female sex workers

law

Sex workers from throughout Asia and the Pacific present their arguments for recognition of sex work to the Global Commission on HIV and the Law In Bangkok in March 2011. This is a ‘must watch’ video and a perfect teaching or training aid. Article in the Harvard Journal of Law and Gender, Vol 34, p225 – 258. On the 26-27 June 2011 the Global Commission on HIV and the Law will hold a consultation on the Latin America region. The Commission is working to improve HIV responses by addressing key legal barriers and promoting enabling legal environments. You can read more about the commission

microbicides

There are key issues that must be addressed to ensure that the introduction of non-condom prevention alternatives reduces the vulnerability of sex workers and their clients while avoiding unintended negative consequences. Clearly, the roll-out of such tools, and specifically public availability of the first microbicides, is likely to benefit some people but they could also, inadvertently increase the risk of HIV, STIs and unwanted preganancies for female sex workers.

Kenya

While many studies confirm the association between HIV, alcohol and injecting drug use by female sex workers (FSWs), little is known about their use of marijuana, khat and other substances and the association of these substances with HIV, risky sexual behaviour, and sexual violence. To better understand this association, data were analysed from a cross-sectional, behavioural survey of 297 FSWs in Mombasa, a well-known tourist destination and the second largest port in Africa and capital city of the Coast Province in Kenya.

HIV prevention

Objective: To understand condom use between female sex workers(FSWs) and different kinds of partners,and factors influencing condom use among FSWs.Methods: Anonymous face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted among 521 FSWs recruited by using Respondent Driven Sampling approach in Shanghai.Results: With steady partners,regular clients and one time clients,the proportion of FSWs who always used condoms in the past one month was 24.0%,54.3% and 72.6%,respectively,and the proportion of FSWs who used condom the last time she had sex was 33.3%,73.9% and 87.3%,respectively.The main reasons f

First Pan-India Survey of Female Sex Workers: Release of preliminary findings on the eve of Labour Day

The first pan-India survey of female sex workers, sponsored by the Centre for Advocacy on Stigma and Marginalization, Sangli, was conducted by Rohini Sahni and V Kalyan Shakar of the Department of Economics at the University of Pune. This unique survey documents the lived realities of sex workers; delves into the complex details of their day-to-day interactions; the stigma and marginalisation they experience and attempts to understand the challenges they face as well as their responses. The survey pools a large national level sample of 3000 unorganised sex workers from 14 states. The women who participated in the survey are

History

We formed our partnership in 2008. The idea for the Paulo Longo Research Initiative (PLRI) arose among activists, policy advocates and academics who were frustrated by the quality of information on sex work available. Although there are many excellent books, essays and studies about sex work – including several by sex workers – a great deal of scholarship on sex work is misguided and stigmatizing. Sex workers frequently complain that much of what is written about them reflects prejudices and myths rather than the reality of their lives. Advocates of rights based policy and programmes also complain frequently about the

Adolescent female sex workers: invisibility, violence and HIV

Article in the Arch Dis Child doi:10.1136/adc.2009.178715. A large number of female sex workers are children. Multiple studies demonstrate that up to 40% of women in prostitution started this work prior to age 18. In studies across India, Nepal, Thailand and Canada, young age at entry to sex work has been found to heighten vulnerability to physical and sexual violence victimisation in the context of prostitution, and relates to a two to fourfold increase in HIV infection. Although HIV risk reduction among adult female sex workers has been a major focus of HIV prevention efforts across the globe, no public

Majority of female sex workers join the trade voluntarily-survey says

A news story in the Health(Y) Destination on May 1 2011. A recent survey conducted at Pune reveals that 70 percent of the female sex workers join the trade voluntarily and they were not forced or sold. Most of the sex workers join the trade only in their later age after relieved from other labour such as domestic work and construction of building work. It is revealed that the sex work is also felt by them as that of the other labour work. The findings were revealed by a survey conducted by ‘First pan-India survey of sex workers’ at Pune

“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 today. 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. Asia Catalyst research found that under the C&E system, sex workers and clients are deprived of their freedom for long periods of time with no genuine right to challenge the decision or external safeguards. Public security organs have full control over

Prevalence and Correlates of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections among Female Sex Workers and Their Non-commercial Male Partners in Two Mexico-USA Border Cities

Female sex workers (FSWs) acquire HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) through unprotected sex with commercial and non-commercial (intimate) male partners. Little research has focused on FSWs’ intimate relationships, within which condom use is rare. We sought to determine the prevalence and correlates of HIV/STIs within FSWs’ intimate relationships in Northern Mexico. From 2010 to 2011, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of FSWs and their non-commercial male partners in Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Eligible FSWs and their verified male partners were aged ≥18 years; FSWs reported lifetime use of heroin, cocaine, crack, or methamphetamine and recently exchanged sex

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