Paulo Longo Research Initiative

SEX WORK IS LEGAL IN BANGALDESH

Brothel evictions last year sparked angry protests

Chinese Government Detains Sex Worker Activist Calling for the Decriminalisation of Sex Work

On Monday August 2, 2010 police in Beijing detained Ye Haiyan, an activist with community based organisation the China Women's Rights Workshop, after she joined other sex workers in publicly petitioning for the Chinese government to decriminalise prostitution.

The Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) have released a statement in which they explain how they stand in solidarity with Ye Haiyan, human rights defenders, and sex workers who speak up against stigma, discrimination, and the criminalisation of their livelihoods.

Conference on Migration, Feminism and the Sex Industry

Time: September 15-17, 2010
Venue: University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Deadline: August 15

Migration has transformed feminists’ ideological conflict about the meaning of prostitution. From being a two-sided debate about whether ’sex work is work’ or ‘violence against women’, the discussion now must consider migration policies that favour ‘highly skilled’, white-collar and technical professionals over those willing to take less prestigious jobs in the informal sector, including the sex industry.

Switzerland; conference; feminism

Wonetha

Wontha Uganda: Sex Worker Empowerment in Action

In Uganda sex workers are moblising and empowering themselves under their red Umbrella. See Wonetha's Creative Space Workshop Report. http://www.plri.org/resource/creative-space-workshop-wonetha-members

South Africa: Court decision for sex worker may result in state sanctioned prostitution

A decision by the Labour Appeal's Court, to overturn a 2008 ruling by the Labour Court that a sex worker is not entitled to protection against unfair dismissal as the field of work itself is criminal, could be opening up a Pandora's Box.

In effect it means that the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) would need to be able to establish a quantum to compensate "Kylie" for her loss as a result of her dismissal because the alternative - ordering reinstatement - may be considered state sanctioned criminal activity.

Making Sex Work: Feminsm vs the Sex Industry

This video on YouTube has stimulated an interesting debate.

A New Website From South Africa

www.sasexwork.org is a new website from the Cape Town based NGO the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Task force (SWEAT) and includes information generated by the Sisonke Sex Workers Network. It focuses on the human rights of sex workers and the legal debates around sex work.

UNAIDS Advisory Group on HIV and Sex Work

It is an exciting time for sex work policy. Governments, UN agencies and key civil society institutions are beginning to focus on reforming laws and policies that can reduce abuses of sex workers and enable HIV prevention and care programmes to develop and work effectively.

Independent Commission on AIDS and the Law

“I urge all countries to remove punitive laws, policies and practices that hamper the AIDS response… Successful AIDS responses do not punish people; they protect them…We must ensure that AIDS responses are based on evidence, not ideology, and reach those most in need and most affected.”
Ban Ki Moon

NEW! Update from Rwanda on proposed law reform

By Matthew Greenall, independent consultant

According to reports, the new penal code currently being considered by Rwanda's Senate includes a provision to criminalise sex work. The existing penal code, which dates from the 1970s, gives judicial authorities the option of placing restrictions on the movement of sex workers, and contains a number of provisions against facilitating or promoting sex work, running sex work establishments and living off the earnings of prostitution. The proposed new article would introduce jail terms and fines for sex workers themselves.