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Policies on sex trafficking are changing conceptions of Europe, citizenship and labour markets

Sex trafficking is widely seen as modern slavery. But, in her new book, Rutvica Andrijasevic shows that this labelling process is not as benevolent as it appears. Based on original ethnographic work and interviews with migrant women from Eastern Europe in street sex work in Italy, Rutvica’s book shows that a perspective that identifies migrant women’s situation in the sex sector with sex trafficking is misleading. It equates trafficking with involuntary migration and does not allow for the complexity of desires, decisions and careful planning that go into women’s migration projects to emerge. Additionally, it hides the role of EU

Sex Trafficking and Initiation-Related Violence, Alcohol Use, and HIV Risk Among HIV-Infected Female Sex Workers in Mumbai, India

The control of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) is a challenge in China, with female sex workers (FSW) and male clients suspected as bridge groups. This study used a 2006 national probability survey of 2,707 adult men. Among men 15–49 years old, the prevalence of FSW contacts last year was 4.2% (95% CI, 3.3–5.2) overall, with 7.2% (CI, 5.9–8.7) in urban and 1.8% (CI, 1.0–3.3) in rural areas. In urban areas, the men most at risk for FSW were high income, often traveled, engaged in business entertaining, ages 25–39, and had early sex histories. When compared to men

Assessment of population-level effect of Avahan, an HIV-prevention initiative in India

Article in the Lancet, Early Online Publication, 11 October 2011. Background The aim of Avahan, the India AIDS Initiative, was to reduce HIV transmission in the general population through large-scale prevention interventions focused on high-risk groups. It was launched in 2003 in six states with a total population of 300 million and a high HIV burden. We assessed the population-level effect of the first phase of Avahan (2003—08). Methods Population prevalence was estimated by use of adjustment factors from the national HIV sentinel surveillance data obtained annually from antenatal clinics. A mixed-effects multilevel regression model was developed to estimate the association

Anal sex, vaginal practices and HIV incidence in female sex workers in urban Kenya: Implications for development of intravaginal HIV prevention methods

Multiple intravaginal HIV prevention methods, including microbicide gels, barriers and intravaginal rings, are in clinical development in Africa. Development of intravaginal HIV prevention products requires an understanding of sexual behavior, sexually transmitted infection (STI) and vaginitis prevalences, and sexual and vaginal practices in potential target populations. We assessed these factors in a cohort of Kenyan female sex workers (FSW). Methods: Women who reported exchanging sex for money/gifts at least 3 times in the past month and were HIV uninfected were enrolled and followed for 6 months. STI prevalence and HIV incidence were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis, controlling for

Young Dutch People's Experiences of Trading Sex: A Qualitative Study

An article in the Journal of Sex Research, 0(0), 1–11, 2011. In recent years, the subject of transactional sex among young Dutch people has generated a heated social debate in the Netherlands. However, accurate data on this phenomenon are scarce. This article describes the findings of a qualitative study on young Dutch people’s experiences of having sex in return for money or a material reward. Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with young Dutch men and women aged 14 to 24. Participants came from diverse backgrounds in terms of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Experiences of trading sex differed in

Understanding the Context of HIV Risk Behavior Among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Female Sex Workers and Male Bar Clients Following Antiretroviral Therapy Rollout in Mombasa, Kenya

Article in AIDS Educ Prev 2011 Aug;23(4):299-312. This study explored perceptions of HIV following local introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART), among 30 HIV-positive and HIV-negative female sex workers (FSWs) and 10 male bar patrons in Mombasa, Kenya. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed qualitatively to identify determinants of sexual risk behaviors. ART was not perceived as a barrier to safer sex and in some cases led to decreased high-risk behaviors. Barriers to safer sex included economic pressure and sexual partnership types. Many women reported that negotiating condom use is more difficult in long-term partnerships. These women favored short-term partnerships to minimize risk

When Event Spaces and Commercialised Sex Spaces Overlap: Gendered discourses of sex work and the Olympic Games

In the past decade, debates regarding the sex industry, especially street-level sex work, have become exacerbated by the hosting of global sporting events. Such issues as displacement, safety concerns and financial cuts to social services have contributed to the problematisation of the overlap between mega event spaces and commercial sex spaces. The different approaches that destination cities have implemented to address these aspects of the urban environment reflect the political and economic geographies of sex work and the post-colonial perspective of sex worker as criminal or victim (Agustin, 2008; Hubbard, 1998). This research focuses on a case study of Vancouver

Gay community, sex workers, health care providers, the police and legal representatives join in to mark IDAHO

Kenyans, drawn from the gay and lesbian community, male and female sex workers, representatives of the police force, health care providers and also legal professionals came together to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO)in Kisumu, Kenya. Velvine Akinyi, the Chairlady of Kenya Sex Workers Alliance (KESWA), one of the main sponsors of the event, said that female sex works had come out to support their gay counterparts and called on female sex workers and male sex workers to respect each other in their line of work and mutually work together. Kenya_Celebrates_IDAHO_in_Style[1].pdf Author: KESWA and Bar Hostess and

Fiji Cracks Down on Sex work

A report published today by the University of NSW says sex workers, especially in Lautoka, the centre of Fiji’s sugar industry, north of Nadi, have been rounded up by the military and subjected to sleep deprivation, humiliation and forced physical labour. Karen McMillan, a researcher with the International HIV Research Group at UNSW, said the sex workers were held in outdoor pens at an army base, woken every three hours and made to do duck-walks and squat in the mud. Some were forced to wear a traffic cone on their head, stand on one leg, and yell repeatedly: “I will never

Sexual and physical violence against female sex workers in Kenya: a qualitative enquiry

Few studies in Africa provide detailed descriptions of the vulnerabilities of female sex workers (FSW) to sexual and physical violence, and how this impacts on their HIV risk. This qualitative study documents FSW’s experiences of violence in Mombasa and Naivasha, Kenya. Eighty-one FSW who obtained clients from the streets, transportation depots, taverns, discos and residential areas were recruited through local sex workers trained as peer counsellors to participate in eight focus-group discussions. Analysis showed the pervasiveness of sexual and physical violence among FSW, commonly triggered by negotiation around condoms and payment. Pressing financial needs of FSW, gender-power differentials, illegality of

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