police violence

Forum in the Dominican Republic Addresses Police Abuses of Sex Workers

On Tuesday the 24th of March, sex worker organisations participated in the Public Policy Forum on Violence and Health in Sexual Work in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The forum was hosted by the Domincan Republic’s first sex worker organisation, Movimiento de Mujeres Unidas (MODEMU), (United Women's Movement), and supported by the Latin America and Caribbean Sex Workers Network (REDTRASEX).

The Right Evidence: Sex Work, Violence and HIV in ASIA

The regional report of this multi-country study contains findings and recommendations to address violence experienced by sex workers in Asia.  Sex workers experience extreme physical, sexual, emotional and economic violence at work, in health care and custodial settings, in their neighbourhoods and in their homes. This violence denies sex workers their fundamental human rights — to equal protection under the law; protection against torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment; and their right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

Keeping Safe - Safety Advice for Sex Workers in the UK

This booklet has been written for women, men and transgender people working in the UK sex industry. It contains information and advice about keeping safe which mostly comes from those who know best – sex workers. It contains tips and strategies to protect their personal safety.

This booklet provides general safety advice for sex workers in different situations and different work places. It also provides guidance on personal safety such as to plan ahead before leaving to work, alcohol and drug use, and potential violent situations.

NSWP Member Statement: New police policy on indoor sex workers revealed: home visits condemned as "raids in disguise" by SCOT-PEP

NSWP member SCOT-PEP have released a statement against Police Scotland's 'welfare visits' on sex workers who work from home. SCOT‐PEP is seeking an urgent meeting with SNP Ministers to request that the scheme be scrapped. Under "Operation Lingle" the police plan to pilot intimidating visits of this sort in Glasgow ahead of a planned rollout across Scotland. The operation is a clear violation of the rights of sex workers. In SCOT‐PEP's view "Operation Lingle" would undermine harm reduction strategies and destroy any remaining sex worker trust in the police. SCOT‐PEP's opposition to this scheme is shared by leading charity HIV Scotland, who described these raids as ‘concerning’ and called on Police Scotland to reconsider.

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Sex Workers Organise Protest Against Police Actions in Recent Raids in Niteroi

After several street protests against police illegal actions against sex workers in the city of Niteroi, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 31 May 2014 the sex worker-led NGO Davida, member of NSWP, organised a Daspu catwalk protest in front of the building where sex workers were arrested on 23 May 2014.

UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women calls on India to take measures to protect Human Rights of Sex Workers

This resource is a note by NSWP members Veshya Anyay Mukti Parishad (VAMP) and SANGRAM. It summarizes the Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women in India with regards to her observations made in relation to sex worker rights in India. It highlights that the Special Rapporteur called on the Indian Government to review the problematic ITPA (Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act) legislation which criminalizes women in sex work and to take measures to protect the human rights of sex workers.

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"Custody and Education": Arbitrary Detention for Female Sex Workers in China

The Chinese government is arbitrarily detaining sex workers through a flawed government policy purportedly aimed at education and rehabilitation, Asia Catalyst said in a new report released in December 2013.

The report documents excessive use of force by police in the detention of female sex workers, as well as the women's subsequent incarceration in the little-known "Custody and Education (C&E)" system.

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Policing Sex Work

This resource builds on INCITE's substantial background in issues faced by women of colour, criminalised or street-based communities, and queer and trans youth, particularly around police and state violence. It focuses on how "police violence against sex workers is not perceived by mainstream organisations as either police brutality, or violence against women, when it is clearly a manifestation of both".

You can download this 4 page PDF resource above. this resource is in English.

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Occupational Health and Safety of Migrant Sex Workers in New Zealand

In 2011, the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective (NZPC) commissioned Kaitiaki to undertake an in-depth investigation to understand better the issues facing migrant sex workers in New Zealand especially with regard to occupational health and safety, and reproductive health.

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