Working from a rights-based approach to health service delivery to sex workers

This article, in Exchange on HIV/AIDS, Sexuality and Gender, focuses on the relationship between HIV and sex workers’ rights. It outlines the elements of a rights-based approach to sex work and includes information on how the criminalisation of sex work and stigma and discrimination increase vulnerability. It suggests that the key elements of a rights based approach are that it:

• Increases empowerment;
• Supports participation and self organising;
• Fights discrimination and stigmatisation;
• Provides (access to) legal education;
• Provides access to legal redress/public litigation; and 
• Includes advocacy and lobbying using human rights.

Exchange_on_HIV_sexuality_gender.pdf