News Archive: November 2014

NSWP has published its 2013 Annual Report. The Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) is a membership organisation committed to amplifying the voices of sex workers from both the Global North and South. Our organisational culture and rules ensure that we are led by sex workers and that sex workers are meaningfully involved at all levels within NSWP. NSWP members are regional sex workers’ networks and organisations from across the world.

Last week, 26-year-old Tarek Shaban Bin Ziaed was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of a sex worker. The body of Yuan’é Hu, who had arrived in France from China in December 2011, was found in August 2012 in the Paris apartment she shared with other sex workers.She had been strangled by the strap of her handbag.

In the United States, the practice of paying for the right to work a shift at a strip club is widespread.

The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) and ICASO have jointly published a new briefing paper entitled ‘Punishing Success?’ The paper provides an explanation of Band 4 of the Global Fund and its implications for civil society and key populations.

The Cameroonian Penal code criminalises sex work through article 343. It states “(1) Any person of either sex who habitually engages, for compensation, in sexual acts with others, shall be punished with imprisonment for six months to five years and a fine of 20.000 (US$ 34.24) to 500.000 (US$ 856.11) francs. (2) Any person who publicly recruits individuals of either sex through gestures, words, writings or any other means, for purposes of prostitution or debauchery shall be punished with the same penalties.”

On Wednesday NSWP was invited by the International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW) to take part in their monthly ICW Members Advocacy Working Group. Anastacia, NSWP Policy Officer and Daisy Nakato, WONETHA Director, were invited to lead the discussion on sex workers’ rights in the context of HIV. 

New report details recent global advocacy strategies used and outcomes achieved to enhance health and human rights for key populations

Yesterday, Members of the UK Parliament debated and passed the Modern Slavery Bill. The bill was at its third reading, following a period where it had been proposed and debated by a small committee. It will now proceed to the House of Lords for consideration before receiving Royal Assent and becoming legislation. 

The Protection of Communities and Exploited persons act, Bill C-36, a harmful new piece of legislation introduced by the Conservative Canadian government in response to last year’s Bedford decision, looks set to become law.

On October 21^st the Oakland City Counsel quietly passed amendments to the Nuisance Eviction Ordinance requiring landlords to evict sex workers from the properties. Overshadowed by the passage of the Tenant Protection Ordinance, which aims to protect tenants against rent hikes, the amendment requiring the eviction of sex workers only came to light when journalist Susie Cagle tweeted about it.