Sex Work is not Trafficking: Briefing Paper 03

The conflation of trafficking and migration with sex work, in law and practice, presents challenges to NSWP.

This NSWP briefing paper explains how sex work is conflated with trafficking; the legal framework; how demand for sex work is conflated with trafficking; the dangers of conflating trafficking with sex work, its impacts on sex workers’ lives and work; the impact on sex worker programming; and offers some recommendations for policy makers, donors and for civil society.

Year of publication:

2011

Media:

Download sex-work-is-not-trafficking-briefing-paper-03.pdf (603.29 KB)

The Criminalisation of Clients: Briefing Paper 02

The criminalisation of sex workers’ clients is often claimed to be part of a new legal framework to eradicate sex work and trafficking by ‘ending demand’. In 1999, Sweden criminalised sex workers’ clients and maintained the criminalisation of third parties such as brothel-owners, managers, security and support staff. The individual selling of sex remained legal. This model is frequently referred to as the ‘Swedish’, ‘Nordic’ or ‘End Demand’ model. There is great pressure in many countries to advance such legal and policy measures. The damaging consequences of this model on sex workers’ health, rights and living conditions are rarely discussed.

This NSWP briefing paper looks at the impact of ‘end demand’ laws, including increased repression of sex workers; increased violence and discrimination; decreased access to health and social services; and decreased access to housing and shelter.

Year of publication:

2011

Media:

Download criminalisation-of-clients-NSWP-briefing-paper-02.pdf (410.81 KB)

PEPFAR and Sex Work: Briefing Paper 01

PEPFAR has made anti-retroviral treatment (ART) available for many people, including sex workers. However, PEPFAR funding contracts with organisations specify that a certain amount of this money be spent on abstinence programming. Contracts include a clause that the organisation accepting funding is opposed to prostitution. This has been called the ‘anti-prostitution pledge’ or ‘anti-prostitution loyalty oath.’ This NSWP briefing paper explains how the pledge affects sex worker organisations and HIV programming with sex workers; the effects on programming and organising; effects on sex workers; and looks at what can be done.

Year of publication:

2011

Media:

Download PEPFAR-and-sex-work-briefing-paper-01.pdf (429.7 KB)

LINKAGES HIV Cascade Framework for Key Populations

The purpose of this document is to assist those responsible for the continuum of HIV services to construct, analyze, and use the HIV cascade framework to improve HIV services by KPs and retention in those services. Intended audiences include ministries of health and other government agencies, nongovernmental and civil society organizations, HIV program managers, and researchers.

Year of publication:

2015

Media:

Download linkages-hiv-cascade-framework-oct15.pdf (1.33 MB)

Sex Workers Who Use Drugs

This joint briefing paper by NSWP and INPUD highlights the specific needs and rights of sex workers who use drugs, as a community that spans two key populations. This document provides an overview of some of the most endemic and substantive ways in which sex workers who use drugs face double criminalisation and associated police harassment, intersectional stigma, compounded marginalisation and social exclusion, heightened interference and harassment from healthcare and other service providers, infantilisation, pathologisation, and an associated undermining of agency, choice, and self-determination.

Year of publication:

2015

Media:

Download Joint-briefing-paper-sex-workers-who-use-drugs-NSWP-INPUD.pdf (471.86 KB)

Research for Sex Work, Issue 13: HIV and Sex Work, the View from 2012

This issue of research for sex work reflects a small shift. Here, HIV and sex work don’t mean an array of epidemiologically oriented studies, but the frame for critiques of and questions about policy, laws, and programmes. Articles not written by sex workers themselves base their conclusions on what sex workers say. Here, no one tells sex workers how to run their lives.

Year of publication:

2012

Media:

Download research-for-sex-work-issue-13.pdf (2.28 MB)

A Fundamental Shift: The Future of the Global MSM and HIV Movement

To anticipate where the MSM, HIV, and human rights movements might be in another 25 years, the Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) carried out a foresight scenario planning process with several dozen of its stakeholders and partners. MSMGF began with a simple but fundamental question: “What will the global MSM and HIV movements look like in 25 years?” The scenario planning process and its outcomes are documented in MSMGF’s latest publication.

Year of publication:

2015

Media:

Download fundamental-shift-future-of-global-MSM-HIV-movement.pdf (3.79 MB)

The Blueprint for the Provision of Comprehensive Care for Trans People and Trans Communities

The Blueprint is a document with far-reaching potential and applications in trans health and human rights in the region. The purpose of the Blueprint is to strengthen and enhance the policy-related, clinical, and public health responses for trans people in Asia and the Pacific. The primary audience for the Blueprint is health providers, policymakers and governments. The information within the Blueprint could also serve donors, bi- and multilateral organisations and trans and other civil society organisations.

Year of publication:

2015

Media:

Download blueprint-for-the-provision-of-comprehensive-care-for-trans-people-and-trans-communities-in-asia-and-the-pacific.pdf (7.61 MB)