Regional updates: Asia and the Pacific

Our members are listed on the left or you can click the red umbrellas on the map.

Regional Board Members

Sherry Sherqueshaa (Project X), Singapore

Yukiko Kaname (SWASH), Japan

Regional Network

The Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW) is a sex worker-led network whose members include national sex worker-led networks, sex worker-led organisations and community-based sex work projects representing female, male and transgender sex workers. APNSW was founded in 1994 at the International AIDS Conference in Japan and is based in Bangkok, Thailand.

News articles from Asia and the Pacific region are listed below.

Regional updates

2nd March 2015 | Region: Asia and the Pacific

Sex workers in Papua New Guinea’s capital city, Port Moresby, have a strong ally in Powes Parkop, the province’s Governor, who has vowed to actively support the decriminalisation of sex work.

25th February 2015 | Region: Asia and the Pacific

Community representatives from JMMS, NUNN and Blue Diamond Society upon completing ITPC Treatment Literacy Training, Kathmandu, Nepal, January, 2015. Photo attributed to NUNN Nepal. 

25th February 2015 | Region: Asia and the Pacific

Kathmandu-based female sex workers who inject drugs now have access to a new drop-in space and access to a peer-staffed harm reduction project.

25th February 2015 | Region: Asia and the Pacific
International Condom Day, which is marked internationally on 14 February, was celebrated in Nepal, on 13 February, 2015, with a public event held in central Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
25th February 2015 | Region: Asia and the Pacific

Asia Catalyst, an NGO which focuses on the health and human rights of marginalised communities in China and South East Asia recently released an extensive 79 page report, “My Life is Too Dark to See the Light: A Survey of the Living Conditions of Transgender Female Sex Workers in Beijing and Shanghai”.

18th December 2014 | Region: Asia and the Pacific

Trials of the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) HIV medication, Truvada, are currently underway in 3 Australian states, despite concerns from sex workers that PrEP may undermine the safer sex culture of the Australian sex industry.

18th December 2014 | Region: Asia and the Pacific

The ongoing campaign being undertaken by Indian sex workers advocating for law reform, including the decriminalisation of sex work, recently received a boost in profile when a consortium of sex work law reform advocates, including Chief of the Indian National Commission for Women,

17th December 2014 | Region: Asia and the Pacific

Today is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. Every year sex workers groups all over the world organises different activities to memorise the victimised sex workers, and to increase the public concern over sex workers.<--break->

16th December 2014 | Region: Global, Asia and the Pacific

Trigger warning: This article includes details pertaining to the sexual assault of sex workers.

A New Delhi court, headed by Judge Kaveri Baweja, has categorically stated that the sexual assault of sex workers is not acceptable and that in considering the sentencing of perpetrators, whether the victim is a sex worker or not, is irrelevant and should not be an issue which influences the punishment metered out to the convicted assailant.

16th December 2014 | Region: Global, Asia and the Pacific

Trigger warning: This article includes details pertaining to the sexual assault of sex workers.

A New Delhi court, headed by Judge Kaveri Baweja, has categorically stated that the sexual assault of sex workers is not acceptable and that in considering the sentencing of perpetrators, whether the victim is a sex worker or not, is irrelevant and should not be an issue which influences the punishment metered out to the convicted assailant.

16th December 2014 | Region: Asia and the Pacific

Video: Kandapara, The Lost Brothel

16th December 2014 | Region: Asia and the Pacific

Singaporean Member of Parliament, Christopher de Souza, late last month introduced a Private Member’s Bill designed to combat human trafficking. The bill, the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act, was debated for almost 3 hours before being passed as legislation on 3 November, 2014.

15th December 2014 | Region: Asia and the Pacific

The Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women (GAATW) recently released its annual peer reviewed publication, the Anti-Trafficking Review, at Bangkok, Thailand’s Foreign Correspondent’s Club.