to contrast these progressive trends with Taiwan's repressive sex industry policies. And in addition, to have the effect of expressing positions which critiquing and expose the problems of suddenly criminalizing former legal prostitutes in Taipei, and criticizing the Taipei Mayor's refusal to enact the two-year grace period that the City Council voted for.

2. Dates and Venue:
   • Dates: May 23-27 1998, Taipei Taiwan

   • Venue:
     
     1. International Conference Hall of Taipei City Council , Taipei, Taiwan
        
     2. Various Public Facilities in Taipei City (For certain important lectures)
        

   • Hotel: Taipei International Teachers' Hotel
     

3. Organizers:
   • Hosting Organizations:Taiwan Alliance of Licensed Prostitutes (TALP)
     
   • Taiwan Solidarity Front of Women Workers (TSFWW), The Secretariat of TALP (Conference Preparation Work or correspondence to be addressed to TSFWW).

   • Co-hosting organizations: Local and international organizations active on conference topic issues.
     

4. How to contact the Taiwan Solidarity Front of Women Workers (TSFWW):
   Address:
   5F, No.95, Hangchow South Rd,
   Section 1, Taipei ,Taiwan.
   e-mail: ICLE1996@ms3.hinet.net
   fax: 886-2-2351-7580
   tel: 886-2-2392-3670

   Requests for further information are welcome.

5. Conference Proper: Forums for discussion of issues such as:
   • Overview of Progressive World Trends for Regulation of the Sex Industry

   • The Experience of Prohibitionist and Abolitionist Countries

   • Cabinet Investigations, Judicial Policy Reform and Deregulation of the Sex Industry in various countries

   • Sex Work, Progressive International Trends and Feminist Views

   • Impact of Prohibitionist/Abolitionist policies for sex workers, Public Health etc.

   • International NGOs/Gos research and efforts to deal with Problems and issues and develop new models

6. Exposure and extended program: Activities and events - Apart from the conference forums for discussion about the various subjects, it is planned to also contain some special activities/events. First and foremost, the hosts invite participants to attend the conference discussion forum parts, which is the most important series of speeches and discussions about the issues. The participants can choose whether or not would like to attend the other special activities/events. The hosts will respect every participant's viewpoint and decision as to whether to attend as participant, or as observer only, or to refrain from attending those activities/events at all.

   Activities/Events Part I: While the international visitors are here, the hosts and various other local non-governmental or governmental organizations hope to formally invite them to speak at to various important local places, activities and functions. This would be meaningful in order to exchange information of sex work policy problems and gain the local, national, and international attention, if they are willing to.

   Activities/Events Part II: The hosts also organize some events/activities to give the pressure to Mayor of Taipei City, influencing the policy-making of Taiwan Government. International visitors don't necessarily need to attend, if they are inconvenient.

7. Interpretation All Language Interpretation will be provided as necessary both during the conference and outside of the conference.

8. Expenses and Funding If your organization could help with any small part of airfare expenses or funding in any way, we would really appreciate it. If it is beyond the situation, the hosts will provide the airfare, food, and accommodation by the support of some funding agency.

Tentative Schedule (Draft)

Saturday, May 23

DAY ONE
Sunday, May 24

1. Breakfast

2. Morning Program
   1. Introductions (hosts) and official opening

   2. Overview of Progressive World Trends for Regulation of the Sex Industry

   3. Problems and Issues: Case of Taiwan -- Mayor's Prohibition/Abolition Discourse: Progressive World Trends, the U.N. Convention and Criminalization as a Progressive Policy?

3. Lunch

4. Afternoon Program:
   1. Various Countries' Different Types of Policies and Laws, and Progressive World Trends (Lin Chew, )

   2. Optional Activities:
      1. Visit Taiwan Brothels and Press Conference

5. Dinner

6. Evening: optional -- exposure/discussion

DAY TWO
Monday, May 25

1. Breakfast

2. Morning Program:
   1. The Experience of Prohibitionist and Abolitionist Countries
      1. USA

      2. Japan Legal Framework and Human Rights (Masume Yoneda, Lawyer)

   2. The Experience of Dutch Judicial Policy: Research and Reform (Policymaker, Netherlands)

   3. Discussion

3. Lunch

4. Afternoon Program:
   1. Optional Activity: Visit Taipei City Councilors (invited to make public lectures in City Council Hall about Urban planning and policy experiences.

   2. Deregulation of the Sex Industry in Sydney, Australia
      1. Research, Community Consultation, Policy Development and Implementing: Process and Results (Christine Harcourt, Deputy Mayor, South Sydney)

      2. Policy Impact from Public Health View and Sex Workers' Protection (Wendy-Joy Robertson, Public Health Education Officer, Sex Industry Portfolio, HIV and Sexual Health Promotion, Northern Sydney Area Health Service.

5. Dinner

6. Evening: optional -- exposure/discussion

DAY THREE
Tuesday, May 26

1. Breakfast

2. Morning Program
   1. Optional Activity: Taipei City Government Legal Rules Commission Office; International Guest/s may be invited to give public lecture there.

   2. The Gauteng Cabinet Investigation into Sex Work, and the Recommendations, decriminalization and De-policing of sex work: Process and Implications. [We hope Mr. Sylvester Rakgudi, Johannesburg, South Africa, will be willing to speak.

   3. Discussion with Feminist Organizations: Sex Work, Progressive International Trends and Feminist Views

3. Lunch

4. Afternoon Program:
   1. Impact of Prohibitionist/Abolitionist policies for sex workers:
      1. A Public Health View (Dr. S. Jana, India)

      2. Sex Workers in Hong Kong (Yan Yuet Lien, Hong Kong)

      3. Sex Workers in India and Asia-Pacific (, Asia-Pacific Network of Sexwork Projects)

   2. International NGOs/Gos research and efforts to deal with Problems and issues and develop new models
      1. "Decriminalisation and Legalisation -- defining terms"

      2. The Charter for Prostitutes' Rights

      3. The Statement on Prostitution and Feminism

5. Dinner

6. Evening: optional -- exposure/discussion

DAY FOUR
Wednesday, May 27