Resources

Challenging Prostitution Laws: Bedford V. Canada

This resource offers a succinct introduction to the Bedford v. Canada Supreme Court case. Bedford v. Canada challenges three anti-sex work laws in Canada which prevent sex workers from engaging in safety measures that would make their work safer. The appellants in the care are challenging the constitutionality of the communicating, brothel keeping, and living off the avails provisions in the Criminal Code of Canada. They say these laws violate their right to Life, Liberty, and Security of the Person as guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

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Theme: Legislation and Policy

Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee bulletin 23: 15 February 2013

The bulletin of the DMSC, discussing common financial scams, police violence, and the work to tackle HIV, human rights violations by the police, and the stigma that prevents sex workers from accessing services.

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Theme: Human Rights

Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee bulletin: May 15th 2013

The bulletin of the DMSC, discussing common financial scams, police violence, and the work done to tackle HIV, human rights violations by the police, and the stigma that prevents sex workers from accessing services. It also discusses the success that self-regulating sex worker boards have had in tackling trafficking, in contrast to the more well-resourced non-sex worker-led programmes.

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Theme: Human Rights

Human Trafficking and Sex Work

This concise guide to the difference between sex work and trafficking - and what a response to trafficking grounded in sex worker rights looks like - discusses the key differences between sex work and trafficking; the differences that make the habitual conflation of the two not only inaccurate but also a hinderance to tackling actual exploitation, and a threat to the human rights of sex workers.

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Theme: Human Rights, Labour, Legislation and Policy, Migration & Trafficking

Sex Worker Forum of Vienna supplement to CEDAW shadow report 2013

Sex Worker Forum of Vienna, Austria - supplement to the Shadow CEDAW report submitted to the 54th Session of CEDAW February / March 2013.

You can download this 36 page PDF report above.

This resource is in English.

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Theme: Legislation and Policy

SZEXE CEDAW shadow report 2013

SZEXE Shadow CEDAW report submitted to the 54th Session of CEDAW February / March 2013.

You can download this 16 page PDF report above.

This resource is in English.

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Theme: Legislation and Policy

Tais Plus CEDAW Shadow Report 2008

Tais Plus - Shadow CEDAW report submitted to CEDAW in 2008.

You can download this 5 page PDF report above.

This resource is in English.

Download this resource: Kyrgyzstan shadow CEDAW TaisPlus 2008.pdf
Theme: Legislation and Policy

Sex Workers Project CEDAW shadow report 2007

Sex Workers Project at the Urban Justice Center - Shadow CEDAW report submitted to the 39th Session of CEDAW in 2007.

You can download this 13 page PDF report above.

This resource is in English.

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Theme: Legislation and Policy

International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers - marking 17th December in Kenya

Sex workers from KESWA and ASWA in Nairobi staged a protest marking International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers on 17th December.  Thousands of sex workers joined with gay activists and organisations to condemn the ‘Kill the Gay, Uganda Bill’ and marched on City Hall. 

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Theme: Legislation and Policy, Violence

Sex Work Law Reform in Canada: Considering problems with the Nordic model

This briefing from the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network considers the impact of the "Swedish" or "Nordic" model on sex workers.  Examining its harmful effects, this paper argues that this approach would not withstand constitutional scrutiny in Canada.

The briefing also makes recommendations to the Canadian Parliament as follows:

  • Parliament should repeal the section of the Criminal Code that makes it an offence to communicate in a public place for the purposes of prostitution
  • Parliament should repeal the bawdy-house sections of the Criminal Code
  • Parliament should repeal the subsections of the procuring sections of the Criminal Code that relate to bawdy-houses
  • Parliament should repeal the section of the Criminal Code that makes it an offence to live on the avails of prostitution
  • Parliament should repeal the reverse-onus subsection of the Criminal Code as it applies to living on the avails of prostitution

For full details you can download this useful 6 page PDF document above.  This resource is in English.

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Theme: Legislation and Policy

National Network of Sex Workers, India: appeal to President to reject new proposed Bill

The National Network of Sex Workers in India have appealed to the President of India to reject the 'Ordinance on the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2012' which was cleared by the cabinet on 1st February. 

A proposed section in this bill conflates trafficking with sex work and essentially defines all 'prostitution' as exploitation, further eroding the dignity of voluntary and consenting sex workers, against the internationally recognised interpretation of the UN Protocol, 2000.  If accepted this bill will criminalise sex workers.

You can read the 2 page (PDF) press release (in English) as published on SANGRAM's website above.

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Theme: Legislation and Policy

STRASS: newsletter

This is the 3rd edition of the STRASS newsletter, packed with details of their recent and forthcoming activism events in France as well as a round up of other European news realting to sex work.

You can download this 2 page PDF document above.  This resource is in English.

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Theme: Human Rights

22nd Bulletin from Durbar

The Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee is a collective of 65000 female, male and transgender sex workers in West Bengal, India. Their most recent Bulletin (No 22.) includes recent news and coverage of their AGM.

You can download this 4 page pdf Bulletin above (in English).

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Theme: Human Rights

Public Health Crisis: The Impact of Using Condoms as Evidence of Prostitution in New York City

PROS Network (Providers and Resources Offering Services to sex workers) participated in two studies in New York around the impact of policies that use of condoms as ‘evidence of prostitution’. This report written by the PROS Network and Leigh Tomppert of the Sex Workers Project at the Urban Justice Center, which was funded by Open Society Foundation and the Elton John Foundation, compares the findings of the two studies.

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Theme: Legislation and Policy

Hit & Run: Sex Worker’s Research on Anti trafficking in Thailand

The 'Hit & Run' report is the result of 12 months of research by Empower's RATSW project, investigates human rights violations against sex workers carried out in the name of 'rescues' under the anti-trafficking laws.

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Theme: Legislation and Policy, Migration & Trafficking

Report on the Impact of China's 2010 "Strike Hard Campaign": A Crackdown on Sex Work

Source: AsiaCatalyst.org
 
The 2010 "Strike Hard Campaign" (police crackdowns) put in place a zero tolerance policy on sex work, gambling and drugs all across China. While many brothels and popular clubs were closed ultimately sex workers continued work out in more remote areas. This geographic shift cut people off from essential health services, HIV/AIDS education, and even funeral services for women who die while cut off from their families.

Here in its first major report The China Sex Worker Organization Network Forum trained its members to document the effects of the crackdown.
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Theme: Health, Legislation and Policy, Stigma & Discrimination, Violence

Zi Teng Newsletter - Issue 39

You can download this 12 page PDF resource above. This resource is in English.

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Theme: Health, Legislation and Policy, Migration & Trafficking

'Labour of Love' Event Report - WONETHA / UHRA - 17th December 2010

This report summarises the deliberations of a one day event entitled “Labour of Love” held on 17th December 2010, hosted by Women’s Organization Network for Human Rights Advocacy (WONETHA) in partnership with Uganda Harmonized Rights Alliance (UHRA).  The event primarily sought to put a human face to the lives of sex workers as well as challenge the public silence on violence against them. The forum was attended by 55 participants, including sex workers, brothel owners and human rights activists. The event was organised against the background that sex workers have continuously suffered from abuse, discrimination and violence which often goes unreported and unacknowledged.  In particular, the event illuminated the achievements, coping mechanisms, challenges and recommendations regarding sex work.

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Theme: Health, Legislation and Policy, Stigma & Discrimination, Economic Empowerment , Labour, Violence, Human Rights

A report by Empower: human rights violations women are subjected to when "rescued" by anti-trafficking groups who employ methods using deception, force and coercion

Empower Foundation is a Thai organisation since 1985. Empower promotes opportunities for women workers in the entertainment industry. Empower strives to promote these opportunities and rights to all women workers regardless of their country of origin.

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Theme: Health, Legislation and Policy, Migration & Trafficking

Sex Workers' Manifesto: First National Conference of Sex Workers in India

This document summarises the recent history of the sex worker rights movement.

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Theme: Human Rights