TULIPS sisters extended struggle

For the past four months, we have held an extended struggle, with protests, sit-ins, hearings and demonstrations almost every day. We have been trying to fight for decriminalization of prostitution, and protection from exploitation and danger. The Taipei mayor refused to consider our situation, insisting that prostitution should be a crime. Unfortunately, negative stigmatization, media controls and conservativism meant little support from society. So we finally decided to compromise, and demanded at least a grace period, which would postpone the "illegalization" of prostitution for two years.

Our extended struggle and determination won the sympathy and support of the Taipei City Council. In December 1997, the City Council decided to allow our legal status for a two year grace period. The City Council's edict would give us time to find other jobs.

Mayor's Refusal

Serious Plea for International Support

How you can help TULIPS:

1. Sign our platform: Open letter to the Taipei City Mayor, to urge the mayor to change some of his policy decisions (see the attached document 1.)

2. Send us some information by email (as quick as possible, if possible) for example, introduce your organization, and let us know what you are doing and the issues you are working on, so that we can see learn from some of your experience and issues. We would also like to know about the government regulations system or licensing system for sex workers in your country, legal status, how it works and why, and good and bad points or problems sex workers face.

3. Offer other information or suggestions. In particular, we need information about:
   • Is there a list of the countries in the world in which prostitution is decriminalized? Is there a list of the countries in the world which have legal licensing or regulation systems for prostitution?

   • What kind of systems are there in such countries?

   • Are there any networking contacts for organizations or unions working for sex workers' rights in those countries? We urgently need their contact methods, such as organization name, fax number, address, telephone number, e-mail address, contact person's name, etc.

   • If any friends know of any funding agencies whom we could approach with proposals to raise funds for further organizing on this issue in the future, we would be extremely grateful if you could fax, e-mail or send us their name, address, telephone, fax, etc.

   • If you have any other suggestions, please let us know.

4. Consider participating in our international forum

   Although at very short notice, we will be holding an international forum in February. We are at present urgently seeking support from sex-workers/organizers who would be willing or interested to come to Taipei to speak at our forum.

   Information about the Taipei International Forum on Sex Workers' Protection and Rights is below.

In the future, we hope we can also support the issues that you need international solidarity for.

Taipei International Forum on Sex Workers' Protection and Rights 8-15 February, 1998.

(The following is initial information, final details will be forwarded immediately.)

Taipei Mayor's International Rhetoric

1. "Progressive" societies would not allow prostitution to exist;

2. all the "advanced" countries have prohibited prostitution; and hence

3. It is a "global trend" to eliminate prostitution.

Issues To Be Addressed

• Whether elimination of sex work is a global trend;

• The current practices and problems of sex work in advanced capitalist societies;

• Whether it is progressive to eliminate sex work;

• What better systems or government practices exist that we could learn from.

Speakers, Participants

The forum will be hosted by the Taiwan Daily News. The participants will be sex workers and activists, and the audience will be: members of the media; sex workers' groups; womens' organizations; and labor rights organizations.

Dates of Conference

However, we have to apologize that today, we only know that the main forum will be held on one of the days between February 8 and February 15 1998. But which day that will be is not yet finalized. We would appreciate it if you could tell us whether you would have any problems with any of those days. We will be finalizing the exact details immediately.

Apart from the one day of the conference:

A Plea for International Support and Participation

Taipei Union of Legal and Illegal Prostitutes' for Self-help (TULIPS) has been struggling to retain the system of licensed prostitution. Taipei's license system had been a legal system for 40 years. TULIPS is organized by 128 middle-aged sex workers who held the legal licenses. These licenses provided some protection from exploitation and danger. However, thousands of women work in underground brothels without any protection from exploitation, danger and terror, unable to get licenses. Worse, the 128 sistersÕ licenses were suddenly revoked in September 1997, putting them in danger.

Sudden "Illegalization"

Worse, we who were formerly legal, have all our ID details are on public computer file therefore, we have been singled out for police arrest, humiliating investigations and interrogations, accompanied by live media coverage. Thus we have become scapegoats of public hatred and humiliation. Whereas for the past 20-40 years, we could ask for police protection and go to public health clinics

Activities:
as the above documents described.

International Activities:
We sent representatives to attend the U.N.-sponsored international conference on AIDS in the Philippines recently and also send representatives to Australia to attend the recent international sex workers conference there.

Platform:
Open Letter to the Taipei City Mayor

We, the undersigned, urge the Taipei City Mayor to:

1. Recognize the edict of the Taipei City Council to allow former legal prostitutes a two- year grace period. After that, the former prostitutes will gladly give up their licenses forever.

2. See that the former legal prostitutes will be provided with suitable compensation for the loss of their right to work, and in order to support their families and their children's education to break the poverty cycle. The amount of compensation suggested is ? per month for ? years after ?.

3. Take seriously the impossibility of eliminating sex work immediately, and the problem of "underground-ation" and take steps to provide more protection from exploitation, danger or victimization of sex workers themselves. Reconsider the question of whether immediate criminalization of sex workers can really help the exploited or not.

Taipei Union of Legal and Illegal Prostitutes for Self-help (TULIPS) Taiwan Solidarity Front of Women Workers

We would arrange other activities in Taipei for international participants if you are interested.

We do hope that you could join us in addressing these issues urgently, while we still have a chance in Taipei.

Taipei Union of Legal and Illegal Prostitutes for Self-help (TULIPS)

Members:
128 Former licensed legal sex workers who have now been made illegalized.

• Average age: 33
  
• Average time working as licensed prostitutes: over 10 years
  
• Average level of education: elementary school.
  

(In future, members may include illegal sex workers.)

This union was set up in September in the wake of the sudden and shocking illegalization that was faced when the legal licenses were revoked without warning.

Taipei Union of Legal and Illegal Prostitutes for Self-help (TULIPS) Taiwan Solidarity Front of Women Workers.

c/o

5F, No.95, Hangchow South Rd.
Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan

Fax: 886-2-2392-3670
Tel: 886-2-2351-7580