Capacity Building & Awareness Raising

capacity building & awareness raising a European guide with strategies for the empowerment of sex workers capacity building & awareness raising a European guide with strategies for the empowerment of sex workers INDOORS Support and empowerment of female sex workers and trafficked women working in hidden places

This guide is based on contributions from the nine partners of the INDOORS project. It was compiled within the framework of the INDOORS project (January 2011- December 2012), under the coordination of the following organisation:

Autres Regards 3, Rue de Bone | 13005 Marseille | France | Tel. +33 (0)4 9142 4290 [email protected] | www.autresregards.org

This guide was made possible by the INDOORS project, with the financial support of the Daphne III Programme of the European Commission.

The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.

The Capacity Building and Awareness Raising guide is part of a series of other resources produced by the INDOORS project: • Pictures of a Reality | Sex workers talk about their life and work experiences within the indoor sex work setting in nine European cities • Equal Rights | advocacy video • INDOORS Outreach Report | Sex workers’ working and living conditions in nine European cities • Indoor Sex Work | Analysis and good practice manual on indoor sex work settings in seven European cities • Safer Work | leaflets for sex workers in six languages

Acknowledgements We appreciate the financial contribution of the partners of the INDOORS project, and wish to thank the local contributors: • Bundeskanzleramt: Frauen | Federal Chancellery: Women | Austria • Agence Régionale de Santé, Conseil Général des Bouches du Rhône | Regional Health Agency, General Council of Bouches du Rhône | France • Sidaction, Ensemble contre le Sida | Sidaction, Together against AIDS | France • Hamburger Behörde für Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz | Hamburg Secretary for Health and Consumer Protection | Germany

Publisher Autres Regards | Marseille | France

Sex Workers in Europe ’ Manifesto, 2005 contents

The INDOORS project...... 5

The INDOORS partners...... 6

Guidance for empowerment...... 8

Methodology...... 9

General definitions...... 11

Sex work in Europe today...... 16

Local policies and legal frameworks...... 21

European networks...... 23

Understanding violence against sex workers...... 24

Sex work settings...... 26

Issues to be addressed by services for sex workers...... 27

European experiences...... 28

Austria...... 30

Bulgaria...... 43

Finland...... 54

France...... 67

Germany...... 81

Italy...... 94

Netherlands...... 106

Portugal...... 119

Spain...... 131

Recommendations...... 143 the INDOORS project

The aim of the INDOORS project is the empowerment of female sex workers working indoors, i.e., in apartments, brothels, massage parlours, windows, bars, clubs, saunas, other private places, and via the internet.

he project’s intention is to develop The project strategies for female sex workers to The INDOORS project was carried out between January protect themselves against violence, 2011 and December 2012, within a partnership of nine while giving them the means to become organisations in nine member states of the European active agents in terms of their well-being, Union: Austria, Bulgaria, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, physical and mental health. the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. The goal of INDOORS was to carry out an analysis of the TFurther objectives working and living conditions of female sex workers in facilitate their access to social and health services, nine cities of these countries: Amsterdam, Genoa, Ham- to labour and human rights. burg, Helsinki, Madrid, Marseille, Porto, Sofia and Vienna. empower and improve their self-esteem and The project was financed by the European Union, in professionalism. the framework of the Daphne III Programme of the make more visible and audible their voices against European Commission. violence, discrimination and stigmatisation. INDOORS produced four final products. They are raise public awareness of policies that reduce avai-lable at www.autresregards.org and at the the violence, discrimination and stigma suffered partners’ websites. by female sex workers. Capacity Building and Awareness Raising | enhance the knowledge of outreach workers A European guide for the empowerment and other professionals regarding the indoor of sex workers prostitution setting. Equal Rights | advocacy video develop local networks of NGOs, social services INDOORS Outreach Report | The working and health services dealing with indoor-based and living conditions of indoor-based sex workers sex workers. in nine European cities facilitate and expand the exchange of information Pictures of a Reality | Sex workers talk about their in Europe regarding indoor prostitution, life and work experiences within the indoor sex work good practices and lobby strategies for setting in nine European cities sex workers’ rights, especially their right to protection and access to justice. The INDOORS project had a previous phase, carried out between January 2009 and December 2010, also within the framework of the Daphne Programme III. It had six partner organisations in five European countries: Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy and Portugal. 5 the INDOORS partners

HESED (Health and Social Develop- Austria ment Foundation) was founded France in 1998 as a successor of the first LEFÖ Autres Regards organisation working in the field of Kettenbrückengasse 15/4 3, Rue de Bone HIV/AIDS prevention in Bulgaria. 1050 Vienna 13005 Marseille The organisation’s mission is to Austria France create opportunities for personal Tel +43 1 58 11 881 Tel +33 4 9142 4290 and community development, Fax +43 1 58 11 882 [email protected] health and social well-being, and [email protected] www.autresregards.org to develop and promote effective www.lefoe.at approaches for successful integra- Autres Regards is a community- LEFÖ (Counselling, Education and tion of disadvantaged communities. based organisation that since 1995 Support for Migrant Women) is an has worked with and for street- autonomous migrant women’s based sex workers of all genders. organisation that was founded The organisation works on STI/HIV in 1985 in Vienna. LEFÖ supports Finland prevention, health promotion, and migrant women, migrant sex the improvement of access to health Pro-tukipiste workers and migrants who are services and fundamental rights Vilhonkatu 4B 20 affected by trafficking. It provides for sex workers. Since January 2009, 00100 Helsinki a broad spectrum of holistic and Autres Regards’ work has also Finland largely first-language-based out- been extended to indoor-based Tel +358 9 2512 730 reach and empowerment activities, sex workers. Fax +358 9 2512 7388 counselling and support for legal, [email protected] psychosocial and health issues. www.pro-tukipiste.fi LEFÖ advocates for the rights of migrant women and sex workers. Pro-tukipiste (Pro Centre Finland), Germany founded in 1999, is a registered non-profit organisation which ragazza e.V. Brennerstr. 19 supports and promotes the civil and 20099 Hamburg Bulgaria human rights of individuals involved Germany in sex work. It offers professional Tel +49 40 24 46 31 HESED low-threshold social support, health Fax +49 40 2805 5033 87, Stamboliiski Blvd., 2nd floor care services and legal advice for sex [email protected] 1303 Sofia workers in Helsinki and Tampere. [email protected] Bulgaria Services are free of charge and www.ragazza-hamburg.de Tel +359 2 851 81 08 anonymous, politically and Fax +359 2 953 34 55 religiously independent. The organi- ragazza is an NGO that has offered [email protected] sation also offers training on issues support and counselling on health www.hesed.bg concerning sex work and trafficking and social issues for drug-using in human beings. female sex workers in Hamburg 6 since 1991. It offers a consumer room, needle exchange, meals, Netherlands APDES (Agência Piaget para o showers and overnight accommo- Desenvolvimento) is an NGO dation. Other activities are outreach TAMPEP founded in 2004 to promote work, harm reduction interventions, International Foundation sustainable development. It works and advocacy to call attention to with vulnerable populations to im- Van Diemenstraat 194 the situation of drug-using sex prove access to health, employment 1013 CP Amsterdam workers and their lack of labour and and education. APDES invests in the The Netherlands human rights. promotion of sex workers’ rights and Tel +31 20 692 6912 citizenship through the promotion Fax +31 20 608 0083 of initiatives towards sex workers’ [email protected] rights and participation in national www.tampep.eu Italy and international networks. TAMPEP is the European Network Le Graziose | CDCP Genova for HIV/STI Prevention and Health Via Della Maddalena 94R Promotion among Migrant Sex 16100 Genova Workers, founded in 1993 to address Spain Italy the needs of migrant sex workers in Tel +39 33 3155 8473 Europe. It operates a community Hetaira [email protected] development and participation c/ Fuencarral, 18, 4º F. www.lucciole.org model that is rooted within a human 28004 Madrid Spain Le Graziose, created in 2007, is the rights perspective. TAMPEP advo- Tel +34 915 232 678 Genoese branch of the Committee cates for equitable access to services [email protected] for Civil Rights of Prostitutes and support for sex workers. The www.colectivohetaira.org (CDCP-ONLUS), founded in 1982. TAMPEP International Foundation It is a non-profit association that carries out EU and international pro- Hetaira was founded in 1995 by sex promotes the civil and human rights jects concerning sex workers’ rights, workers and activists from other of sex workers, provides information health promotion and advocacy. professional areas, to advocate for and advice on issues related to sex sex workers’ rights, fight stigmatisa- work, applies empowerment strate- tion, denounce the violence sex gies for sex workers, is involved in Portugal workers face, facilitate their organi- projects to combat exploitation and sation, and raise public awareness trafficking, and supports informa- Porto G | APDES about their situation. Hetaira is a tion campaigns on AIDS, STI and human rights advocacy group, Alameda Jean Piaget, n° 100 harm reduction interventions. offering counselling and outreach 4411-801 Arcozelo activities for indoor- and outdoor- Vila Nova de Gaia based sex workers. Portugal Tel +351 227 531 106 [email protected] www.apdes.pt 7 Guidance for empowerment

This guide is intended for the development of those who work in the field of sex work services. It rein- forces the need for well- developed national and transnational networks to face the actual needs of national and migrant sex workers. It provides practical points, ideas and successful models to consider when designing and implementing projects aimed at sex workers. apacity building & aware- This collection of capacity-building and awareness- ness raising is a European raising initiatives, created by INDOORS or related to guide with strategies for the em- ongoing experiences, is neither exhaustive nor pre- powerment of sex workers. It was scriptive. It reveals the status of national networking drawn up within the framework of initiatives regarding sex work in Europe, and how INDOORS, a project financed by the they are reacting to the present challenges. European Union as part of the Daphne Programme By revealing different experiences, perspectives, Cof the Department of Justice and Home Affairs. initiatives and strategies, this guide, as part of the The INDOORS project originated from the need to INDOORS project, seeks to develop and present the develop different strategies for outreach projects efforts and experience of sex work programmes in targeting indoor-based sex workers, as well as the the promotion and defence of the health, well-being, need to strengthen networking between existing safety and rights of sex workers. projects and initiatives. As a result, the project aims to promote human rights among sex workers by empowering them and those Methodology who work with and for them. In other words, this project is entirely focused on the needs of a specif- Given INDOORS’ diverse activities and objectives, ic group of national and migrant sex workers, of all the project was divided into different work streams. genders, who work indoors. Because sex workers are This guide is the result of one of these work streams, not a homogeneous group, their needs and strategic which was coordinated and edited by the Nether- actions to promote human rights differ. lands-based TAMPEP International Foundation with the collaboration and participation of the partner Although violence against indoor-based sex work- organisations at all levels. Without a common strat- ers occurs in various forms, it is often difficult to get egy and guidelines it would have been impossible to sex workers to speak about it. Thus, regular outreach gather useful information for those who work with or activities, trainings, workshops and seminars are infor sex workers in Europe. dispensable in order to support the target group in these situations. This guide reveals some of these In seeking to build the capacity of service providers initiatives carried out in nine different EU countries – it is essential to ensure that sex workers are con- Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the sulted and encouraged to participate at all levels. The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain – and encourages INDOORS partners count on the direct or indirect and inspires anyone working with or for sex workers participation and consultation of sex workers, which methodology to develop their own programme and networking to makes this work relevant to the improvement of their address sex workers’ needs. realities. Moreover, community participation and empowerment should be at the heart of any policy in this field. 9 This guide is not limited to the activities of civil so- In this sense, the guide is an analysis of the collation ciety, such as seminars and training sessions in the of all the initiatives of each country, in different mo- framework of capacity building and raising aware- ments of the project, between 2011 and 2012. Fur- ness of sex workers’ support programmes. It elevates thermore, it served as an incentive for organisations the discussion of sex work to its deserved place, in to bring up common agendas and discuss relevant human rights-based discourse. All the organisations issues for the empowerment of sex workers in their mentioned in this guide share the same values re- countries. Knowing that some networks are quite garding sex work and are charged with respecting new and others long-established was not an obsta- internationally recognised human rights standards. cle for countries in presenting their results of capacity building and awareness raising. The guide is all about Development building up and fortifying existing networks; there is no common scale of efficiency between them. Each Each partner organisation was asked to fill out a form one was analysed within its own national context, developed to collect different sorts of experiences and comparison between them is only relevant in and records of events which took place between the terms of strengthening local, national, and regional beginning of 2011 and March 2012. Guidelines were networks, which are also described in this guide. The prepared in order to facilitate the collection of com- INDOORS guide presents the importance of this net- mon knowledge. Additional information on the back- working process for the improvement of sex workers’ ground of each organisation and on network building rights and participation in the region as a whole. was also required in order to draw up a timeline of this networking engagement and development. Each country chapter, therefore, builds upon The form was then developed to allow for analysis of the idea that to improve services that address the national plans for capacity building and aware- sex workers’ needs in an effective manner, a ness raising, some of which were prepared within the comprehensive coalition of networks is needed. framework of the INDOORS project; others related to ongoing activities in their respective countries. Given For this reason, the INDOORS partners present in this the diverse forms of events and strategies to empow- guide their organisational capacities and barriers and er sex workers in their national contexts, the form had how these barriers are overcome by means of net- to be improved and adjusted to support all types of working. national initiatives. Finally, the guide encourages partner organisations This guide took into consideration local, national and to propose recommendations for other organisations regional events, and analysed them in order to reveal working in this field, taking into account the hard task their ability to strengthen networks that deal with the of breaking down national institutional/legislative issue of sex work. Furthermore, the analysis was guid- barriers and related structural problems. ed by the reported current national situation and the 10 actual needs of sex workers of all genders, working indoors and outdoors, migrants and nationals. ing and awareness raising. What are the limits? What General definitions should be done? This could consequently serve as an Given the aims of this guide, the meanings of net- example to other organisations that are willing to em- works, capacity building and awareness raising must power sex workers against discrimination and social be contextualised in the framework of sex work pro- exclusion. jects. Each of these elements helps to empower sex The main goals of these local, national and regional workers and brings their voices, opinions and ideas to networks are to: the public debate. Encourage, develop and/or strengthen a national Networks and/or regional network in each partner country; Improve knowledge regarding the indoor- Considering the fact that sex workers face violence and outdoor-based sex work scenes and their and limitations to their rights, this guide proposes specificities; and that each country should build or reinforce its own Exchange and spread good practice strategies, local, national, and regional networks of defence of leading to the empowerment of sex workers. those rights and adequate responses to sex workers’ needs. These networks should be able to: Capacity building Sensitise and train outreach workers, Aware that the term ‘capacity building’ or ‘capacity de- NGO professionals and public service providers velopment’ has been used in different ways and with dealing with sex workers; broader meanings, this guide will use the definition Empower sex workers, by enabling their reached by consensus by the United Nations Commit- active participation in public policies; and tee of Experts on Public Administration: Share information in order to combat the stigmatisation and marginalisation of sex workers. Capacity development is the process by which INDOORS acknowledges that each local context gen- individuals, organisations, institutions and societies erates different problems for sex workers, which pose develop abilities to perform functions, solve 1 obstacles to their participation in the political, social, problems and set and achieve objectives. economic and cultural lives of their countries. Sex work itself does not generate these problems, but ‘in- Hence, it is a term understood on three main inter- stitutional structure’ is responsible for their creation. related levels: individual, institutional and societal. Each level depends very much on the others in order Therefore, an analysis of various initiatives will serve to achieve its goals. The very idea of network building as an example of the different realities within the is one of the examples of capacity building initiatives. general definitions sphere of the European Union. The main goal of this is to understand, in a contextualised manner, how 1 Glossary of Key Terms (UNDP) available through the link: countries build their own strategies of capacity build- http://mirror.undp.org/magnet/policy/glossary.htm 11 When a network is able to bring together sex work- Awareness raising ers, activists, governmental institutions, public officers, and academics, it means that the capacity build- According to the Principles of Awareness-Raising ing process has a greater chance of obtaining good study by UNESCO, 2006, results. The intersection between all these elements of society can make the capacity building process As part of a permanent and interactive communica- stronger or weaker. tion flow, awareness-raising is a process which opens opportunities for information exchange in order The level of contribution of each of these elements to improve mutual understanding and to develop should also be taken into account to express this competencies and skills necessary to enable changes moment of collective approach and understanding. in social attitude and behaviour. To be effective, Sometimes one segment is stronger than the other, the process of awareness-raising must meet and and by combining them in the network all benefit maintain the mutual needs and interests of the from the same status. actors involved.2 A fundamental goal of capacity building is to enhance the ability to evaluate and address crucial questions ‘Awareness raising’ is a broad and somewhat vague related to policy choices and modes of implementa- term, yet one that is almost intuitively understood tion based on an understanding of environmental in most societies and cultures. To raise awareness of potentials and limits, and of needs identified by the something is to promote its visibility and credibility sex workers themselves. within a community or society. To raise awareness is also to inform and educate people about a topic or INDOORS points out the need for training sessions issue with the intention of influencing their attitudes, and workshops that can serve as tools for address- behaviours and beliefs towards the achievement of a ing the main questions regarding sex work. A train- defined purpose or goal. ing session or workshop should be able to point out where needs are to be met, elaborated upon or better Generally, awareness raising is understood to be a explained, empowering sex workers against repres- constructive and potentially catalytic force that ul- sive measures, stigma and marginalisation. timately leads to positive change in actions and behaviours. This change may be sought by stakeholders Seminars, meetings and task forces also serve as ex- in individuals, groups, organisations, communities amples of capacity building in the context of empow- or societies. For the participants of networks related ering sex workers. to the issue of sex work, many aspects of awareness raising have to be considered in order to inform sex workers, policy-makers, academics and the general

2 Principles of Awareness-Raising: Information Literacy, a Case Study. Bangkok: UNESCO Bangkok, 2006. Available through the link: 12 http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001476/147637e.pdf public about the consequences of violence, factors of Some other definitions are crucial in order to com- HIV/STI risks, health promotion strategies, social care, prehend what this guide means by ‘social mobilisa- stigma and discrimination-related problems, such as: tion’. The vocabulary used in this guide to explain the countries’ social mobilisation can be found in the Social exclusion that results from the stigmatisa- definitions below. tion of sex workers Denial of access to health, to alternative work, to Advocacy and lobbying equal access to justice, to the right to privacy and family life, to active citizenship, to unimpeded travel Advocacy is any action directed at changing the and migration policies, positions or programmes of any type of Isolation and social marginalisation institution. Most forums, seminars, meetings and task forces address awareness-raising situations, in order to collect Examples of advocacy actions could be raising the opinions and evidence that could improve sex work- public profile of sex work and building support for ers’ position in relation to stigma and discrimination. tackling sex workers’ principal needs. Advocacy and lobbying efforts are sometimes overlooked when To raise public awareness means to inform a commu- planning awareness-raising campaigns, but can be nity about its attitude, behaviour and belief regard- vital to ensuring ongoing support from governments ing a specific topic, with the intention of influencing and civil society organisations. it in the achievement of a defined purpose or goal: for instance, improving public health and social ser- Examples: vices or promoting information. This kind of aware- Forming strategic alliances and partnerships ness-raising process needs to consider sex workers’ with government, civil society and international experience and opinion at all levels, treating them as organisations experts on their field and not simply as one-dimen- Meeting with politicians at all levels of govern- sional characters. In other words, “nothing about them ment, but focusing on ministers and other officials without them”. with the authority and power to provide resources Generally, in the social context of sex work, aware- Cultivating political activists in ness raising is significantly linked to the lack of public successful campaigns health and social services and promotion of rights, Identifying audiences: advocacy must be all of which lead to violent situations and risky work- directed at people with decision-making power, ing conditions for sex workers. The lack of support of and to people who influence decision-makers, governmental institutions and other sectors of soci- including the media general definitions ety constitutes additional barriers to improving this Using updated data and research is essential for situation, including a lack of financial support for making decisions, devising solutions, and setting awareness-raising activities. 13 realistic goals. Good data can be used in persuasive Mobilising policy change arguments, which is fundamental in the discussion of sex work within a human rights framework During the European Conference on Sex Work, Human Rights, Labour and Migration, held in Brussels in 2005, Changing perspectives and attitudes sex workers in Europe made use of a Declaration to of service providers state their rights3. However, it is also important to Developing and delivering build a supportive policy environment, accompany and influence legislative reforms, encourage partici- messages of advocacy pation of special parliamentary committees, and Different audiences respond to different messages. develop and disseminate specific regional advocacy A politician may become motivated when he or she tools. knows how many people in his or her district care about a certain problem. A minister of health may Community mobilisation take action when presented with detailed data on It is essential to engage sex work communities in plan- the extent and nature of a specific problem. It is im- ning, advocating and implementing programmes. It portant to be able to predict results of advocacy mes- is fundamental to plan together with these commu- sages, especially in the delicate field of sex work. An nities which kind of mobilisation is necessary, and to unsuccessful campaign can lead to worse results, and correspond to the real needs of sex worker groups, even worse laws. with respect to the diversity and the different realities Building coalitions of sex workers’ lives and working situations. Often, the power of capacity building is found in the Partnership building numbers of people who support and recognise sex Mobilising alliances includes local government, the work as legitimate work. Thus, building coalitions is private sector, non-governmental organisations and an important thing to think about when aiming for civil society. The work should be coordinated and col- good advocacy work. lective, within structured networks, in the form of task Making persuasive forces or platforms. presentations Mass media and Opportunities to influence key audiences are often social marketing limited. Preparation of convincing arguments and The media usually reproduce generalised discourses their presentations can turn these brief opportunities regarding sex work, often with incorrect information. into successful advocacy. Organisations should therefore be in touch with key

14 3 See full text of the Declaration through the link: http://www. sexworkeurope.org/images/phocadownload/dec_brussels2005.pdf journalists with whom they can raise awareness by Community participation informing the general public about realistic aspects of sex work, and develop a strategy to promote be- Community participation and ownership have havioural change. long been recognised as critical to the success and effectiveness of intervention programmes. Sustained Strengthening cooperation change cannot be achieved without support, com- between government and NGOs mitment and involvement of the community. In the context of sex work projects in Europe, INDOORS The main goal of a coalition is to make the word of means the participation of sex workers in the process NGOs valid in reality. Without a common framework of social mobilisation. for discussion this could be very difficult; this is why a common language should be used by NGOs in or- There are many forms of community participation der to draw the government’s attention to key issues which are possible within the framework of a sex of sex work. Knowledge of some social mobilisation work project. characteristics and concepts is relevant for a project Self-mobilisation that seeks social mobilisation towards capacity build- Sex workers participate by taking initiatives, ing and awareness raising. independent of external institutions or NGOs, to change a system and/or a situation, and form Stakeholders coalitions with other stakeholders.

A stakeholder is any person, group or organisation Participation by consultation who holds an important or influential community Sex workers are consulted and their opinions are position, and who might have an interest, investment taken into account during the process of social or involvement in the issue being pursued. They are mobilisation towards specific actions. people in government and other positions of power Participation by integration into projects at a national, regional or city level; local policy-mak- Sex workers are integrated into projects on an equal ers and service providers; people in the community level, for instance as staff, managers, social work- where projects may be introduced; and people who ers, counsellors, peer educators, outreach workers, may benefit (or not) from the intervention. The com- trainers, etc., addressing their community’s needs munication and support of good stakeholders is a big and actions. step forward for the social mobilisation movement. Interactive participation For example, stakeholders can be international or- Sex workers participate in joint analysis of problems, ganisations, government organisations, service pro-

resulting in action plans and the possible formation general definitions viders, community representatives, human rights of new local groups or strengthening of existing services, law and order (enforcement and criminal ones. These groups can therefore have influence over justice system), non-governmental organisations, local, regional and/or national decisions. community based organisations, private/commercial 15 sector, and the media. However, there are many possible barriers to com- Frequently, current mechanisms of representa- munity participation, which is why this guide intends tion and consultation are closed to sex workers’ to explore some of these factors. It is important to communities’ voices. An example of this is the scant understand how things work in a particular sex work recognition of sex workers’ voices in the media. community. Criminalisation of sex work, clients, migration, There are many differences between countries, socie- and sex work-related aspects leads to the denial of ties and regions and it is essential that the network freedom of association, and restricts sex workers’ be flexible about how to begin the process of com- ability to self-organise. Criminalisation is considered munity participation. In some countries, community- to be the main barrier to sex workers’ community based organisations may not have the requisite social mobilisation and representation. space and recognition due to the amount of barriers. Sex workers working indoors and outdoors often That is why community-based organisations must be have different perceptions of themselves and their built up and supported in their endeavours. It is also work, which can hamper common actions. crucial that involving existing organisations and net- Sex worker-led organisations and communities works be considered as part of the process of com- often have reduced funding and limited resources munity participation. The underlying principle is to and capacity, which impacts their ability to react to be flexible and involve all possible key stakeholders. repressive trends and fight for better working condi- In relation to sex workers’ rights, the following struc- tions. tural barriers need to be taken into consideration when dealing with this target. Sex work in Barriers to community involvement Europe today Social stigma leads to people seeing sex workers in a negative and stereotyped light, denying them This guide is about sex work, which is one of Euro- a place in society. To protect themselves, most sex pe’s most marginalised and stigmatised professions, workers hide their involvement in sex work. Many even after some efforts to decriminalise it by some absorb the social stigma of shame and unworthiness, Euro-pean countries. The European panorama pre- and live in fear of being exposed. sented here serves to highlight the links between the Sex workers are perceived merely as victims to realities of sex workers across European countries, be assisted, criminals to be arrested, or targets for and contextualises the region’s current tensions and public health interventions, a perspective which debates, which is fundamental to understanding the denies the real and valuable contribution to their capacity building efforts implemented in each coun- own communities. try of the INDOORS project. 16 Sex work is a transnational phenomenon. Hence, led to the justification for interventionist impulses by its capacity-building and awareness-raising efforts various sectors of society4. should be drawn and guided within the framework In response to this debate, INDOORS emphasises the of cooperation of countries and regions, to support distinction between prostitution and trafficking in health and social promotion among sex workers. With persons, through recognising that: the increasingly high mobility of sex workers, there is no other way to address their needs than focusing Trafficking in persons is a blatant violation on national and transnational cooperation models of human rights; of empowerment, which include the participation Trafficking occurs in sex work and many other of national and migrant sex workers. The following areas of labour; pages reflect examples of European cooperation Sex work itself, without violence, coercion or models that were created to address the national and deceit is not a violation of human rights. It is a transnational needs of sex workers. profession that demands a complex combination of The INDOORS partners observe that legislations, poli- skills – interpersonal, marketing, administrative and 5 cies and practices regarding sex work are increasingly business, as well as considerable diplomacy ; more repressive and punitive across Europe. Instead An individual should have the right to sell sexual of laws that empower and support the independ- services and to migrate. ence and autonomy of sex workers and improve their In regards to male and transgender sex workers, homo- working and living conditions, measures are being phobia and transphobia have a direct impact on their implemented which undermine their dignity and working conditions throughout laws that criminalise self-determination, violating human rights and, con- their work and limit or deprive them of their rights. sequently, international treaties, which the European Moreover, discrimination, violence, and a lack of states have ratified and committed themselves to im- targeted health services and outreach activities are plementing. other factors that increase this group’s vulnerability. Sex work versus trafficking Consequences of repression For migrant sex workers the situation is even worse. In association with working conditions, repressive A dominant discourse conflating sex work and traf- measures against outdoor prostitution and the rise ficking is being used to justify restrictive regulations of new forms of technology (internet, smartphones, on migration and prostitution. Within this harsh context, all migrant sex workers are seen as victims of a 4 DOEZEMA, J. (2001). Ouch! Western Feminists’ ‘Wounded Attachment’ to

cruel trafficking network. Yet these anti-trafficking the ‘Third World Prostitute’. Feminist Review, No. 67, Sex Work Reassessed sex work in europe today measures do not recognise that migrant sex workers (Spring, 2001), pp. 16-38. Available through the link: www.jstor.org/ stable/1395529 are not a homogeneous group. Some authors even 5 The Toolkit: Ottawa Area Sex Workers Speak Out (2011). Available through suggest that the creation of the ‘damaged other’ has the link: www.powerottawa.ca/POWER_Report_TheToolkit.pdf 17 etc.) have increased the percentage of indoor-based only occasionally engage in sex work, face greater sex workers. Working indoors, however, has driven isolation than before. Thus, it is important to consider many national and migrant sex workers to less visible the relevant impact of the European repressive trend forms of sex work. Indoor settings are very diverse, when analysing the present indoor as well as outdoor some of them being very hard to reach, even for out- sex work settings. reach workers. In this way, this European repressive This certainly presents challenges to sex work pro- legislative and policy trend contributes to the isola- jects, which are being constantly required to review tion of sex workers, who do not have adequate access and reconfigure their services to respond to chang- to services, rights, information, or social protection. ing environments, finding new strategies to reach out All these factors increase sex workers’ vulnerability by to sex workers who have become more ‘hidden’, as denying them equal access to rights. the sex industry adapts itself to constant changes in Criminalisation that targets street- and indoor-based legislation, policy and law enforcement practices. In sex workers, and other erotic services, also appears in addition, the continuing high levels of mobility and this guide as a trend of European prostitution policies migration reported in all countries require sex work that undermine collective ways of working. More- projects in countries of origin, transit and destina- over, there is a general, increasing focus on the crimi- tion to constantly review their services, in order to nalisation of sex workers and clients. There has been respond to the needs of this mobile population. greater police repression against street-based sex INDOORS was designed within this new framework workers, systematic police raids of indoor premises, and brings together community-based organisations systematic deportation of undocumented migrant in the context of sex workers rights’ activism, all root- sex workers, unlawful mandatory HIV/STI testing, un- ed in the principles of the protection of human rights justified disclosure of private data of sex workers, and and the direct representation of sex workers. These a climate of intolerance and social stigmatisation of organisations deliver programmes of empowerment sex workers. There has also been increased aggres- combined with social support and health promo- sion, violence and hate crimes against sex workers of tion activities and advocacy, some of them led by sex all genders. Ironically, new laws have put sex workers worker groups. All activities are based on the princi- in more danger, as they and their clients tend to move ple of self-determination of sex workers. into less safe work settings in order to avoid detection and arrest. Sex work is work Continuity is fundamental The European sex workers’ human rights’ movement has developed a common language tool to define sex INDOORS emphasises that there is a need to be con- work in the context of human rights. For instance, ‘sex tinuously in contact with sex workers in all possible industry’, ‘sex work’ and ‘sex worker’ are used as non- indoor sex work settings, due to concerns that judgemental terms in relation to ‘commercial sex’ and migrant and national sex workers, and those who 18 those selling sexual services. These terms focus on the conditions under which sexual services are sold and Sex workers’ rights enable a realistic analysis of how sex workers’ vulnerabilities can be reduced. This international legal framework enabled sex workers to organise themselves to consolidate the Decla- When sex work is recognised as legitimate work, sex ration of the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe, signed workers have control over who they have sex with, at the European Conference on Sex Work, Human the sexual services they provide, and the conditions Rights, Labour and Migration held in Brussels, Bel- under which they provide those services. It does not gium, in 2005. This declaration was put together and mean that violence is a necessary part of the job. Sex endorsed by 120 sex workers and 80 allies from 30 work and violence are therefore two different agen- countries, and is an example of a law enforcement das that, unfortunately, are often brought together to initiative. justify repressive measures and increasing stigmatisation. The Declaration highlights the state’s obligations to ensure that it does not violate rights, that others do Abuse and exploitation may occur within the sex in- not violate rights, and that all structures of the state dustry as they may occur in other industries, but this are organised to ensure that diverse persons can en- does not signify that all sex workers necessarily had joy and exercise their rights. It goes on to make rec- or have this experience. Voluntary engagement in sex ommendations for measures and practices to ensure work is by definition consensual sex between adults. that sex workers’ rights are respected and protected. Non-consensual engagement in sex work is forced In doing so, it offers guidance to organisations and labour, slavery and sexual violence, and as such, it is institutions seeking to develop a comprehensive a gross violation of human rights. The involvement of and rights-based approach to sex work. INDOORS is children and young people in the sex industry is sex- one more initiative that has its roots in the universal ual exploitation and abuse through prostitution, and aspect of human rights, focusing on sex workers as as such, it is a gross violation of their human rights subjects of rights. as well. In this sense, it is important to point out that all INDOORS recognises that discrimination against INDOORS partners recognise sex workers’ rights, with- sex workers violates the principles of equality of out exception. These rights should be understood rights and respect for human dignity. within the framework of each country’s national legislation; however, many of these rights have their roots The project points out common violations of major in international human rights law6. provisions of human rights treaties, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

(ICCPR); International Covenant on Economic, Social, sex work in europe today and Cultural Rights (ICESCR); Convention on the Elim- ination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 6 Human rights treaties signed and ratified by European states. (CEDAW); European Convention for the Protection of 19 Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR); The effects of human rights abuses, and European Social Charter (ESC). stigma and discrimination are multiple. Violations, however, are not limited to use of force. In During the Nordic Network meeting described in the many cases, individual sex workers experience: Finnish chapter of this guide, Jasmine, a sex worker from the Rose Alliance, brought up how official treat- violent health care abuses (coerced abortion, ment of sex workers has worsened after the advent mandatory HIV testing, absence of counselling for of the Swedish prostitution law which criminalises HIV tests, disclosure of health status without consent, the clients of sex workers. Condescending attitudes forced and/or denial of treatment, lack of STI treat- among authority figures are rampant, she says. Per- ment, and detention within rehabilitation centres); sonally suspected unfit for motherhood because of police abuse (physical violence and threats of her sex work, Jasmine, even after regaining custody violence, sexual violence including coerced sexual of her child, heard from the female judge on her case services, arbitrary arrest and detention, failure to that she did not have adequate understanding of investigate complaints of violence, coercion, confine- how harmful sex work could be. Another sex worker ment, extortion, planting of evidence, confiscation reported being denied health insurance benefits of condoms, confiscation of identity documents, despite having been insured for eight years in Swe- threats to take away children); den. In this case, the authorities did not believe she denial of social benefits (denial of general health understood the effects of criminalisation on her work care, denial of education for children of sex work- – she was told that since her clientele was criminal- ers, denial of social welfare services, restrictions ised, she should not expect any income in the future. on ability to organise, restrictions on ability to She managed to win her case and access her rights communicate)7; and but, still, the judgement set no precedent for other social exclusion and discrimination (denial of sex workers to expect the same. equal access to justice, discrimination in the labour market, barriers to buying and renting properties, Changes in the denial of the right to family life, denial of the right to European context privacy, etc.). Emphasising the challenges faced by national and mi- These are gross violations of human rights. Every grant sex workers in Europe, this guide offers tips and individual who decides to enter sex work is entitled tools with the intention of fostering better capacity to human rights under international treaties. There building, awareness raising and social mobilisation. are no exceptions. Day after day, the number of people who engage in sex work gets higher, and so does the number of nationalities among sex workers. Concurrently, sex 7 Common Human Rights Violations Experienced by Sex Workers. Open Society Foundations Public Health Fact Sheet. Available through workers, especially migrants, face a more repressive 20 the link: http://www.soros.org/sites/default/files/common-human-rights- system every year. violations-experienced-by-sex-workers-english-20110831.pdf

The majority of sex workers who work in the northern, data, about 70% of migrant sex workers have already western and southern parts of the European Union worked in more than one country, which can mean in are migrants: they form about 70% of the sex worker and/or outside the EU. Migration is often directed to- population. In some countries, this percentage is as wards the neighbouring countries, either moving on, high as 80-90%, resulting in a very multinational work or going back and forth. Within countries there is also environment, with over 65 different nationalities. In a high mobility. About 50% of national and migrant the eastern part of the EU, formed by those countries sex workers said that they had already worked in at that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007, the majority of least one other town of the country they were pres- sex workers are nationals. ently in. EU Expansion Moreover, the high mobility of sex workers combined with increasingly high levels of institutional repres- The expansion of the EU has had a significant impact sion has generated another phenomenon: a wide on migration from Eastern to Central and from Central diversification of indoor settings. Even traditional to Western Europe. There is a constant move back and indoor settings had to adapt to the new reality of forth. The trend is to stay and work for a short period law enforcement in Europe. Internet, mobile phones, in the EU, travel back home and, after a while, return social media: all these tools have been highly used to the EU. Clients of sex workers have also become among sex workers; however, direct contact with more mobile, and there are new forms of prostitution clients is still the main form of soliciting. Service around cross-border areas. providers, in this sense, had to adapt their services to this ‘new’ form of sex work setting, which can be seen Considering only the migrant sex worker population as more hidden and hard to reach than the traditional within the member states of the European Union, it forms. is estimated that about 35% of them are EU citizens themselves: about 30% come from those countries that joined in 2004 and 2007, and about 5% are from the older member countries. Local policies and The other 65% of the migrant sex worker population legal frameworks come from outside the EU, namely: 37% from Eastern Europe, 12% from Africa, 11% from Latin America and Across Europe, countries have drawn up a complex 5% from Asia. This means that about two thirds of the combination of social policy, criminal law and civil law sex worker population in the EU are impacted by mi- in order to control sex work activities. 8 gration policies and additional barriers . Historically, four different approaches can be defined: local policies and legal frameworks INDOORS takes into consideration the high mobil- prohibitionist, regulationist, abolitionist, and legalisa- ity of sex workers. According to the TAMPEP 2009 tion.9

8 TAMPEP VIII, Final Report, Sex Work in Europe: A Mapping of the Prostitution 9 For more information, please read the full report ‘Prostitution – Which 21 Scene in 25 European Countries (2009). Stance to Take?’ available through the link: http://assembly.coe.int/ Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc07/EDOC11352.pdf Sweden has recently invented a new approach which labour rights, autonomy or self-regulation. The dif- is generally defined as neo-abolitionist.10 ferent legal systems share common elements which have similar consequences for sex workers’ human The approaches rights and their access to public health and social care services. Prohibitionist Seeks to prohibit prostitution and penalises sex Criminalisation through workers and pimps alike (although not necessarily legislation and policies clients). The dominant frameworks that represent state Regulationist approaches towards sex work result in a set of laws Seeks to regulate rather than prohibit or abolish that centre around the exclusion of sex workers and prostitution. often make legal prostitution virtually impossible. Abolitionist These include: Seeks to abolish prostitution by penalising procurers legal frameworks that consider pimping, pander- and pimps rather than sex workers. ing and procuring as crimes and thus often also crim- Legalisation inalise sex workers’ families, partners, co-workers Seeks to turn prostitution and sex work business and managers legal, regulated by civil and labour laws. laws that aim to prevent the organisation of prostitution into a business or criminal enterprise, A main characteristic of the legal approaches to sex thus also criminalising individual sex workers, groups work, however, is their implementation, which takes of sex workers working in collectives, and business place on two often contradictory levels: the theo- managers retical implementation governs prostitution through laws that target the promoters of prostitution creating national legislation measures that are most and also criminalise business managers who provide often established in the penal code rather than in safe and fair working conditions distinct prostitution laws, and the practical implementation governs prostitution through implement- laws that aim to eliminate ‘public nuisance’ ing special (local-level) policies and regulations that aspects of prostitution by prohibiting its visible highlight the actual state approach to sex work. components, such as (active and passive) soliciting, negotiating, advertising, kerb-crawling and loitering, Sex work in Europe is predominantly discussed within and criminalising sex workers and their clients the contexts of morality, violence, criminality and traf- laws that prescribe registration and mandatory ficking, but seldom within the frame of human rights, health checks for sex workers and thus promote a

public health policy that excludes and stigmatises 10 Sweden’s neo-abolitionist approach takes the abolitionist logic one step sex workers. 22 further and penalises the clients.

These regulations that focus on ‘prohibition’, ‘preven- ICRSE | International Committee on the tion’ (of disease, organised crime, abuse, public nui- Rights of Sex Workers in Europe sance) and ‘protection’ (of the public, the family, of Established in 2004 to raise awareness about the morals and of minors) do not consider the prevention social exclusion in Europe of sex workers of all gen- of human rights violations against sex workers and ders, to promote the human and civil rights of sex the protection of sex workers. These regulations have workers at a national, regional and global level, and a seriously harmful impact on sex workers, their work- to create strong alliances between sex workers, allies ing and living conditions, and their health and well- and other civil society organisations. All INDOORS being. Sex industry laws and regulations should en- partners are part of the ICRSE network. sure the full protection of sex workers’ human rights, www.sexworkeurope.org including migrant and mobile sex workers, and assist sex workers to exercise greater control over their SWAN | Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy work environment. Network in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia Established in 2006 to advocate for the human rights European of sex workers in Central and Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Networks South-East Europe. INDOORS partner HESED is a member of SWAN. To respond to actual legislative trends, to fight against www.swannet.org marginalisation and discrimination, or to contribute to the improvement of sex workers’ rights in Europe, TAMPEP | European Network for HIV/STI different networking initiatives were developed. Prevention and Health Promotion among Networking is a fundamental element to understand- Migrant Sex Workers ing how European NGOs articulate and develop their Founded in 1993, the network is focused on assessing capacity. Networks, however, originate in the frame- the circumstances and needs of female and transgen- work of different sets of initiatives: some are devel- der migrant and national sex workers in Europe. All oped within the framework of a project, and others INDOORS partners are part of the TAMPEP network, are NGOs which carry out the task of networking as with the exception of APDES. their main organisational purpose. www.tampep.eu In this section, this guide provides you with the cur- Correlation Network rent picture of European networking in the field of european networks sex work, anti-trafficking, and health equality issues, Set up in 2005 within the framework of a European and reveals the collaboration of INDOORS partners in project. The overall aim of Correlation is to tackle health inequalities, and to improve prevention, care this field with other organisations across Europe. 23 and treatment services, targeting blood borne in- fectious diseases (BBIDs), in particular HIV/AIDS and Understanding Hepatitis C, among vulnerable and high-risk populations. INDOORS partners Pro-tukipiste, Ragazza and violence against APDES are members. sex workers www.correlation-net.org COMP.ACT Europe | European Action for Nobody asks to be assaulted. With sex workers it is Compensation for Trafficked Persons no different. Although violence is not inherent to the profession, high levels of violence – physical, eco- A network built upon the framework of a European nomic, verbal, psychological11 – continue to affect project, aiming to improve access to justice and sex workers’ daily lives, and hinders their right to self- to guarantee compensation to trafficked people. determination. Thus, criminalisation policies and stig- INDOORS partner LEFÖ is a member. matisation processes seem to link violence directly to www.compactproject.org the work, conceptualising sex work as a violent and ENPATES | European NGOs criminal act per se. Platform Against Trafficking, Depending on context, sex workers are disproportion- Exploitation and Slavery ately affected by violence, and by other factors that increase their vulnerability, such as better or worse A network founded by a European project, aiming access to health and social support, greater or lesser to develop an effective strategy and coordination autonomy at work, and types of working conditions. system among relevant NGOs in Europe in order to The context of the country and its policies regarding contribute to the promotion and protection of the sex work also influences sex workers’ lives and their human rights of trafficked persons. INDOORS part- risk of exposure to violence. Gender also plays a role ners LEFÖ and Pro-Tukipiste are members. when the issue is violence against women, especially www.enpates.org if we take into account that sexual services in Europe are sold predominantly by women. Additionally, TAMPEP estimates that 6% of sex workers in Europe are transgender and a further 7% are male12. They face homophobia and transphobia as

11 Indicators of violence used by INDOORS mapping (2012).

12 The number of projects working with transgender or male sex workers in Europe is limited. As a result, the given estimation of transgender and male sex workers might be lower than the reality. TAMPEP VIII, Final Report, Sex Work in Europe: A Mapping of the Prostitution Scene in 25 European Countries, 24 November 2009, www.tampep.eu added elements of gender-based violence. Thus, harassment and arbitrary arrest. INDOORS condemns INDOORS finds it important to understand gender- all these violations of sex workers’ rights. Autonomy based violence as an inclusive term, as its effects are in the profession and freely chosen workplaces and not limited to non-transgender females. Male sex working conditions are crucial elements to be consid- workers and transgender sex workers are the targets ered from the perspective of reducing gender-based of double social stigmatisation concerning their pro- violence, and enabling safer work and safer sex envi- fessional choices and sexual orientation or gender ronments. presentation. INDOORS notes the UNAIDS recommendation that Abuses against sex workers may also be related to all HIV prevention programmes must have as their public health measures. For example, compulsory fundamental basis the promotion, protection and HIV/STI testing and compulsory registration for sex respect of human rights, including gender equal- workers only, as in Austria and Greece, are discrimina- ity14. And, in the case of HIV interventions and testing tory regulations related to unjustifiable public health programmes, sex workers should be voluntarily and goals13. anonymously tested, and the sensitive epidemiological data, if available to the general public, should al- INDOORS recognises that sex workers are frequently ways be compared to other groups of the population. experts on safer sex, in spite of the myths surround- Data should not be used as a tool against sex workers ing the profession. In the European Union, research- and their well-being. ers point out high rates of condom use: higher than those of the general public. However, the interface The vulnerability of sex workers depends on different between performing safer sex practices and the work- push-pull factors which are created by structural de- ing conditions available in many countries makes sex terminants such as poverty, gender inequality, lack of workers more vulnerable to HIV/STI infections. If the access to education and employment, mobility and environment in which sex work takes place is hidden migration. and risky due to repressive measures, sex workers’ These structural determinants require sustained vulnerability to HIV/STIs is higher. long-term interventions on both national and inter- Thus, most of the strategies carried out by the national levels; they are beyond the immediate influ- INDOORS project take into account that violence ence of local sex work projects and service providers. and the threat of violence can hamper sex workers’ Reducing vulnerabilities and minimising harm to sex ability to adequately protect their health and well- workers falls within both their circle of influence and being. In many countries, sex workers experience control. illegal law enforcement in the form of violence, rape, understanding violence against sex workers

13 See report: http://www.saflii.org/za/other/zalc/ip/19/19-CHAPTER-8. 14 See report UNAIDS Guidance Note on HIV and Sex Work (2009): html#Heading3214 http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/unaid- spublication/2009/JC2306_UNAIDS-guidance-note-HIV-sex-work_en.pdf 25 Because violence is sustained by silence, sex workers’ ditions16. This low figure for migrants correlates with voices must be heard. INDOORS puts every effort high levels of violence, dependency and social exclu- into enabling sex workers to speak out against sion, strong indicators of their specific vulnerabilities. violence, empowering them with strategies that lead INDOORS aims therefore to target indoor-based sex to the non-victimisation of the profession. In this workers to provide efficient tools for their empow- way, they should be seen as subjects of rights, not as erment. The most effective method of promoting objects of rights. services for sex workers is word of mouth within the sex industry itself. Once services have established a good reputation among sex workers, by providing sex work confidential high-quality services that respond to their needs, sex workers will recommend those ser- settings vices to their colleagues. In addition, it is essential to negotiate with gatekeepers and brothel managers, to The European Union has seen in recent years a re- encourage them to promote sex workers’ access to markable shift from outdoor to indoor forms of pros- services. titution. Today, nearly two thirds of sex workers in Furthermore, there is the need to combine forces and the EU work in indoor forms of prostitution. Due to engage in alliances for the promotion of a holistic the shift to indoor sex work settings, it has become strategy underpinned by principles of respect and in- considerably difficult for service providers to estab- clusion of sex workers. This should be based on what lish and maintain contact with these sex workers. are for INDOORS partners the basic principles: TAMPEP15 estimates that only 30% of sex workers in the EU are covered by prevention, support and care A non-repressive approach to sex workers and measures. sex work; Inclusion of sex workers in the development, There is also a stronger tendency for migrant sex implementation and evaluation of prevention workers to make themselves less visible, either as a activities and policy; means to avoid law enforcement or because they are forced to work in these locations. The majority of the Health and social services appropriate to new forms of indoor prostitution are underground sex workers’ needs, based on reducing health and in secluded settings. inequalities; A multidisciplinary approach to HIV/STI preven- About 60% of national sex workers and only about tion which addresses the needs identified by sex 40% of migrants have control over their working con- workers;

15 TAMPEP VIII, Final Report, Sex Work in Europe: A Mapping of the Prostitution 16 26 Scene in 25 European Countries, November 2009, www.tampep.eu idem Expanding legal and social frameworks for Promote peer education dealing with prostitution based on the protection of Involve current and former sex workers at every level, their human and civil rights; and, in particular, encourage sex workers to share Cooperation and networking on local, regional health promotion and personal safety information and international levels. with their colleagues. Promote client education Provide support to sex workers in educating clients ISSUES to be about safer sex and sexual health, and challenging attitudes to sex workers. addressed by Provide support SERVICES FOR Within a person-centred approach, respond to needs presented and provide support through the provi- SEX WORKERS sion of appropriate in-house services, cultural mediators, and referrals to external agencies. Promote dignity Promote services on violence and Dignity, defined as ‘a high opinion of oneself’ and human rights protection ‘self-esteem’, is critical to achieving health and the As legislation and policies do not favour a safe envi- social model of health that is integral to HIV preven- ronment for sex work in most European countries, tion. This requires a non-judgemental and support- services for sex workers have to be prepared to ive environment, promoting sex workers’ rights and address violence and legal systems in order to deter challenging the stigma and discrimination experi- abuse and punish those who perpetrate violence enced by sex workers. against sex workers. Promote empowerment Within a community development and participation framework, and defining empowerment as the process of gaining confidence, self-esteem, understanding and power to articulate concerns, ensure actions are taken to address these concerns and more broadly for sex workers to gain control over their lives. sex work settings

27 European experiences

The harm related to the way sex work is addressed in society can be mitigated by empowerment initiatives – or provision of the means and opportunity for self-assertion. The following are examples of such initiatives, carried out in nine EU countries.

28 Personal empowerment is the awareness but they are all legitimate in that they are events that and strengthening of personal skills and options to empower sex workers in their country and/or region. control and improve sex workers’ lives. Community Sex workers took part in most of the events; however, empowerment, additionally, strengthens the com- their significant representation still depends strongly munity’s ability to participate in positive changes. on activist engagements and the opportunity to par- Social empowerment enables sex workers ticipate in the activities that matter to them. to fight for their rights and acceptance in society. With the intention of providing an overview of the national The following chapters underline the importance capacity to improve the empowerment of sex work- of social mobilisation in order to effectively ers and support services that target their needs, nine address key stakeholders that need to be present in country cases will be analysed. the development of social changes.

Although the method of collecting analytical infor- The intention of these chapters is not to exhaust the mation was the same for all countries, the ways in possibilities, but to present some specific cases in which their networks are structured, developed, and which sex workers’ rights have been placed on the improved are unique and depend heavily upon the political agenda of these countries in order to em- respective country’s social and economic situation. power sex workers and reduce vulnerabilities. Moreover, historical elements and engagement with different stakeholders are accordingly different and should be understood within each specific context. The idea of this guide is to inspire Some similarities, however, lie in the fact that all countries reported at least one capacity-building other networks and social move- event during the period between 2011 and 2012. Some of the events were national, others regional. ments around the rights of sex work- Local initiatives were also appreciated, although they ers and to improve their own capaci- are not the main focus of these chapters. The idea is to picture the capacity building in each country and ties by understanding the relevance present ways in which barriers to the improvement of sex workers’ rights can be mitigated by means of net- of certain actions in certain contexts. working, knowledge sharing, and specific strategies such as advocacy and lobbying activities. Moreover, the events are very different from each other, not just in terms of structure, but also in terms of content. Each one has its own unique aims and goals 29

Legal amendments as much by the municipal councillor AUSTRIA as sets of problems in local to define so-called ‘allowance contexts refer only to these zones’ in the city. LEFÖ has ccording to the particular local contexts. This initiated a list of criteria for safe Austrian Federal results in a complexity of laws working conditions, to evaluate Supreme Court, and executive practice, as there potential allowance zones. are no uniform legal regulations; sex work is, since Moreover, penalisation of sex organisations working in the April 2012, not workers’ clients was introduced pro-rights field have to face considered to be with the new amendment of the different situations. ‘against good morals’ anymore. law. Both sex workers and clients AThe impact of this landmark In November 2011 in Vienna, have to pay fines of up to €500 decision can only be evaluated after massive protests by resi- when caught soliciting outside in a near future. Day to day, sex dents in the 15th district (one of the allowed zones. workers face different sorts of the two districts where sex work In Salzburg, sex work is only regulations across the Austrian was taking place outdoors on allowed indoors in registered provinces, from compulsory some streets), an amendment brothels, and political discus- registration to mandatory to the Prostitution Law came sions were held concerning the health checks. into effect. According to the introduction of legal mecha- new regulation, street prostitu- This chapter presents the net- nisms that criminalise clients as tion was forbidden in the whole working initiatives and efforts well, with the ultimate intention residential area of Vienna. in the country to lobby for the of abolishing street prostitution. legal and social recognition of The new regulation does not Considering the national context sex workers, and consequently take into account negative of repression towards sex work better working conditions and effects on the working and and sex workers, the organi- respect for human rights. living conditions of sex work- sation PiA and the platform ers, and reduces their visibility sexworker.at (online platform The context by shifting outdoor sex work developed and run by sex to the outskirts of the city. As a According to the Austrian workers for sex workers) were consequence of this, a steering National Constitution, sex work invited to a meeting held at the group, composed of municipal is an issue to be dealt with at the Provincial Parliament of Landtag politicians, district representa- provincial level, with each prov- in Salzburg. It was a successful tives, the police, the STI clinic, ince regulating the initiation and positive political action to LEFÖ and Volkshilfe Wien/ and provision of sexual services influence politicians and media Project Sophie, was called up through different laws. in their decision-making 30 process, the results of which are also stigmatised as be- Republic of Austria. Its main task remain to be seen. ing carriers of STIs, as they are is to examine and improve the forced to undergo regular health living and working situation of The draft of a new Prostitution examinations – once a week for sex workers in Austria. Law in Upper Austria can partly STIs and every three months for be regarded as progress insofar In 2004, a separate body of HIV. as the alteration of terminology experts on prostitution was – from ‘prostitution law’ to To oppose and change this formed in the framework of the ‘sexual services law’ – indicates national situation, this chapter Human Trafficking Task Force, a change of attitude. Moreover, describes two national network- which is, under the coordination local permission for sex work ing initiatives that were created of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the street, which has here, in the framework of combating an established coordination too, been forbidden, has been discrimination, marginalisation mechanism concerning national integrated into the draft, which and criminalisation of sex measures against human traf- is not yet finished. workers. ficking in Austria. This development was enabled by the In general terms sex workers recognition of the necessity of in Austria are facing common a clear distinction between sex problems, which have to do with NATIONAL work and human trafficking and their acceptance into Austrian their own specific needs. The society. Sex work regulations are LEVEL body of experts on prostitution characterised by severe restric- finished its work in 2008 with a tions. No importance is being Task Force on detailed report that contained a attached to the quality of the Human Trafficking comprehensive action plan. working conditions of sex work- Working Group ers or their protection against on Prostitution – Regarding the provinces’ com- exploitation and violence. On Provinces’ petence, the recommendation the contrary, sex workers – Competence was issued to convene another especially migrant sex workers body of experts with the The working group Prostitution from Bulgaria and Romania – participation of all provinces of – Provinces’ Competence was and in some provinces clients, Austria and professional groups established in 2009 as a body of too, are being criminalised and concerned. So the Task Force experts on sex work in Austria confronted with repressive on Human Trafficking Working under the formal coordination of actions and severe controls Group on Prostitution – Prov- a u s t ria the Women’s Department of the carried out by the police, result- inces’ Competence resumed its Federal Chancellery of the ing in high fines. Sex workers work from March 2009. 31 Activities that are promoted or and secondly to discuss poten- carried out include, besides the National tial cooperation. This is possible regular meetings, the exchange since its members share a com- of knowledge, information and Networking mon position on sex work and best practices by representa- advocate for the recognition The national network on sex tives of the provinces of Austria of sex work as work and for the work is a self-organised informal concerning their specific legal decriminalisation and destigma- group linked to other networks, and social situations, research tisation of sex workers. including – with the exception and updating of data on sex of one organisation – the Moreover, it has evolved from work, and the release of recom- national Task Force on Human common political positioning, mendations that target and Trafficking Working Group on activities and discussions since assist policy-makers in forming Prostitution – Provinces’ Compe- the end of the 1990s. Since 2000, opinion through the documen- tence. This network is composed the network has carried out tation of knowledge generated of seven member organisations, advocacy activities. Furthermore and the presentation of expert six of which are counselling the members of the network use opinions on specific issues. It centres while the seventh is an national seminars or advanced assumes an advisory role in online portal and forum led by trainings as a discussion and the policy-making process in sex workers for sex workers. exchange forum. Each member Austria. All the NGOs offer counselling of the network participates vol- In the light of the complexity of and conduct regular outreach untarily and according to their legal regulations, nationwide activities for indoor- and organisational needs. For this and regional networking is outdoor-based sex workers of all reason, different contexts result essential in order to exchange genders, including migrants. It is in different constellations of co- experiences and gather knowl- able to cover and represent four operation. Moreover, advocacy edge. The working group is also different provinces of Austria – and lobbying activities are often working towards the harmonisa- Upper Austria, Styria, Salzburg carried out by the members, in tion of provincial laws. So far, a and Vienna – in frequent meet- their region, and in their name. catalogue of measures has been ings, especially before meetings produced, which functions as of the national Task Force, and as a basis for actions by political need arises. stakeholders. This contributes to The network’s objective is two- the raising of awareness around fold. It enables its members the issue of sex work. firstly to exchange information on new legal, health, and social 32 developments in the country, The partners and the human and labour rights of In the working area of sex work, sex workers. a multi-professional team offers maiz | Linz www.frauenring.at outreach activities in indoor Autonomous Centre of and for Migrants (Autonomes Zentrum Network of Austrian and outdoor venues, including von und für Migrantinnen); Counselling Centres for Women access to information as well outreach activities and counselling and Girls | The network is an um- as counselling and support on for migrant sex workers. brella organisation of 55 counselling www.maiz.at centres for women and girls in all legal, social and health issues in SXA-Info | Graz nine Austrian provinces, aimed at the multiple languages. Services for Women (Frauenservices); improvement of living conditions of outreach activities and counselling LEFÖ benefits from its member- women and girls and securing a high for sex workers. ship of national and internation- www.frauenservice.at quality standard of counselling. www.netzwerkfrauenberatung.at al networks, since the organisa- Frau und Arbeit | Salzburg Project PiA; counselling for tion is able to raise awareness sex workers. INDOORS partner of the situation of migrant sex www.frau-und-arbeit.at workers, highlighting the repres- Caritas - Beratungsstelle LENA | Linz Outreach activities and counselling LEFÖ sive regulations. The advocacy for sex workers. LEFÖ is a self-organised migrant actions of the organisation are www.caritas-linz.at/hilfe-einrichtun- supported and many times ex- gen/not-in-oberoesterreich/lena women’s foundation that was panded through its networking. Volkshilfe Wien | Vienna founded in Vienna in 1985. Project Sophie; outreach activities and counselling for sex workers. The holistic and largely Barriers www.de.sophie.or.at first-language-based services and capacities Sexworker.at at LEFÖ include: Internet portal in the German In order to achieve its organi- language, developed and run by counselling centre for sational goals and ensure sys- sex workers for sex workers, which Latin American women offers information and a forum. tematic high-quality work, LEFÖ educational centre for www.sexworker.at needs continuity of financial migrant women LEFÖ | Vienna resources and funding. Besides www.lefoe.at centre for women affected its three main public donors by trafficking Other networks (and also private contributions) public relations, awareness in the working area of sex work, Österreichischer Frauenring (ÖFR) raising and lobbying the organisation is constantly | The ÖFR, founded in 1969, is the looking for more financial sup- umbrella organisation for more than support and European net-

40 women’s associations in Austria. As work for migrant sex workers. port through consultations with a u s t ria a member of the EWL in Brussels, the ministers and with municipal ÖFR presented a position paper on authorities. sex work lobbying for the recognition of sex work as gainful employment 33 In these proceedings LEFÖ work strengthens its members’ financial resources of the mem- draws the attention of institu- common position on sex work, bers of the networks. The activi- tions and policy-makers to the and helps to implement joint ties of the national network on situation of migrant sex workers actions and measures in order to sex work rely, still, on the efforts and stresses the importance of legally acknowledge sex work as of its member organisations. cultural mediation in reducing gainful employment. The needs sex workers’ vulnerability. of the various members of each network, however, differ accord- Furthermore, the organisation, Time for ing to differences in provincial through networking, seeks laws on prostitution and the po- to improve its services and action litical context in the provinces. strengthen its capacity to respond to diverse legal positions Some member organisations Many actions were promoted by on sexual services as work. Pro- of the national network on sex LEFÖ across Austria, some with viding services in a wide range work have to cope with struc- the support of organisations of languages is essential to the tural problems in their fight for belonging to the networks. Col- organisation and a fundamental resources; others are structurally laborations in Austria have been part of its work. The strategy is integrated into bigger organisa- successful, especially because also to develop new concepts tions or associations and there- these organisations involve for services aimed at migrant sex fore don’t struggle financially. strong governmental stakehold- workers. ers and powerful sex worker In this respect, the national net- activism. In the course of the implementa- work on sex work needs more tion of an amendment to the commitment to the political Public/political Prostitution Law in Vienna in importance of national coopera- actions 2011, LEFÖ was highly involved tion in order to exchange, con- in critical discussion platforms nect and offer its experiences, Since 2002, every year on and steering groups parallel best practices and expertise in 2 June – International Whores’ to the legislative process, and the field of sex work. The har- Day – LEFÖ, together with some developed a new concept of monisation of the different laws partners from the national assistance for migrant women would alleviate these network network of NGOs, carries out wanting to take up sex work, ties. Like many other informal different public actions. On 2 which was supported by the networks, the ability to self- June 2011, LEFÖ, together with local government. organise and develop joint sexworker.at and the Green events and tasks depends heav- Party, distributed leaflets to raise Working in a strong national, ily on the levels of human and awareness of the situation of sex regional and international net- workers in Vienna, and held a 34 public speech. At the same time, in Vienna offered a public forum Successful Maiz went public and arranged a for examining gaps locally and joint action and radio broadcast. demanding that the internation- cooperation al community take responsibility Campaigns globally. At that time, a coalition The campaign ‘Sex work- was formed by the organisations ers lust… for their rights!’ was LEFÖ, together with partners Maiz (Linz), SXA-Info (Graz), PiA extended until the end of the from the national and European (Salzburg) and the platform European Football League network, launched national sexworker.at to call public taking place in Vienna in 2008. campaigns in 2007 and 2008 to attention to the situation of The campaign was propagated raise media and public aware- sex workers in Austria. to offset media discourses and ness about the lack of rights prejudices in light of the situ- for sex workers. The campaigns ation during the 2006 World took place under the motto ‘Sex Seminars Football Championship in workers lust… for their rights!’ In June 2005, LEFÖ organised Germany, when scaremonger- A number of organisations and advanced training, titled ‘Sex ing anti-trafficking campaigns individuals contributed to the Work. Sociopolitical significance and questionable statistics were planning and organisation of – political reality’ in order to promoted. different activities, including call attention to this matter and information events, panel enable profound and critical The public and media atten- discussions, film presentations, discussion to counteract tion was used to channel the art interventions, etc. suppression, stigmatisation human rights discourse into one www.lustaufrechte.at and criminalisation. Participants on sex workers’ rights, and also from Austria, Germany and for offers of cultural mediation, From 18-23 July 2010, the Switzerland came together support and networking of sex 18th International AIDS Con- for this event. workers. A number of organisa- ference took place in Vienna. tions and individuals contrib- Within this context, LEFÖ uted to the conceptualisation actively advocated for women, and organisation of different including migrant women, activities, including informa- worldwide, so that they could tion events, panel discussions, receive unrestricted access to demonstrations, public actions, HIV prevention, treatment and informative city walks, film

support. With its expected a u s t ria presentations, art interventions, 25,000 participants and over exhibitions, performances and 2,000 media representatives, the more. International AIDS Conference 35 In this timeframe accompa- petence’ was held in St. Veit/ nying campaigns were imple- Events Glan on 22-23 March 2011. This mented, such as a helpline for particular meeting should be sex workers and an empower- carried out viewed as one of a continuous ment photo workshop and during series of meetings, in which exhibition ‘Sex work- my work’ diverse topics are discussed. made by sex workers. INDOORS One aim of the Task Force These common actions resulted is to foster multidisciplinary in a bigger public presence: over NATIONAL SEMINAR discussions about legal, social 30 media reports accompanied The implementation of the Task and practical differences and the campaign, including TV, Force on Human Trafficking difficulties in the field of sex radio, print media and online Working Group on Prostitu- work in the different prov- media in Austria and abroad tion – Provinces’ Competence, inces of Austria. It focuses on (Slovakia, Germany, Italy). The separate from the Human Traf- the exchange of knowledge, media coverage, through the ficking Task Force, is a govern- information and good practices acknowledgement of the reality mental recognition of the need among the representatives of of sex workers and the use of for a clear perspective in dealing the federal states of Austria, and respectful language, reflected a with consensual sex work, that the development of a variety of change in dealing with the topic not only counters discrimination solutions and recommendations and a critical position in the but also makes exploitation and in order to improve the situation face of the lack of rights of sex violence more accountable. of sex workers. In addition, it workers. tries to consolidate and enhance The working group is composed network activities among all of representatives of the institu- the actors in the field – also tions (NGOs, GOs, police and by bridging the gap between academics) who participate on research, practice and policy. equal terms at regular meetings twice a year. NGOs represent the Furthermore, in 2011, it pro- voices and interests of sex work- duced a yearly report about the ers; there is no direct representa- current situation in all provinces, tion. with recommendations on how to improve the actual situation The 2011 Seminar of sex workers in Austria. The dissemination was directed at The Task Force Conference governmental authorities and ‘Prostitution - Provinces’ Com- 36 policy-makers. Contents working places due to the lack pregnant sex workers; and the of infrastructure and the loss obligation to register for house Because the Task Force brings of regular clients. Furthermore, calls. together representatives from they were confronted with After these updates, the police different provinces of Austria, frequent police raids and severe informed the group about the the first part of the meeting was fines, which made it impossible interim results of a nationwide dedicated to an outline of the for them to perceive the police enquiry on fines due to viola- current situation in each prov- as having a protective role. ince of the country. tions of prostitution laws. The fi- Within the scope of this munici- nal results were scheduled to be GOs from Vienna reported on pal programme of intervention, presented at the next meeting. the status of the amendment to LEFÖ had the opportunity to Still on the topic of legal per- the Prostitution Law, which was implement a pilot project aimed spectives in Austria, an overview initiated due to strong protests at raising awareness among sex was given of the provincial by residents in two districts of workers of violence and traffick- differences in sex work regula- Vienna, where sex workers work ing in women. The key findings tions, including the topic of the outdoors. and conclusions of the project jurisdiction of the Constitutional were reported to relevant stake- In advance of the decision to Court, particularly concentrat- holders. change the law, there were ing on the unconstitutionality of attempts to de-escalate the Tyrol and Upper Austria report- legal measures and by-laws, and situation on the streets. From ed on the new legal policies certifying their compliance with June to November 2010, the and amendments to laws that the rule of equality. municipal councillor imple- regulate prostitution, such as Seeking to harmonise national mented a programme of the mitigation of a general ban regulations, the meeting put intervention by establishing, on advertising and the easing of special emphasis on three among other things, a profes- brothel licences in Tyrol. sional complaint management themes. system for residents, and a pilot In Upper Austria, the alteration scheme to relocate prostitu- of terminology from ‘prostitu- Discussion themes tion law’ to ‘sexual services law’ tion to designated streets. After Age limit and culpability was discussed; as well as the evaluation it became clear to the in case of shortfall authorities that the intervention local permission of sex work on programme hadn’t achieved the street, hitherto forbidden; The starting point was the fact a u s t ria its goals. Because of their the prohibition of advertising that different provincial laws set relocation, sex workers were unsafe sex; the cancellation of different age limits (18 and 19) dissatisfied with their particular a working ban for ‘apparently’ for legal age, which has legal 37 consequences in sex work. There of this notion of sex work would Challenges is an urgent need for nationwide be a basic requirement for encountered standardisation. The discussion further improvements on a legal also touched on international and tangible level (improve- The network has a multidisci- trends to set the age limit to ments of working conditions plinary approach as members 21 years. of sex workers). include NGOs, GOs, the police and public health services. This A common position could be Mandatory is, however, accompanied by the found in the fact that minors registration challenge to combine different need special protection by the Sex workers are obliged to reg- perspectives, interests or opin- law and that the penalisation of ions – especially the interests minors in sex work is counter- ister with the local authorities (in Vienna at the police). In some of the (criminal) police, which productive. For example, the are more strongly directed at willingness to press charges federal states the registration has to be done by the venue combating organised crime than decreases based on their own at improving the situation of sex culpability. Alternatives were owner, rather than personally by the sex worker. Arguments workers. Conceptual shifts be- discussed such as the offer of tween sex workers and victims counselling instead of penalties, concerned the consequences of cancelling the duty to register. of trafficking are not uncom- lowering the level of the fine, mon. These different opinions or shifting more responsibility Consensus was reached on the and attitudes towards sex work, to the clients of minors. There question of personal registra- especially the victimisation of was also mutual agreement that tion and destigmatisation. But sex workers, limit the capacity to raising the age limit brings more no common position could be act as a cohesive entity. disadvantages for sex workers. found on the question of the necessity of registration per se, Violation of Results and due to different interests. bonos mores improvements As one positive aspect, in a re- As a result of the meeting, a cent decision dated 18 April 2012 catalogue of recommendations the Supreme Court pronounced was prepared and disseminated sex work not to be contra bonos through a report, which was mores any more. In the discus- targeted at key stakeholders and sions of the Taks Force working politicians. The main improve- group there was absolute ment coming from this initiative consensus that the abolition was the fact that NGOs and public institutions are together, 38 as a Task Force, appealing for the acknowledgement of sex work to the issue of the punishment as gainful employment and the of minors. A first violation is SOCIAL abolition of the notion of sex not supposed to lead to a fine, work as an immoral profession. but to counselling at the youth MOBILISATION This would provide sex work- welfare office – as discussed Social mobilisation towards ers with the legal ground to within the network. Addition- capacity building, in Austria, is enforce their social protection ally, the penalty for sex workers strongly influenced by the social and labour rights. In addition, – although somewhat insignifi- and political context in which it this framework provides a good cant – was reduced from €700 operates. environment for sex workers to to €500. organise their own trade union. Sex work in Austria is organised Some goals have still not been as part of a regulatory regime. The achieved consensus of the achieved, but the current situa- Since the criminal law reform members in favour of the abolition has to be seen as a snap- in 1974, sex work is not crimi- tion of the notion of sex work shot in a successfully ongoing nalised in principle, but subject as a ‘violation of morality’ is a awareness-raising process. to many controlling measures. significant step towards the goal Sex workers have to officially of contributing to the better- Impacts register, commit to regular ment of the working and living The national meeting was a health checks, and pay taxes. conditions of sex workers, the space in which to emphasise the Simultaneously sex work is not improvement of social security different realities faced by sex recognised as proper employ- and the prevention of exploita workers in Austria and, due to ment. This institutionalises a tion and violence. Without its continuity, an approximation double standard that accepts doubt the recommendations of a common approach could sex work as an industry, but the of the Task Force’s working be achieved despite different actors – the sex workers – are group had influence on the perspectives and interests. criminalised and made illegal. recent decision of the Austrian In hegemonic discourses they Supreme Court to not consider A unification of the different are represented either as victims sex work as contra bonos mores provincial laws not only brings a of patriarchal violence – also any more. higher degree of transparency, but also opens the door to com- through the discursive link be- Furthermore, some recommen- mon work in the future. The Task tween sex work and human traf- dations of the Task Force were Force allows for highlighting ficking – or as offenders in terms

an important contribution to a u s t ria the advantages of more liberal of a danger to public morality, the process of amending the systems of prostitution and pre- public health and public safety. Prostitution Laws in Vienna senting them as role models for and Upper Austria. In Vienna, provinces facing more restrictive 39 improvements have been made systems. Historical and tors were and still are barriers of achieving changes include political context to progress in the fight for sex campaigns, statements on legal workers’ rights. amendments, position papers, The matter was first taken up press releases, public discus- Since the 1990s, the situation in the autonomous women’s sions and round tables, or by of migrant women in sex work movement of the 1970s; from spreading data and information has been an issue, with LEFÖ the 1980s onwards it was also on the real living and working and Maiz at the forefront of taken up politically. In 1983, the conditions of sex workers. tax liability for sex workers was service delivery and representa- introduced; access to statutory tion of their interests. In 1997, Policy-makers are important social security, however, was the Platform For More Rights stakeholders for capacity build- not. Sex work as an ‘anti- For Prostitutes was established ing. Currently LEFÖ is part of emancipatory problem’ has by LEFÖ. With support from a steering group consisting of been the position of the last and the Green Party and the Liberal politicians, the police, district also current Viennese women’s Forum, it was committed to the administrators, the STI clinic, an councillors of the Socialist Party equal treatment of sex workers. anti-discrimination body and Volkshilfe Wien/Project Sophie, in the provincial government. One of the biggest accomplish- which deals with the implemen- ments was that sex workers On the other hand, for the first tation of the new prostitution finally gained access to social time ever the lawless situation law in Vienna. Support for sex security in 1998. Although there of sex workers and the social workers’ rights is, in this way, has never been a strong sex double standard was highlight- possible with the Green and worker movement like that in ed. In March 1986, sex workers Socialist Parties. founded their first and last Germany, since early 2005 there association in Austria – Verband is again an autonomous organi- Sex workers themselves, despite der Prostituierten Österreichs. As sation of sex workers in Austria, fierce criticism, have not yet a kind of trade union it was only in the form of an online forum. been invited to attend this steer- active until 1992. ing group. The primary objec- Strategies tive of the group is to create by The legalisation of sex work for support decree into law more permit and the decriminalisation of sex zones within the residential area. NGOs, whether migrants’ workers are two central claims Unfortunately, this aim has not organisations working with or that are still relevant today and yet been achieved. Through the for sex workers, or sex workers’ remain on the agenda. The dif- amendment to the Prostitution organisations, use strategies to fering interests of stakeholders Law in Vienna, outdoor-based raise stakeholder awareness and such as policy-makers versus sex work has been banned in the sex workers or cultural media- seek their support. The means 40 residential area of the city. In order to rebut negative at- tributions and judgements and pursue an awareness-raising effort for the recognition of the rights of sex workers, LEFÖ published a press release entitled ‘Sex workers feel left out. A good law must first prove itself Although agreement on how In November 2011 LEFÖ rein practice.’ to deal with the ‘problem’ is not leased a statement on the new easy due to differing interests Prostitution Law. Furthermore, The awareness-raising process and differing opinions, the co- LEFÖ gives interviews to daily also requires the public pres- operation and debate with very newspapers, feminist journals ence of the topic. Since 2007, different parties should be seen like the AUF, radio and televi- LEFÖ has introduced sex work as a step forward in the capacity- sion stations. One contemporary as a topic in need of action building process. example is the lengthy survey around 8 March, International and discussion process that Women´s Day. For example, it When a network is able to preceded the amendment to the participates in the ‘open city hall’, gather together sex workers, new Prostitution Law. where women’s organisations activists, governmental institu- and counselling centres are tions, public officers, academics In the wake of this, sex workers showcased. Among the latest and so on, it means that the with the support of NGOs were demonstrations, on 19 March capacity-building process has directly included in preliminary 2011 LEFÖ marched with red a higher chance of achieving discussions with policy-makers umbrellas in a huge demonstra- its goals. in order to express their voices tion to mark the 100th anniver- and make themselves heard in sary of the struggle for women’s The role the public discourse. The entire rights: for equality, democracy of the media process was also covered by the and participation. media. Not all media outlets Working with the media is called for the recognition of the essential to raising societal Annual rights of sex workers; there were awareness. This affords LEFÖ an seminar also abolitionist positions and opportunity to convey its experi- aggressive words. Raising the For over ten years LEFÖ has ences and expertise to others, public profile of the topic of sex organised an annual educational a u s t ria to disseminate its pro-rights work is certainly very welcome, seminar at which current issues position and to engage in critical but this must not come at the on the topic of women and exchanges with diverse partners. expense of sex workers. migration are discussed for a few 41 days. The continuity of this semi- After 15 years of public rela- nar — which is one of a kind tions, lobbying and advocacy within German-speaking coun- work, LEFÖ, in collaboration tries — offers the opportunity with members of the informal to discuss and reflect on formal national network of NGOs, and informal developments and especially Maiz, has significantly changes in migration policy. contributed to the change in dominant attitudes towards LEFÖ regularly receives requests sex work in politics and society from academics. In an effort to and in improving sex work- structure the responses and to ers’ situation. But despite all provide differentiated and com- this, sex workers are still being petent information to those in- stigmatised, criminalised and terested, LEFÖ holds a two-hour discriminated against. Abolition- information afternoon once a ist voices outnumber others in month. In addition, LEFÖ runs a the public sphere. That’s why it is library of books and publications essential to support the empow- on the topics of women’s migra- erment of sex workers, providing tion, trafficking, sex work and them with the necessary tools to related topics. defend their rights and to work Using updated data and towards an official network to research is essential in making gain more political representa- informed decisions, devising tion and influence. solutions and setting realistic goals. Good data can be used in persuasive arguments. LEFÖ cooperated in 2011 and will again in 2012 with an academic institute – the Institute of Con- flict Studies – in a study aimed at a comparison of prostitution policies in the Netherlands, Austria and Sweden and the analysis of their effects on the living and working conditions 42 of sex workers.

and is overseen by the Country BULGARIA NATIONAL Coordinating Mechanism (CCM Bulgaria). This is a country-level NETWORKing multi-stakeholder partnership ex work in Bulgaria which is tasked with developing There is only one network is a phenomenon and submitting grant proposals dealing with sex work issues on the receiving to the GF17. end of heavy in Bulgaria: a national network stigmatisation and which so far consists only of CCM Bulgaria was founded on discrimination. service providers and is focused the basis of the pre-existing Most of the sex businesses in the on health promotion and STI/ National Committee on AIDS countryS are controlled by illegal HIV prevention. A focus on and Sexually Transmitted Infec- networks, the police are often human rights protection and tions Prevention, which is a body involved with corruption and the involvement of sex workers of the Council of Ministers to harassment, and very few sex are, for this network, topics to coordinate the activities of state workers speak up for their rights. be discussed at a later stage of bodies regarding focalisation The country also has a very development. of the spread of HIV and STIs. The National Committee was diverse and mobile sex worker Sex workers are included as restructured in 2002 in CCM population which frequently a most-at-risk group in the Bulgaria according to the GF’s migrates to Western Europe. National Strategy and National directions, and its present mem- Programme for Prevention and The lack of legal regulation bers are representatives not only Control of STIs and HIV. This is places all sex workers in a vul of all ministers but also of NGOs, one of the first times that sex nerable position and, for this international agencies, academic workers have been recognised reason, the marginalisation of institutions, private business as a vulnerable group in an sex workers is considered to be a and people living with HIV/AIDS official national document, and precondition for the vulnerabil- (PLHIV). There are currently 38 further steps to develop some ity of the group to HIV/STIs and members, three of which are services are planned. violence. This chapter presents NGO members of the Network of a network of service providers Within the framework of this Service Providers for Sex Work- that intends to overcome National HIV Programme is the ers in Bulgaria. Therefore, the these barriers and improve the Programme for Prevention and network of NGOs participates in situation of sex workers in the Control of HIV/AIDS (PPCHA), the decision-making process on country. financed by the Global Fund HIV prevention in Bulgaria. b ulg aria to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GF). It operates 17 For more about the CCM: www.theglobalfund.org/en/ccm 43 in accordance with GF rules Component 6 ing in nine regions of Bulgaria with different professionals, Network of service and covering big cities, smaller authorities and other relevant providers for towns, some villages, ring roads actors in the field, about reduc- sex workers and highways, winter and sum- ing the stigma against sex mer resorts, truck stops, etc. All workers; participation in various The network of NGOs dealing these organisations take part in surveys by the Ministry of Health with sex workers in Bulgaria ex- an annual meeting for exchange Programme for Prevention and ists under the above Programme of experiences and capacity Control of HIV/AIDS. for Prevention and Control of building. These organisations In the framework of the pro- HIV/AIDS (PPCHA) implemented ensure coverage of around 80% gramme, a meeting is organised nationally by the Ministry of of the country’s territory. once a year, usually in autumn/ Health (MH) and financed by Each outreach team provides a winter, for these nine NGOs to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, standard package of services: get to know each other better; Tuberculosis and Malaria. to share their experience (from Regular outreach visits to sex The network was formed in 2004 the Programme and from other work venues, needs assessment, as Component 6 of the PPCHA. projects), local specificities, and dissemination of safer sex Outreach teams were chosen recent achievements and diffi- materials and safer drug use and specially trained. culties in reaching sex workers; materials. Mobile medical units to plan activities and to unify All participants in the network offering medical check-ups and their working standards. These are organisations providing ser- diagnosis of HIV, syphilis, hepati- meetings are usually led by the vices to vulnerable groups, and tis B and hepatitis C. Specialised long-term consultant of Com- their outreach teams are com- workshops. Case management ponent 6. Those invited are all prised of professionals. These – individual care and support for outreach workers, coordinators, NGOs have the same approach sex workers with special needs medical specialists and supervi- and attitude to working with (PLHA, homeless, drug users, sors, and meetings may be vulnerable groups, based on pregnant women etc.). principles of volunteering, ano- attended also by managers Low-threshold centres for nymity, confidentiality, acces- and/or assistants from the sex workers, including the sibility, respect, non-interference Programme’s management unit; above-mentioned services on a in the sex industry, equal access in total, attendees may number stationary basis, and addition- to services, and an individual ap- around 50-60 individuals. ally targeting other segments proach to every service user. Despite efforts made to engage of the sex worker community. sex workers, no peers have been Currently, in 2012, the network Other activities: organising and involved so far. consists of nine NGOs operat- implementing regular meetings 44 All participants are NGOs and Znanie (Knowledge) Experts who previously worked occupy equal positions and roles Association |Lovetchaims in HESED are currently in charge Application of democratic values of within the network. society and improvement of human of coordinating and training potential through qualitative and the network of service provid- accessible lifelong learning. The partners www.znanielovech.org ers within Component 6, due to Dose of Love Association | Burgas HESED Health and Social HESED’s extensive experience Services for different at-risk groups, Development Foundation | Sofia and model of outreach work to including sex workers. www.hesed.bg www.doseoflove.org sex workers. In the period 2005- SOS – Families at Risk 2010, experts from HESED acted Foundation | Varna INDOORS partner as consultants for the Ministry Aims to improve quality of life of children, families and groups at risk. of Health in order to implement www.sos-varna.org HESED | Health and monitoring and methodological Perspectives Foundation | Social Development and administrative support to all Sandanski NGOs and their local outreach Aims to foster attitudes of tolerance to Foundation teams. In this period Component difference and to stimulate the social HESED was founded in 1997 as development of underprivileged 6 underwent several changes in groups and communities. a successor of the first organi- the regions covered, but also in Samaritans Association | sation working in the field of the number of organisations and Stara Zagora HIV prevention in Bulgaria, the Works to unite society around chil- outreach workers, and devel- Anti-AIDS Campaign, founded dren, youths, the elderly and families oped new services. All training at risk. in 1992. Nowadays the organi and annual meetings for experi- www.samaritans.bg sation’s activities have been ence exchange are designed Avis vita Foundation | Plovdiv developed into three main areas Support for persons from marginal- and led by HESED experts and ised and stigmatised social groups. of work: Roma community de- consultants from the Ministry of www.avisvita.bg velopment programmes; health Health PPCHA. Bulgarian Gender Research promotion programmes for Foundation | Haskovo vulnerable groups, including sex Gender equality, domestic violence Barriers prevention, reproductive rights and workers; and research projects. anti-discrimination. and capacities www.bgrfhaskovo.ngobg.info The organisation consists of The partnership of Component Health and Prevention for People at a multidisciplinary team with 6 and the national network of Risk Foundation | Ruse experience in both health pro- Health promotion and education service providers for sex workers motion and social work practice, among populations in their respective made big changes for the em- environments, community develop- and 15 lay professionals of b ulg aria powerment and capacity build- ment for ethnic minorities, women Roma origin. The team working and youth. ing of sex workers in Bulgaria. with sex workers consists of ten professionals. 45 To be able to implement the ensures consistent quality in all discussed for incorporation into joint activities of the network regions and teams and gives the its action plan. The involvement and to achieve the objective network another capacity – a of sex workers and their more of Component 6 – to keep the common standard for all out- active participation are consid- spread of HIV low among sex reach materials and services. ered to be future challenges. workers – HESED and all mem- This will lead also to the need for The strong referral system built ber organisations of the network development of new advocacy among the partners in the have to develop trusted and sta- and public awareness-raising network provides sex workers ble access to the target group. efforts. with access to a higher num- Given high mobility and specifi- ber of services across a wider cally organised and controlled geographical area. In practice, prostitution in the country, this the highly mobile sex workers Time for objective could be gained only in Bulgaria can receive the same through attaining good national quality and quantity of outreach action coverage. At present, the nine materials, consultations and outreach teams deliver basic HIV support in each of the regions Network actions prevention services to all known in which Component 6 is in As a formal component of a significant sex work scenes operation. Furthermore, as an large national HIV prevention in 24 of the 28 administrative independent organisation every programme, the network of ser- provinces of Bulgaria. In 2011 a team develops its own local vice providers has to implement total of around 8,000 sex work- referral system according to its the following activities on an ers was contacted, according to own expertise and experience. annual basis: estimates by local teams. Access to stable and long-lasting organising and implement- This wide coverage is one of outreach services helps sex ing seminars and specialised the main capacities of the workers in Bulgaria to be a little training on different topics for network. It was achieved after bit more active; the network sex workers and for other pro- the successful dissemination gives them self-confidence, fessionals at a local level; of HESED’s outreach model to respect and an opportunity for participating in regular other regions. Throughout the their voices to be heard. Still, a national campaigns about HIV years of implementation of the lot remains to be done, and the prevention three times a year – HIV Prevention Programme, network is facing several barri- on 14 February, the last Sunday HESED’s employees have played ers. Formed initially with a focus of May, and 1 December; the roles of trainers, monitoring on HIV prevention, the network experts, guides and consultants now needs to develop new organising and carrying out local advocacy meetings in 46 for the other local teams. This services. New topics are being order to reduce stigma against HESED actions the SWAN18 network in 2009, sex workers. These meetings HESED produced a specialised have been held once a year Advocacy and support for brochure targeting journalists since 2009, aiming to inform sex workers – in the summer and devoted to the International and raise awareness among of 2011 sex workers mobilised Day to End Violence Against Sex representatives from different to defend their rights, to speak Workers, including appropriate local institutions and services out against constant police raids language and principles to be (GOs, NGOs, municipality and/or and disrespectful treatment by used when news is reported regional bodies) about HIV and police, etc. Several public events about sex work and sex workers. sex work issues. Invitees include were organised to demand In 2010, HESED staff took part police, doctors, health and legalisation/regulation of sex in media sensitivity training for social services, media and other work in Bulgaria. These were trainers, organised by SWAN to relevant organisations. Discus- the first such public actions and improve knowledge and capac- sions are held on general topics sex workers’ declarations in the ity on contacting media and such as HIV prevention and the country, and were supported participating in interviews. situation and vulnerability of sex by HESED through logistical Campaigns – promotion of workers, but also on possibilities help and consultations. These the date 17 December among for local referrals and coopera- developments were later shared sex workers and relevant tion between the institutions in within the network. institutions in Bulgaria. Since attendance in order to improve Work with the media – 2007, HESED has produced red sex workers’ access to more HESED is working to establish umbrellas and various materials services in the region. Often good contacts with media repre- with anti-violence slogans to be these meetings are organised sentatives who are interested distributed among sex workers for 17 December, to focus the in presenting the real life and and relevant organisations to in- attention of relevant institutions situation of sex workers rather troduce them to the Internation- and organisations on violence than covering sex work from a al Day to End Violence Against against sex workers. sensationalist angle. To this end, All the results of these actions HESED participated in several 18 The SWAN network covers Central and activities: in 2008 its experts Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and mainly are shared within the network focuses on advocacy and support for sex via regular emails, phone calls took part in a press conference workers’ groups and their allies. Actions are and during the annual meetings. to discuss whether prostitution also conducted such as joint campaigns on 17 in Bulgaria had turned into an December, research on violence in the region, media training for SWAN members, and annual industry, and whether society meetings of all members. All communication b ulg aria felt a pressing need to adopt a and decisions are taken via emails and phone calls. The slogan of the joint campaign on 17 law. Within the framework of December 2011 was “Rights, Not Violence for Sex Workers”. 47 Sex Workers. On 17 December tive referral system. A sex worker 2010 HESED organised the first could undergo STI testing with Events online campaign of its kind in one service provider and receive Bulgaria through sending mes- the results from another, keep- carried out sages to 119 female sex workers ing anonymity by using only during (including nine transgender sex a unique code and no other workers) advertising on the web. personal data. INDOORS This occasion was also used to Another example of good promote and send them the interaction between the service NATIONAL SEMINAR electronic version of the bro- providers, the target group and chure Safer Work, produced in The achievement of national different institutions may be the first phase of the INDOORS seminars on issues of HIV pre- seen in an individual case man- project. vention and sex work in Bulgaria aged within the whole network. began with the official start of Successful In 2010, a female sex worker Component 6 and has been tak- was sentenced to probation ing place since 2004. Such semi- joint action and and treatment for alcohol and cooperation nars are included in the action medicine addiction. She was plan of the component on an The standard and unified pack- referred initially to HESED’s team annual basis. This seminar – the age of services provided by the in Sofia by the detention institu- National Seminar for Experience organisations in the network tion, and several meetings were Exchange Between the Local allow sex workers to receive organised with her and with Outreach Teams in Component the same services, to the same experts from the National Centre 6 – brings together profession- standard, wherever they are in for Addictions. Afterwards the als dealing with HIV prevention the country. help of the team in Stara Zagora among sex workers in Bulgaria (Samaritans Association) was As a result of the shared work of to share their achievements and also needed to get her into a the organisations in Component difficulties from the past year specialised treatment institution 6, a brochure was produced with and to plan joint activities in the near their city. They assisted and a map of all the services avail- coming year. accompanied her to the hospi- able in the country and detailed tal. This joint case was man- contact information for all aged by the network for several service providers. This brochure months and was later used as an is equivalent to a business card example of good practice and for the whole network, allowing cooperation. sex workers access to a coopera- 48 The most recent seminar took Component 6; presentation of of the SIT tool, to be launched in place on 11-13 November 2011 newly produced materials for early 2012. in the city of Stara Zagora. About outreach work (Period Calendar Activism of sex workers 40 people participated: consult- and The Most Common STIs); in Sofia ants from the PPCHA, outreach and brainstorming ideas for new HESED is trying to support and workers and coordinators. advocacy tools to be published involve sex workers in the im- in the coming year. Aims plementation of certain projects Presentations and and activities. The team in Sofia The formal aim of the annual helped an activist sex worker to meeting is for the NGOs and discussion themes motivate other sex workers to their outreach teams to get to New activities attend an organised sex workers’ know each other better, and by HESED protest and to meet to discuss to exchange experiences and 1. future self-organisation. These information gained during Promotion of the efforts and the overall situation the year while conducting HIV INDOORS project were presented to the network; prevention work among sex The aims, partners, financing several videos of the protest workers (according to the rules institution and the four work held on 21 August were viewed of Component 6). streams of the project were or presented for viewing, along presented. with the press conference held There is also an informal aim: on 2 November 2011 and some to reinforce the development Social intervention tool interviews with sex workers. of the network in directions (SIT) as a new strategy beyond HIV prevention, as the for contacting sex workers A discussion took place about seminar is open for participants on the internet this, the first instance in Bulgaria to share innovations and issues The need to contact sex work- of sex workers defending their surrounding the implementa- ers on the internet was also rights, and about whether and tion of other activities and pro- discussed during the previous how the network supports such jects for and with sex workers. meeting in 2010. HESED is now initiatives. It was necessary to continuing the development make clear that every NGO is Contents of a complete strategy using free to decide independently if it different methods – banners The meeting began with will support this activism. HESED to promote several campaigns, discussion of internal issues, asked all partners who want to

displayed on specialised sites for b ulg aria including the sharing of achieve- assist in this initiative to facilitate advertising sex work; offering ments and difficulties by every contact between sex workers contact and consultations to sex partner in the past year while in their region with activist sex workers via email; enhancement implementing the activities of workers in Sofia. The aim of 49 establishing such contact is to formed by people from different Results and join in public activities and work cities to take pictures on various improvements around self-organisation of sex themes for inclusion in a joint workers in Bulgaria. calendar for 2012 representing The main outcome after the the network. The pictures were seminar was the agreement Opening presented later in an informal between the partners to form 2. low-threshold space where people could share and register as a network centres more personal feelings and independent of the Ministry of Health. Some practical tasks The opening of a low- problems encountered during were assigned to the long-term threshold centre is obligatory outreach work. consultant as the interim formal by every partner according to Coordinators’ group: a coordinator of the network. This the Action Plan of Component presentation was given by the was done after considering the 6. Only two such centres have long-term consultant to some increasing social needs of sex been opened so far, by the two internal organisers for Compo- workers that need to be covered partners from the cities Burgas nent 6 on issues such as targets with stable services and working (Dose of Love Association) and and activities in the action plan actively to guarantee sustain- Sandanski (Perspectives Foun- for the coming year. A crucial ability of standardised outreach dation). Both started with few component of the seminar was work across all regions in the difficulties because they already a discussion about the poten- country. had appropriate sites for the tial for all present NGOs to set centres. They shared the positive up and register an association This seminar was the stage at outcomes of work in such a safe independent from the PPCHA which the network realised that space, and noted that many and the Ministry of Health so it needs to move further. HIV sex workers visit them. Each of that the network would be able prevention among sex workers the other partners shared the to continue its joint work after in Bulgaria is no longer enough. problems that they experience, the end of financing by the GF. The target group’s character- mostly concerning appropriate istics are also changing slowly Outreach workers’ group: sites and related negotiations and more needs are arising. The a discussion was held on topics with municipalities. services should respond to sex such as the increasing social workers’ needs, and this situa- Workshops needs of sex workers in Bulgaria, tion prompts the service provid- problematic cases during out- ers to develop new initiatives. Re-teaming: a game was reach work, and ways to manage The positive results achieved organised to mix up all the local them. in HIV prevention should be teams in order to feel like one maintained, but other spheres big team. Small groups were 50 should also be covered, such as: The presentation of some best services on the internet, protec- practices in work with sex work- SOCIAL tion of rights, social and labour ers aimed to make the future consultations, active sex worker professional social workers MOBILISATION involvement, etc. more sensitive, open-minded The Bulgarian context presents and non-judgemental, which an example of direct capacity could lead to providing services building of service providers to vulnerable populations in and capacity mobilising of sex TRAINING SESSION a non-stigmatised and non- workers through empowering HESED elected to organise a discriminatory way. Some of the services. training session for students participants may join HESED as from the St Clement of Ohrid volunteers if needed. Bulgaria is still new to building University of Sofia who were good social policy and providing specialising in social work. The Impacts services to vulnerable groups, both on the part of the state and target group of students was The capacity-building impact of on the part of civil society. selected from other professional the training may be considered groups due to a lack of knowl- from two angles: Sex work in Bulgaria takes place edge surrounding outreach HESED developed its capac- under the control of illegal work and about sex workers as ity in starting to provide training networks, which do not allow a vulnerable group in the basic for students, and is prepared sex workers to self-mobilise and educational programme. to incorporate these human self-organise very actively. The The training was titled “Outreach resources to their organisational whole Programme for Preven- Work Among Sex Workers in Bul- activities as volunteers; tion and Control of HIV/AIDS could be used as an example of garia”, and was held in Todorini The University of Sofia social mobilisation and capac- Kashti in Koprivshtitza on 2 – 3 extended the framework of its ity building of service providers December 2011. educational programme with regarding HIV prevention and different and more practical care. Under the guidance of the Relevance aspects of social work such as Ministry of Health, and with the of the training sex work interventions. help of many experts from the The training aimed to deliver NGO sector, a whole system of basic knowledge to the students NGOs was set up in the country along two themes: outreach b ulg aria to carry out health promotion work as a method of social work, to the most vulnerable groups, and the specific vulnerability of including sex workers. sex workers. 51 The network gained extensive is the Ministry of Health and its most important advocacy tasks experience along with stable Programme for Prevention and requiring promotion through contact and a trusting relation- Control of HIV/AIDS. It provides recognition of sex workers as a ship with sex workers. The knowledge and new capacity vulnerable group and including long-lasting work promoted skills not only to all the service them in the municipalities’ stra- awareness-raising among sex providers but also to sex tegic plans for development of workers, not only about their workers. Projects outwith this local social services. An example health but also about their large national programme are is the local HESED project “Early rights, freedom of choice, and carried out rarely and only at Prevention of Risk Factors for improvement of their working a local level by some of the Family Planning and Reproduc- skills and working and living organisations. tive Health Among Female Sex conditions. These services led to Workers” funded by the Europe HESED is the only member of the mobilisation among the target Programme of Sofia Municipality network participating in interna- group and assisted them in the Council. tional projects and networks tar- process of self-organising. Such geting sex workers and focusing Political attention to sex work a process is just beginning in the on issues beyond health (SWAN, issues is focused mainly on po- country. TAMPEP, PoP project, Bordernet- tential regulation with the aim Another important issue to work project, INDOORS project). of taxation and revenues for the mention is the fact that three of Within the frameworks of these state budget. Several drafts were the organisations belonging to projects HESED has facilitated prepared of specific prostitution the network are also members several interactions between sex laws by different parliamentary of the Country Coordinating workers and various stakehold- commissions, but to date none Mechanism which is tasked with ers, for example organising an of them have been approved. overseeing the implementa- interview with a sex worker from Serious public discussions about tion of the PPCHA. This allows a strip bar in Sofia for the NSWP possible legislation and/or any the network to participate and Global E-Consultation for WHO regulation were held several influence in the decision-making Guidelines on Sex Work and HIV times. One such discussion process with regards to HIV (August 2011). was organised in May 2007 by prevention and care in Bulgaria HESED: a large round table event Other service providers are also and to initiate some advocacy titled “Do we need to evalu- contacted when needed for steps to keep sex workers on the ate the effects of future law on special cases, but mainly at a agenda. prostitution? Why and how?” in local level. the framework of international The main stakeholder involved The focus on municipalities is projects funded by the MATRA in the direct capacity building of considered to be one of the programme of the 52 the network of service providers As a result, more than half of the indoor venues in Sofia known to HESED at this time were closed, and contact with many sex workers was lost. The attitude of police officers to sex workers requires significant discussion in order to prevent corruption and harassment. HESED used to train street-based Royal Netherlands Embassy. This part in the preparation of such police officers at the Academy event featured many impor- a law and to ensure respect for of the Ministry of Interior about tant participants, including the their human rights. basic principles of outreach deputy minister of the Ministry Of course, the potential regula- work among vulnerable groups, of Interior, the deputy minister tion of sex work in the country but these training sessions of the Ministry of Health, repre- is widely reflected by the media. ended due to financial limita- sentatives of the police services, Apart from sensationalist tions. The police are now well- the Academy of the Ministry news and dramatic life stories, informed about the presence of Interior, many providers of there are some media outlets of outreach workers on the services to sex workers including presenting the real situation streets and in clubs. Problems all the members of the national and working conditions of sex however are experienced by the network, research organisations, workers. Still, the journalists of sex workers owing to negative, women’s support organisations Bulgaria need to improve their sometimes violent, attitudes and sex workers. The Dutch part- attitude and ensure appropriate from police. Service providers ners of the project presented language when talking about need to focus on improving this the example of legalisation of sex workers. work. prostitution in the Netherlands. HESED prepared a statement The biggest difficulties in the about the potential effects of present time are connected to legalisation of prostitution in the relationship between sex Bulgaria, which was sent to all workers and law enforcement relevant stakeholders. One of bodies. In the summer of 2010 the main topics in this statement there was a campaign of massive b ulg aria is the need for representatives of police raids on many sex work sex workers to play an active venues across the country. 53

Understanding how network- The network’s scope and repre- FINLAND ing contributes to challenging sentativeness have developed perceptions of sex work and over the years. The topics were legal issues is one of the main extended to cover policy issues rostitution is objectives of this chapter. and sex work activism in addi- defined in Finnish tion to service provision. Though law as “engag- members of the network histor- ing in sexual ically differ in their statutory intercourse or REGIONAL background and political views associated sexual LEVEL on prostitution, the platform has acts in exchange for reward”. served as a means to compare PEven though prostitution itself is and discuss these differences. not illegal and is not punishable Nordic Network as a crime, several regulations on Prostitution By doing so, the main aim of the network was (and still is) to restrict prostitution in Finland. The Nordic Network on Pros- share information on current In addition to the Criminal Code, titution consists of service trends in sex work and Nordic Public Order Act and Aliens Act, providers, sex worker activists prostitution policy, as well as sex work is regulated by various and researchers from all Nordic to build and maintain alliances customary law regulations. As a countries except Iceland. The among different Nordic actors. result, this legal structure crimi- network began its work in the The Nordic Network’s capacity nalises the clients of victims of 1980s to share information to organise itself is twofold. First, trafficking or pimping, sex work and expertise between Nordic an annual meeting takes place is prohibited in public areas, service providers. Finland joined in one of the member countries. and non-EU citizens suspected as an active member of the of selling sexual services are network in 1990 when Pro- Due to the fact that there is no deported. tukipiste was established. In all formal coordination, mem- The Nordic countries are espe- Nordic countries, prostitution bers hosting the meetings are cially important for this guide, was considered to be a social responsible for coordinating since the legislative models on problem and, according to the this task on a rotational basis. prostitution recently developed ideology of the Nordic welfare Second, bilateral meetings are by some of these countries state, required society to provide organised by members as a today represent a new trend to special public social services to consequence of the sharing of other European countries willing tackle the issue. All the services knowledge and interest of mem- to take the same stance. were targeted at women who bers in keeping in touch. Some- worked in street prostitution. times organisations from other 54 Nordic countries are also invited to participate in national events the law is functioning extremely and GOs all have their own due to their own expertise. well. However, there are a great position on each country’s deal of critics of the accuracy of national legislation, there are Membership of the network is this evaluation and the way in sometimes tensions or even open to everyone who is en- which it was conducted. It is also clearly conflicting positions gaged in sex work-related issues. notable that sex worker activism between the participants. Every Participants have ranged from is more vibrant in Sweden than topic brings forth discussion and NGOs, individual sex worker in any other Nordic country. sometimes debates on certain activists, GOs and municipal ser- issues, such as: the roles and vices, to research and develop- In Finland, no proper evaluation power structures between sex ment institutions. of the legal reform has been worker activists and the roles carried out, but according to a of service providers (advocates, The context report given to the Parliament allies, civil servants, ownership by the Ministry of Justice, the Since the legislation is quite of the expertise, etc.); dialogue effects of the law cannot yet be similar within Nordic countries, between different actors; app evaluated. In Norway, the conse- important legal reforms in lied concepts (such as prostitu- quences of criminalisation have one country normally lead to tion or sex work); involvement of been on the agenda in public analogous discussions in other sex workers; and the principles debate, but official evaluation Nordic countries. Prostitution and visibility of gaining more is still under way. In Denmark policy has been a permanent knowledge and further educa- there are ongoing discussions topic in the Nordic discussion tion on the subject. on what effects the governmen- since the beginning of 1990. The tal change will have on prostitu- At the moment, there is much criminalisation of the purchase tion policy and prohibiting the debate on the effects of the of sexual services, the so-called purchase of sexual services. criminalisation of clients, and Swedish model, has expanded how it affects sex workers’ posi- to Norway and, in a restricted The importance of having ann- tion in society and reduces (as form, to Finland as well. ual meeting events is, in this well as redirects) service provi- context, to discuss social topics The debate has shifted to evalu- sion. The challenge is to under- and analyse the validity of the ation of the consequences and stand the effects of criminalisa- arguments behind prostitu- functionality of the criminalisation in a broader sense, not only tion policy and law proposals, tion of purchasing sexual serv- as charges and sentences given as well as the possible effects ices. An evaluation of the effects by the police and the Court of

that amendments to the law fi nl a n d in Sweden was long anticipated Justice. Besides law enforcement can have on sex workers’ posi- and when it finally came out in practices, criminalisation affects tion in society and their rights. summer 2010, it claimed that sex workers’ position in other As sex worker activists, NGOs, 55 areas of society as well. Many Since the Nordic Network on Prostitutionsenheten of the network members are Prostitution does not have per- Stockholm Stad (Prostitution Unit, Stockholm City) concerned about the negative manent members as such, the Social service to reduce influence that criminalisation list of organisations that took prostitution in Stockholm has had on sex workers’ lives, part in the 2011 event (below) www.stockholm.se/ prostitutionsenheten societal attitudes towards sex does not necessarily correspond Kompetenscenter Prostitution workers, and treatment in public to past or future meetings; how- in Malmö services. ever, some of these organisa- Social service to reduce harm and new recruitment into prostitution, tions are constantly active in the Including different members and gain knowledge network. www.malmo.se/prostitution with different approaches and Prostitutionsgruppen Göteborg ideologies regarding sex work The partners (Prostitution Group in can be considered one of the Gothenburg) network’s strengths. It offers a Social service: outreach, advice, FINLAND support and counselling for victims platform to discuss and argue, Sex worker activists of human trafficking as well as learn, and sometimes Individual Finnish sex worker activists www.goteborg.se even ends up with common Sexpo Foundation (NGO) understanding on some issues. Promotes sexual well-being, DENMARK equality and sexual rights It has also clarified the fact that Sexarbejdernes Interesse www.sexpo.fi Organisation (NGO) differences in policy approach Office of the National Rapporteur Sex work activist organisation are not between countries but on Trafficking in Human Beings (GO) www.s-i-o.dk between different organisations. Action against human trafficking Servicestyrelsen (GO) www.ofm.fi Ministry of Social Affairs in Denmark It has helped members to un- Pro-tukipiste (NGO) National Competence Centre and derstand the idea of topics that www.pro-tukipiste.fi Danish Anti-Trafficking Centre can be dealt with in a Nordic www.centermodmenneskehandel.dk framework and, on the other SWEDEN Pro Vest (GO) Social and health support for sex Rose Alliance (NGO) hand, to identify areas in which workers, including migrants and Sex worker-led NGO, advocacy, trafficked persons the Nordic view is misleading support www.provest.dk/en and simplistic. www.rosealliance.se Special services within the Despite the many similarities, municipal service providers NORWAY there are also considerable dif- Units are part of municipal social PION - Prostitutes Interest ferences in concepts, working services and the services are targeted Organisation in Norway (NGO) at both those selling and buying Harm reduction related to health, practices and standpoints be- sexual services safety and rights, and advocates for tween the countries and inside decriminalising prostitution the countries. www.pion-norge.no 56 Pro Sentret (GO) members, and delivering profes- Barriers Provides information and advice for sional low-threshold services. male and female sex workers and capacities www.prosentret.no Although Pro-tukipiste’s work Bergen Red Cross (INGO) has expanded over the years, its To support its advocacy work, Vulnerable groups, female sex workers working ideology has remained Pro-tukipiste needs network www.verdighetsenteret.no the same. The ideology based on cooperation whereby profes- Nadheim (Church City Mission Oslo) sionals from different fields and Outreach, low-threshold services, supporting sex workers’ rights and shelter for male and female has met with a lot of criticism as countries share information on sex workers, including victims of well as support. promoting sex workers’ rights. trafficking After a few years of silence, www.bymisjon.no/Virksomheter/ The staff of the organisation is Nadheim prostitution is once again widely composed of a multidisciplinary City Mission (NGO) “Night home” present in the media and a de- (Natthjemmet) team that operates in Helsinki bate on the total prohibition of Emergency accommodation, support, and Tampere. Activities range and harm reduction for women the purchase of sexual services www.bymisjon.no/Virksomheter/ from (social) advocacy work has started anew. In the political Natthjemmet (monitoring and participating discussions around prostitution, KAST, Norge (NGO) in Finnish discussions around Nordic countries represent an Counselling and STI screening for prostitution, sex work and hu- clients of sex workers and their important reference group. partners man trafficking) to the mainte- www.kast-norge.no nance of low-threshold service For Pro-tukipiste, the Nordic Net- Fafo AIS centres (offering free of charge work on Prostitution is a means Research institute of making a social impact, shar- http://www.fafo.no/ais/index.htm anonymous social support and health care services, in multiple ing information and developing working methods. The participa- INDOORS partner languages and with cultural mediators). tion of sex worker activists in the Pro-tukipiste network has further increased Outreach work is also conducted its importance for national work Pro-tukipiste was founded in in the streets, sex bars, sex in promoting sex workers’ rights 1990, starting first as a volun- shops, massage parlours and and equal treatment. The mem- tary-based helpline service. Its to sex workers working via the bers of the network, particularly aim was to identify whether internet. As an important means the organisers of the meetings, there was a need for support of making a social impact, Pro- are able to support the par- and, if so, what form this sup- tukipiste uses web communica- ticipation of local sex worker port should take. Its starting tions including social media. activists and/or the sex workers’ fi nl a n d points were respecting the organisation. autonomy of the target group’s 57 At the national level, Pro- common positions have been yli” (“Rights over differences”) tukipiste also understands the achieved on a general level, for organised by Victim Support need to cooperate with national example in relation to securing Finland. networks. National networking anonymous services, promot- Every 17 December, Pro-tukip- and cooperation is more difficult ing the position and rights of iste celebrates Red Umbrella since Salli (the sex worker union) human trafficking victims, and Day with a focus on sex workers’ officially ceased its activities in promoting the right to health right to live and work without 2010. The changes and actions services for undocumented violence. This is taken into ac- that affect sex workers’ position migrants. count in all our work and the in society are linked to many theme is widely presented on other social phenomena such the organisation’s website and as health policy, human rights social media. policy and immigration policy. Time for Pro-tukipiste has an updated For example, increased police action website, as well as a blog, where activity to reduce prostitution in anyone interested can find public places revealed question- Although Pro-tukipiste has not information and newsflashes able measures from a sexual organised campaigns as such, on current issues. Social media health perspective, as well as it has frequently participated in (Facebook and Twitter) is used to in terms of fundamental rights. various campaigns with different share information on Pro-tukip- These flaws illustrate sex work- themes related to sex workers’ iste’s work and other relevant ers’ unequal status in society rights, for example World AIDS topics related to sex work and and require a broader approach, Day (participation in actions prostitution policy. not limited to sex work. The aim and publications), SlutWalk is to disseminate the message (participation with a banner Due to the heterogeneous na- that sex workers have the same reading “Only rights can stop ture of the Nordic Network, joint rights as anyone else and it is im- the wrongs” and giving media campaigns were not organised. portant to get supportive state- interviews with a message The criminalisation debate ments from allies such as health condemning violence against provides members with updated and human rights organisations. sex workers), participation of a news on recent campaigns panellist from Pro-tukipiste in an which are often published on Networks consisting of different Amnesty International Finland their websites and social media organisations and authorities are seminar titled “Towards a fear- pages. common in Finland, although less world”, on violence against It is noteworthy that social mean open stance in support of women, and a presentation in a dia is actively used for spreading sex workers’ rights is often dif- seminar titled “Oikeuksia erojen information. For instance, the 58 ficult to achieve. In spite of this, Nordic Network has its own event was initially guided by sex Participants were requested, Facebook community group worker activists’ perspectives on therefore, to present an evalua- page. In addition to Pro- the situation of different Nordic tion of the significant changes tukipiste’s page, PION in Norway countries. Secondly, press con- in their operating environment, has a Facebook group “Nei till ferences and workshops were instead of their own activities. kriminalisering” (“No to crimi- held. 72 participants took part in The second aim of the seminar nalisation”) and Rose Alliance the two-day event. was to take a closer look at the Sweden and SIO Denmark have mobile sex worker population their own groups as well. Aims working in Nordic countries, The meeting was designed first considered in the media to be to get an overview of service a threat to social order. In order Events provision, prostitution policy, to broaden and deepen the and the different sex work network members’ understand- carried out scenes across the Nordic coun- ings of this matter, participants tries. The debate on criminalisa- were requested to evaluate the during tion is active in every Nordic effects of Nordic prostitution country, even if the situation policy and law on mobile sex INDOORS varies: Sweden and Norway have worker populations’ positions already adopted a general ban, and rights. The goal was to pro- REGIONAL SEMINAR Finland has its own restricted vide a gap analysis of the current In 2011, Pro-tukipiste was the model and Denmark has not situation of migrant sex workers organisation responsible for or- (at least yet) chosen a policy of in the region. criminalisation. ganising, in Helsinki, the annual From the service providers’ point Nordic Network on Prostitution Sharing knowledge made it of view, it was especially relevant meeting on 8 and 9 September. possible to get up-to-date and to evaluate how the pressure to With this task in hand, some comparable information about develop services towards exiting of the Pro-tukipiste staff were the situation in different Nordic programmes affects migrant designated to work specifi- countries, which can be used sex workers. in national advocacy work. cally on the network meeting, The third and final aim of the The goal was to diversify and and the theme “Sex work and seminar was to increase sex strengthen national advocacy mobility in Nordic countries” workers’ involvement in the

activities, and influence media, fi nl a n d was chosen. Feedback on the Nordic Network. To this end, public opinion and governments situation of each Nordic country the programme was planned regarding the reality of sex was requested, and seven work- to give more time and leader- workers, including migrants. ing groups were created. The 59 ship to sex worker activists. As a participated in the press confer- consequence, sex workers were ence represented his or her own Day 1 expected to take the lead in perspective, or that of his or her highlighting their own positions, organisation. Sex Worker Activism interests and needs, without the The message of all sex worker interference of service providers. Contents activists was consistent: the effects of the law cannot be Workshops also took place The meeting started with a brief viewed only as a law enforce- during the event and aimed to presentation on the redefinition ment issue. As a consequence reflect upon the relationship of the concept of sexual morality of the law, a negative attitude between mobility, service provi- in terms of ‘Nordic morals’ and towards sex work has spread sion and sex worker activism, the ‘moral threat coming from across the whole society. This by sharing thoughts on the outside’. In other words, the environment affects the position principles of peer activities and familiar pattern of discursive of both national and migrant information and experiences re- ‘Othering’ is in effect, dividing sex workers. Negative impacts garding new working methods, the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’, ‘us’ and of the law were emphasised in and by providing an open space the ‘danger’ in a very Manichean the lives of the sex workers in for discussion about the struc- manner. Moreover, it was also the most vulnerable position, tural violence directed towards stated during the introduction whose situation has become sex work and how it manifests that academic work may not even worse. There is a real need itself. The goal of each workshop provide definite answers to for activism and the promotion was related to a specific theme any questions connected with of sex workers’ rights. Sex work- and was based on sharing infor- prostitution, but it certainly ers need allies and supporters in mation and experiences of good helps to neutralise attitudes and the political sphere. All speakers practices as well as challenges in often strong feelings in the area emphasised that service provid- service provision, activism and of prostitution. ers should respect sex workers’ knowledge production. Next, each organisation was able right to self-determination, and To gain more visibility and to present the current situation resist a repressive perspective media publicity and raise aware- in its country from its own point characteristic of social work. ness about sex workers’ rights of view, using the mobile sex Service Provision and the consequences of the worker population as a start- The advocacy role of service increasing tendency towards ing point. The discussions that providers provoked the most criminalisation, a press confer- follow represent a summary of discussion. Service provid- ence was organised. Because the first and second day of the ers should be empowered the network does not make meeting. to highlight the human and 60 joint statements, everyone who fundamental rights perspective Nordic Policy more strongly. Nowadays, state- The criminalisation of purchas- Day 2 ments are being overly avoided ing sexual services has been for fear of decreased funding. promoted by policy-makers Plenary There is an urgent need to share and politicians as the Nordic Pro-tukipiste began by intro- evidence-based knowledge Model or as the Nordic view on ducing the Nordic Network about the concrete risks which prostitution. This promotion members to the online outreach endanger the health, safety and and marketing has been linked service PRO24/7, which is en- well-being of many sex work- with the idea of the Nordic tirely conducted on the internet. ers. Many service providers also welfare state. The so-called The organisation is a pioneer expressed concerns about the Nordic Model has shifted its in the use of such technology; political and ideological redirec- approach from social policy to therefore, partners were able to tion of funding. State control has criminal justice policy. Ironically, learn more about this method of increased and decision-makers Nordic countries are, in a sense, outreach. demand that previous work- competing with one another for Other presentations were given, ing approaches be replaced by the best ‘criminalisation policy’ and a study about how the il- exiting programmes. Service and to see who can produce the legitimacy of sex work is useful providers take a different posi- best figures (reduced prostitu- to the government in shaping tion: state control is stronger in tion as evidenced through high the Finnish nation was also a governmental and municipal numbers of penalised clients or focus of attention. Firstly, this is services than in NGOs. low numbers of sex workers). the case through laws concern- In Sweden and Norway, funding Trafficking in human beings has ing sex work that exclude sex has also targeted social work for been on the agenda for a long workers from citizenship rights social reintegration of clients, time and is often (mis)used in (in particular those who are and now services have expand- policy-making – both in pros- migrants), therefore allowing the ed to include their families. titution policy and in immigra- government to determine who tion policy. Migrant sex workers can and cannot be a part of the Traditionally, service providers are seen as a danger while at nation. Secondly, it is an issue have taken strong roles in the same time being in danger that is manipulated in political producing evidence and gaining themselves. discourses to justify the politics knowledge, so they should be of control and state racism (as transparent and critical in rela- seen, for instance, in human traf- tion to what kind of knowledge ficking discourse). fi nl a n d is produced and for what purposes it is used. 61 Press Conference Challenges to maintain work undertaken. The purpose of the press confer- encountered As a result, some discussions ence was an ambitious one: to during the meetings were very foster different outlooks on sex One of the main challenges confrontational. work-related issues and to help encountered during the Nordic One such discussion was on the the media to construct a general meeting was a critique by sex programme for rehabilitation of overview of what is going on in work activists and some service clients, already implemented by Nordic countries. providers concerning the implementation of repressive KAST in Sweden and Norway. Working Groups and punitive social and health The topic raised mixed feelings: As mentioned above, each service practices. Services are is there a genuine need for these working group was devoted to a provided and produced without services or are they a manifesta- specific topic: including service users in needs tion of the abolitionist policy? Cultural diversity and mobil- assessment, service planning or Opinions ranged across the ity meet Nordic services and evaluation. Sex work activists board. activism also reiterated their preference Results and How do we know what we for the word ‘sex work’ in place know? Evidence-based docu- of the ‘prostitution’, still in use by improvements mentation and evaluation some service providers. The involvement of sex work Thai people in sex work: In the Scandinavian context, activists was stronger than ever group discussions in the Thai the concepts of ‘sex work’ and before in Nordic Network his- language ‘prostitution’ constitute a sig- tory. Working with people who nificant ideological battlefield Members of the Nordic buy sexual services. Why, for and are an extremely important Network were able to share up- whom and by whom? component of policy-making dated information on sex work, making an active contribution Peer work possibilities and the representation of the Nordic Model. All service pro- to the development of advocacy A wider perspective on viders have to take this ideo- work and tools in the region and violence against sex workers: logical framework into account. at the local level. structural discrimination and Particularly in governmental and There was significant agree- social exclusion as part of the municipal services, increased ment that criminalisation of phenomenon state intervention has meant clients and migrant sex workers Sex work and service provi- increased pressure to adhere to across the region contributes to sion on the internet. officially accepted concepts to deteriorating human and civil ensure funding and to be able rights, especially for migrant 62 sex workers. Although reach- age and strategic messages. Due to the excellent media ing consensus was not an easy Special attention was paid coverage, Pro-tukipiste made task for this network structure, to the situation of Thai massage lots of contacts and received efforts were made to set a parlours and their link with sex many training requests (from regional agenda for dealing work across the region. A partic- medical and social work stu- with this topic. ularly important result was the dents) and was invited to write Despite their differences, direct participation of Thai sex an article in The Finnish Occu- participants – including sex workers and their Thai-speaking pational Health Institute’s online workers – were able to share allies. magazine). their points of view and come The online counselling ser- The Rose Alliance and to an understanding on certain vice (PRO24/7) was presented at Prostitutionsenheten Stockholm issues. the meeting, empowering other decided to have a meeting The meetings developed service providers to make use of together for the first time. and strengthened cooperation this technology in their services. among sex workers and service Due to the fact that Finnish providers across the Nordic sex worker organisations are no SOCIAL countries. longer in existence, the Rose The inclusion of a press Alliance welcomed Finnish sex MOBILISATION conference within the structure workers to join it. During the of the event helped to spread meeting the first Finnish sex The Nordic Network, as outlined information on the Nordic worker working in Finland was here, plays a strategic role for prostitution policy and its con- accepted as a member. organisations working in the field of sex work. Instead of sequences for sex work and sex The significance of the Nor- simply diverging opinions, the workers. dic cooperation was discussed network brings together differ- Due to the fact that the me- and it was agreed that it is ent perspectives and therefore dia campaign was well-prepared an essential part of network it is frequently hard to reach and targeted, the result was members’ activities. Even if consensus or prepare joint state- broad and effective media cov- the members can be active in ments and campaigns. It does, erage. While the Finnish Minister different European networks, it however, foster an environment of Internal Affairs had suggested is essential to have a forum for that makes sex workers and that Finland should reconsider Nordic dialogue at a regional service providers more aware of a general ban on the purchase level. fi nl a n d their roles in a broader Nordic of sexual services, the network context. reacted with good media cover- 63 Having said that, every network the Swedish activist union Rose The role of member can utilise the out- Alliance and a prostitution unit the media comes and information provided from Stockholm’s social bureau by the meetings as they choose, decided to organise their first The media attention received by and the existence of the network joint meeting once back home. the Nordic Network strength- has encouraged its members ened Pro-tukipiste’s national A joint press conference to stay in contact between the advocacy work. Almost every organised during the network meetings as well. Normally, medium highlighted in its meeting in Helsinki was the first information from other Nordic reporting that among the most one in the network’s history. countries is requested when negative impacts of criminalisa- Participation in the press confer- there is a need for a common tion is a rise in negative attitudes ence was not obligatory and it Nordic approach to a politically among basic services as well as did not include a joint declara- current issue. in society in general. Without the tion or statement signed by the network’s support, it wouldn’t Moreover, the network has network members. The mem- have been possible to highlight been of great importance to the bers respect their statutory dif- this message. dialogue between sex worker ferences and positions; however, activists and service providers. they find common ground on The fact that Pro-tukipiste For a long time, the network was the negative impact of criminali- received various references and merely a platform for service sation. In this way, the focus of training requests after the meet- providers to discuss prostitutes’/ the briefing was on the negative ing demonstrates the impor- sex workers’ issues without the consequences of criminalisation: tance of the media attention. involvement of the target group sex worker activists and those itself; the only exception was service providers known for their Organisations PION, a Norwegian sex workers’ negative stance on the criminali- In Finland, Pro-tukipiste has organisation. Wider participation sation of the purchase of sexual long been the only organisation of sex worker activists began services were present. focused on questions related to only a few years ago. For some sex work. Salli, an organisation service providers, network meet- of sex workers themselves, was ings have been the first forum to set up in 2002 in order to air provide an opportunity for frank sex workers’ own views in the dialogue with sex workers – public domain. Its creation was including sex workers from their related to the criminalisation of own country or city. For exam- purchasing sexual services: sex ple, in the meeting in Helsinki, workers wanted to participate in

64 the law-making process and in The organisation Exit – a pro- Pro-tukipiste is also a founding the public discussion. The organ- gramme for exiting prostitution member and chair of a nation isation quickly became estab- – was established in Finland in al network for professional lished, Salli was well-presented 2008. According to the press, outreach work. Networking in the media and its statements its establishment was linked with other organisations has were requested by government to a parliamentary decision to improved sex workers’ position officials. Pro-tukipiste and Salli increase exiting programmes, and rights as well as enabling mutually agreed upon roles and following the partial criminali the promotion of their rights distribution of work. sation of purchasing sexual together with those of other services. However, the organisa- social groups. In this kind of co- The most important thing was tion has primarily focused on operation the focus shifts from to be open in giving statements preventing prostitution among sex work to rights that belong to and to inform each other in its target group – young people everyone and, at the same time, advance of crucial statements at risk. Thus, the Finnish exit exposes structural inequalities. and potential campaigns. For work has differed from that in example, statements given to Cooperation with human rights other Nordic countries. different parliamentary com- organisations has been more mittees during the process of Cooperation difficult, but at the end of 2011 preparing the law were similar Amnesty International Finland but had some differences in Pro-tukipiste has sought part- took note of the structural vio- emphases. Pro-tukipiste has ners from other organisations; lence against sex workers. A rep- not organised big campaigns; cooperation is linked to shared resentative from Pro-tukipiste instead, its strategy has been questions and concerns. For ex- was invited to speak at a seminar to participate in already exist- ample, cooperation in advocacy titled “Towards a fearless world” ing campaigns with its own work is done with Victim Sup- on the UN’s International Day message concentrating on sex port Finland in order to improve for the Elimination of Violence workers’ rights. For example, at the position of crime victims Against Women. SlutWalk, organised in August with a foreign background. The audience was composed of 2011, Pro-tukipiste received Common statements are made more than a hundred human media attention for its message with specialist HIV organisations rights activists, service provid- concerning sex workers’ right to as well as with organisations ers, media representatives and work without violence. working with drug users in order researchers. It was an excellent to promote possibilities for low-

forum at which to expose the fi nl a n d threshold testing and treatment. serious human rights violations as well as violations of physical 65 integrity connected to the fact Pro-tukipiste has an established Since Pro-tukipiste is the only that prostitution itself is defined role as an organisation with organisation concentrating on as a form of violence against specialist expertise on ques- sex workers’ rights in Finland, women. tions of human trafficking, and international networking has participates in various human been essential. The support and Networking trafficking-related professional input received from European groups and networks. networks for supervising inter- Network building on the theme est, clarifying concepts and of human trafficking has been argumentation and developing easier, since everyone is unani- Social media working methods has been in- mously against human traffick- Advocacy work done through dispensable and encouraging. In ing. Nonetheless, maintaining the web and social media com- addition, international network- clear concepts and continuing munication has become an ing has increased Pro-tukipiste’s to fight the ‘battle of meanings’ important part of Pro-tukipiste’s national influence. is important in organisational work. This became possible activities against human traffick- when Pro-tukipiste was able to ing as well. It is common to draw hire a public relations officer. parallels between prostitution Their website, blog, Facebook and human trafficking, and the and Twitter accounts are up- position of sex workers who are dated almost daily and this has victims of human trafficking is, increased people’s awareness of for many reasons, worse than Pro-tukipiste’s activities as well the position of victims of other as of current issues related to forms of human trafficking. sex work.

They were engaged in sup- FRANCE NATIONAL porting sex workers’ rights and access to health by setting up NETWORKING meetings twice a year. Several ex work in France The national network Collectif press releases and group state- is neither prohib- Olympio was created in 1996 by ments were published. ited nor regulated. the Association Cabiria and all The Collectif Olympio ceased The national leg- the existing French community- to be a reference point for islation has many based sex work projects. It was prostitution issues in 2001, after implications, es- supported by the Directorate 4-5 years of existence. Despite pecially as sex workers are often General of Health (AIDS Divi- theS targets of laws that impact the end of this collective, the sion), the Epidemiological Sur- French CBOs kept their links their ability to work in favour- veillance Centre of Saint Maurice and networking in an informal able conditions. Because of the (in Paris) and the TRABOULES way, in national meetings on national legislative conjuncture, researchers (organisation for sex work, health, migration, and sex work is still a marginalised sociological and ethnological lately on indoor sex work more and clandestine activity which research in Lyon and Toulouse). specifically. demands the attention of ser- This formal network was created vice providers in France. after three years of informal Collectif Droits This chapter presents the French meetings between outreach and et Prostitution capacity building which is prevention projects for and with sex workers, in order to give a Rights and Sex Work marked by strong activism by Collective sex workers and service provid- technical and ethical framework ers, most of them community to these projects and to provide In 2003, the creation of the based organisations (CBOs). Rep- better visibility and greater Collectif Droits et Prostitution resentatives of this movement advocacy power. A charter was gave fresh impetus to national historically oppose abolitionist then signed by the members networking among NGOs work- policies and advocate for the of this network: Cabiria (Lyon), ing with and for sex workers. It is improvement of the rights of sex Pastt (Paris), Perles (Montpellier), a national network with links to workers and health promotion Autres Regards (Marseille), Gen- international networks, such as among them. re (Bordeaux), Bus des Femmes the ICRSE, through its members. (Paris), Arap-Rubis (Nîmes) and

Bus des Garçons (Paris). fra nc e

67 It was within the context of the lower revenues, sex workers may implemented by abolitionist application of the law criminalis- more frequently agree to have organisations. ing soliciting that, initiated by unprotected sex. Under these This national network is used Act Up-Paris and Arcat, several conditions, access to health and by all members as a means to NGOs and CBOs working on rights, and thus the prevention amplify another, different voice health promotion, fighting of STIs and HIV, is complicated. on sex work, more rooted in against HIV and working with The law also impacts very nega- evidence and concerned with and for sex workers decided tively on the activities of associa- rights. Thanks to this network to join together to protest the tions that support sex workers and to several years of aware- effects of this law and to create in their access to prevention, ness-raising work, social mobi- the Collectif Droits et Prostitu- health and rights, as the greater lisation around the question of tion. This collective is dedi- isolation of sex workers impedes sex workers’ rights has become cated to improving exchanges contact and building of trust. possible. between organisations working with sex workers, in the specific Currently, the collective faces a Despite this work, the collective context of the enforcement of very repressive political move- continues to face well-organised the Law on Inner Security and its ment. The main political parties opposition from political bod- article 225-10-1 on the criminali- all favour abolitionism. The ies and NGOs, which mainly sation of passive soliciting. criminalisation of clients is be- consider sex work to be violence ing debated, and the collective against women. The latest result For eight years, the collective regularly issues press releases of this abolitionist movement has denounced the negative and provides expert information was the majority vote in parlia- consequences of the application on the field in order to introduce ment in favour of a resolution of the law criminalising solicit- objective arguments to the reaffirming the abolitionist posi- ing, including the deterioration debate and to dismantle myths tion of France, and the introduc- of working conditions. Because about sex work and sex workers. tion of a bill on criminalisation of of police repression, sex workers clients to be discussed in 2012. must hide in order to work, go The advocacy actions of the to the outskirts of cities and collective have an important The role of the collective is most- move to other regions and impact on ideological debates ly political. It has the capacity countries. In the face of this about sex work issues in France. to carry out advocacy activities, pressure, sex workers found The collective, with its members such as publishing press releases themselves increasingly isolated working in the field and com- and position papers targeting and in precarious situations. ing from the community, has politicians and the media, and This has reduced their ability to developed legitimacy in terms organising demonstrations. negotiate condom use: due to of expertise and is a major force 68 countering the strong lobbying This collective also enables Organisations Health community-based or- discussion and information ex- working with ganisations fight for the sharing change on local actions in order and for sex workers of knowledge and skills, making to increase their visibility and to each individual an active agent disseminate legal, political and Of the eight organisations in prevention. advocacy information among its working with and for sex work- members. ers, seven are CBOs, and one The partners is currently developing this To bolster its activities, the col- The following organisations approach. All of these organisa- lective meets regularly in Paris, are all community-based tions defend sex workers’ rights, especially for the preparation of organisations working with and fight against their stigmatisation specific advocacy actions. A re- for all sex workers. and discrimination, support sex cent example of such an action Les Amis du Bus des Femmes | Paris workers in their access to health, is the press release, press kit and www.lesamisdubusdesfemmes.com and provide them with legal and Cabiria | Lyon letter addressed to members social support. www.cabiria.asso.fr of parliament, published and Grisélidis | Toulouse disseminated in the media and The seven CBOs, Les Amis du Bus www.griselidis.com to political bodies in April 2011 des Femmes, Avec Nos Aînés, Arap Rubis | Nîmes against the political proposition Arap Rubis, Autres Regards, http://arap-rubis.voila.net Cabiria, Grisélidis,and Pastt, Entr’actes | Lille to criminalise the clients of sex www.itineraires-entractes.org were created by sex workers workers. Autres Regards | Marseille and other activists in the field of The Collectif Droits et Prostitu- www.autresregards.org rights and HIV issues. tion is composed of 14 organisa- Specific organisations tions working with and for sex The common principle of these Avec Nos Aînés | Paris workers, including community- CBOs is the participation and de- With and for ‘senior’ sex workers based, HIV/AIDS-specific organi- cision-making of those persons http://gabounette.canalblog.com sations, organisations working directly concerned (sex work- Transgender and with drug users, LGBT organisa- ers), in a partnership and team LGBT organisations tions, and a sex workers’ union. of different but complementary sensibilities, institutions and These organisations are part of professions, and in projects on the collective because they rep- harm reduction and advocacy. resent lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people working fra nc e as sex workers, and they fight for more rights for sex workers and an end to repression, 69 which causes more vulnerability tions from Marseille (15 NGOs especially in terms of HIV/STI LOCAL LEVEL and 4 public institutions) prevention. fighting against AIDS, and is Comité de Pilotage de la PASTT | Paris coordinated by Autres Regards. With and for transgender sex workers Réduction des Risques Contact is maintained regularly Support Transgender | Strasbourg Steering Committee on throughout the year and the www.sts67.org Harm Reduction focus is the organisation of an Acceptess-T | Paris www.acceptess-t.net This committee has been meet- information and awareness Total Respect | Tjenbé Rèd ing every two months since stand on 1 December each year. Fédération 1996. It is the forum in which This is the only specific and LGBT Afro-Caribbean community global action carried out by this www.tjenbered.fr actions on harm reduction are defined, coordinated and fol- network. HIV/AIDS-specific lowed up at the level of the city organisations of Marseille. The two HIV-specific organisa- Its members are institutions NATIONAL tions, Act Up-Paris and Arcat, are (directorate of the local public the founders of the collective. health services, social security LEVEL As HIV organisations, both were services, City of Marseille) and STRASS | Syndicat especially concerned about NGOs working on harm reduc- the impact of the 2003 law on tion with and for drug users. du Travail Sexuel soliciting on HIV/STI prevention French Union of Sex Work The main aim is the political among sex workers. Moreover, inclusion of sex work projects STRASS was formed in March they have long-term experience and organisations in the frame- 2009, during the Sex Work Con- of advocacy and networking. work of harm reduction, in order ference organised by the Col- Act Up | Paris to provide them with better lectif Droits et Prostitution. The www.actupparis.org union was designed as a tool for Arcat | Paris visibility and to emphasise their www.arcat-sante.org relevance in terms of health pre- the self-organisation of indi- Charonne | Paris vention (HIV/STI prevention) and vidual sex workers. It fights for Organisation working with drug users access to health and rights. the recognition of sex work and www.charonne.asso.fr against any prohibition of it, and Union of sex workers Collectif du 1er décembre therefore against all repressive STRASS, French Union 1st of December Network provisions that limit freedom of of Sex Work | Paris exercise and prolong insecurity Since 2005, this network has www.strass-syndicat.org and lawlessness. The union also comprised almost 20 organisa- fights against discrimination and 70 marginalisation of sex workers multidisciplinary staff, includ- Barriers and enables them to speak and ing sex workers working in the and capacities be heard in public debates on organisation, Autres Regards sex work. In addition, STRASS provides several free and confi- There are two main barriers for fights against slavery, human dential services: organisations working with sex workers in France: lack of politi- trafficking and sexual exploita- Outreach work by day and cal support, and lack of funding tion of children. night in Marseille and sur- to sustain work. rounding areas: distribution of Ac.Sé | Dispositif condoms, lubricants and other The political barriers relate, National d’Accueil safer sex materials, information generally, to the national et de Protection des on sex work and rights atmosphere of repression and Victimes de la Traite Drop-in centre with shower, victimisation of sex workers. des Êtres Humains washing machine and body care Networking, in this context, is National Network for fundamental to setting up a HIV/STI prevention and Protection of Victims of common agenda to counteract accompaniment for HIV/STI test- Trafficking the present situation. ing, treatment and accompani- Ac.Sé is a national network ment to public services To overcome this barrier, Autres created and coordinated since General medicine and mental Regards and the members of the 2001 by ALC, an NGO working health care collective produce joint position for sex workers and victims of papers and press releases, which Social and juridical support: trafficking in Nice. aim to mobilise sex workers and support for housing, training relevant actors in the struggle and legal support for migrants INDOORS Partner to improve sex workers’ rights in French courses France. National advocacy, albeit Autres Regards Support for rights and the essential, cannot replace local fight against discrimination and Autres Regards is a community- and regional advocacy. On the criminalisation of sex work based health organisation locat- local level, the mairie (town hall) ed in Marseille working with and Participation in and promo- and the prefecture are mainly for sex workers of all genders. tion of advocacy activities responsible for the way with Since 1995, the organisation which prostitution is dealt. has worked on STI/HIV preven- Depending on the position of the mayor or the police chief, tion, health promotion, and the fra nc e improvement of access to health the general context can be more services and fundamental rights or less repressive or permissive. To improve this political situa- for sex workers. Thanks to its 71 tion, NGOs need to find a bal- National and sex workers to contact. To put ance between national and local interregional projects an end to the recurring abusive lobbying, and use networking as messages which were addressed a tool to make contacts (depu- Examples which were presented to a specific NGO, the partici- ties, political bodies), to better to public and private funders for pants decided to take a collec- argue, to legitimise their actions a greater impact: tive position and undertake a and to adapt and strengthen HIV/STI prevention project joint juridical action. their communication strategies. targeting clients at a national Finally, concerning more specifi- level The financial barrier is a result of cally the situation of indoor sex the current political situation of Identification, listing and dis- workers, NGOs working with France, and the shift of opinions semination on the internet of all and for this target group need on sex work. As a consequence, relevant and adapted materials to coordinate, especially with abolitionist NGOs are the ones for sex workers, on a national regard to their internet activi- gathering funding to run sex level ties, during outreach and during work projects. Additionally, gain- Although the network is still counselling/information ses- ing funds for HIV/STI projects struggling to organise meetings, sions, in order to better respond has become difficult due to the manage communication, de- to the mobility of indoor sex fact that it is no longer a priority velop its website and so on, the workers and to better commu- for the French government. reality is that only through joint nicate on these new actions and Considering this situation, the action can French organisations strategies. network plays a fundamental overcome the political barriers. role in developing strategies to Autres Regards and network pool resources and strengthen members are lobbying the Min- and combine experiences, istry of Health to get involved in TIME FOR knowledge and projects. The sex work issues by supporting ACTION aim is to develop more innova- their actions. tive and interregional projects, Local Level and at the same time to preserve Networking helps new actions the identity and specificities of to be better recognised and In addition to its usual activi- each NGO. legitimised for funding, and it ties, Autres Regards occasion- increases the weight of political ally prepares awareness-raising actions, especially when an NGO actions: a film screening on sex or a group of NGOs undergo a work including a debate with defamatory campaign, as hap- the participation of sex work- pened on an internet forum in ers, regular information stands 72 which the NGOs are available for on sex work and rights during specific events, and short train- NGO members of the network Successful ing sessions targeting students have the opportunity to use and joint action and in the social sector. relay all documents, position cooperation papers and statements cre- These actions are promoted ated by the network, targeting Capacity building and shared within the network, political bodies or targeting sex The collective has achieved two mostly through the internet, workers. These are important main results in terms of capacity on the organisation’s Facebook tools for local communication building. page and on Sex In Blog, a blog and advocacy campaigns. targeting indoor sex workers. First of all, it has allowed NGOs with different missions and They are also shared with local Example of an sex workers via email and during objectives, but with the same outreach activities. action organised approach towards sex workers by the collective and their rights, to share local Local advocacy actions which and the NGOs actions, and to harmonise take place in Marseille are always and encourage the advocacy prepared in conjunction with Since 2007, the national message. other NGOs in the network. network has organised the As- sises de la Prostitution (Sex Work Secondly, since this network National level Conference) in order to advocate came into existence, sex workers for more rights for sex workers have become more visible and The Collectif Droits et Prostitu- and to give them a voice on STI/ united. STRASS, the first union tion leads advocacy actions by HIV prevention issues, working of sex workers in France, was systematically meeting with conditions and how they wish to created with the support of politicians or persons in charge work. The conference generally the network. of sex work issues any time lasts two days, with round tables Advocacy there is a political change or on specific themes, a press In terms of advocacy, the when problems occur with conference during the first day national network has become police forces. and a march for the rights of sex a key informant and key player In addition, the network has workers on the second day. This on issues related to sex work at developed empowerment conference also provides a space a national level, and the media activities among sex workers: to strengthen relationships and increasingly reflects the voices organising events, meeting connections between sex work- of sex workers. This would not ers and the NGOs.

with them, distributing literature fra nc e have been achieved without in sex work venues, and a network. creating information materials on their rights. 73 The mutual communication of For this national meeting, it the network had a significant Events was primarily important to impact on the political debate gather the French CBOs (Autres on the criminalisation of clients, carried out Regards, Cabiria, Grisélidis, Les taking place in France since April during Amis du Bus des Femmes and 2011. As sex workers and sex Arap Rubis), but also organisa- work organisations face strong INDOORS tions with the same approach, lobbying by the abolitionist like Entr’Actes, and some movement, it is important to NATIONAL SEMINAR national organisations working be able to propose a legitimate, with sex workers: Médecins du argued and extensively thought- In 2008, Autres Regards organ- Monde from Nantes, and Aides out alternative based on the ised a meeting on “The New from Bayonne. More than half of rights of sex workers. Forms of Sex Work” with several the participating organisations organisations working with are members of the Collectif Although the presence of the and for sex workers and others Droits et Prostitution, underlin- sex workers’ rights movement sharing their approach and ing the desire to use a common in the media and the visibility values about sex work. The aim position as a way to consolidate of the network are themselves of this meeting was to analyse existing bonds. both achievements, the advo- the changes related to sex work cacy capacity of the network still that took place in recent years Aims needs to be developed. in France, and the increasing The reason for a national meet- evolution of indoor sex work. ing was to share and discuss Based on this first meeting, different projects and actions Autres Regards decided to or- targeting indoor sex workers ganise, in 2011, a new one. which are currently, or soon to be, implemented by different The seminar took place on 10 organisations. This meeting November in Marseille and was was organised to exchange the titled the National Meeting on experiences, difficulties and Indoor Sex Work. Autres Regards specificities of the participat- wanted to bring together NGOs ing organisations, to exchange from all over France working good practices and outreach with and for sex workers. methods, and to encourage the development of new methodologies of contact. This gave 74 the participant organisations a ProstBoyz Action, better picture and mapping of Part 1 a project targeting male the indoor sex work scene and indoor and outdoor Five current and future initia- its projects. sex workers tives were presented targeting presented by Cabiria It enabled the creation of eff indoor sex workers in France. Since March 2009 Cabiria has icient networking to address Each participant presented their conducted outreach with indoor sex workers’ working project and explained its aims. and for men who offer sexual conditions, local difficulties services to other men on the linked to the political situation, Internet action internet and in specific indoor their needs, and possible situa- presented by Grisélidis venues. The association has set tions of vulnerability. Grisélidis began a specific action in order to analyse sex work on up a website aimed at this target The national meeting also had the internet and to evaluate group. They contact male sex the aim of enhancing common the demands and needs of sex workers through a specialised understanding of how to im- workers in terms of health and website, through email contacts prove CBOs’ capacity to develop STI/HIV prevention. Several tools and also on their Facebook and implement concepts of peer were set up: a website created page. The next objective for the education, and empower and by and for sex workers with a team is to be more present in encourage sex worker leader- forum, a Facebook page and a the field. ship locally. Twitter account. They also con- The INDOORS project tact indoor sex workers through presented by Médecins Contents phone calls and emails, during du Monde The national meeting was informal meetings across France, The organisation Médecins divided into two main parts: the on MSN chat and via a chat box du Monde in Nantes conducts presentation of ongoing and fu- on their website. They ensure an specific outreach to sex workers ture projects on indoor sex work, online presence on specialised which started with the INDOORS and a discussion on common forums on the internet, and with project in 2009. Following analy- strategies and good practices an emergency line specially sis of their local difficulties and for more efficient contact with created for indoor sex workers. the needs of indoor sex workers isolated indoor sex workers, for The creation of partnerships and in Nantes, they decided to target better networking, and for the participation in public events is mainly bars operating at night. set-up of a real community- also part of their work in order They are currently seeking to based dynamic. to raise the awareness of other fra nc e develop this new project’s phase service providers. with the participation of a sex worker in the team. 75 A project target- organisation fighting against of the evolving indoor scene in ing indoor sex workers AIDS, is planning to begin a new other cities, which enabled them presented by Arap Rubis activity with women working in to better plan and organise a Arap Rubis has developed a bars at the Spanish border. stronger partnership. small activity targeting indoor How to improve and sex workers who advertise on strengthen networking the internet. Social workers Part 2 working on this project mainly The second part of the national The participants focused on the send emails to sex workers to meeting was dedicated to dis- implementation of a dynamic introduce the association and cussion of common strategies. network and on possible collec- answer their specific questions. A summary of the main topics tive actions. Several ideas were The next goal of the team is to and debates can be read below. presented for efficient network- set up contact through phone ing. To improve networking calls. How to overcome the dif- between NGOs working with ficulties and improve contact and for indoor sex workers, the The INDOORS project with indoor sex workers participants proposed the devel- presented by Autres Regards opment of informal and formal Several difficulties were dis- contacts through video confer- Autres Regards presented the cussed: financial ones, meth- ences, possible exchanges using INDOORS project, implemented odological ones, the difficulty the already existing national since the beginning of 2009, and of being present and efficient network, and the organisation of in particular its new activities: in specialised chats and forums an annual meeting specifically outreach to night bars, presence on the internet, difficulties in focused on indoor sex work. on specialised forums, and the contacting migrant sex workers, publication of an ad targeting community-based organisa- To improve networking and indoor sex workers in the local tions’ difficulties in achieving provide more comprehensive newspaper. legitimacy in the eyes of the sex and harmonised access to ser- workers they contact, and the vices for sex workers, two tools Other upcoming projects lack of national coordination on were highlighted: the French Entr’Actes, AIDES and Les Amis sex work. section of the existing website du Bus des Femmes are current- www.services4sexworkers.eu, ly considering implementing It was interesting to have this developed by the network new activities aimed at indoor exchange for two main reasons: TAMPEP, should be updated; sex workers. More specifically, the less experienced projects and Grisélidis presented the tool the local structure of AIDES in learned from others, and the they are currently developing: Bayonne, part of the national most experienced projects the Agora. This initiative is a 76 gained a better understanding collaboration of interactive and which they want to maintain Results and online platforms for both NGOs a distance. The high turnover improvements and peers acting as key inform- which characterises indoor ants for the sex worker com- sex work also considerably Considering the goal of the munity. This will be a database hampers the continuity of meeting, to consolidate and on indoor sex work, compiling actions implemented. stimulate the national network all the documents, tools and on indoor sex work issues (i.e. materials already published on Strategies specific work conditions, legal the topic, and with relevant ad- The following strategies were frameworks, outreach tech- dresses of providers of services discussed for the mobilisation niques, etc.), the outcome was to sex workers. of sex workers: considered constructive by all the organisations. A new Organise themed community How to encourage the dynamic was created in terms meetings concerning health pro- mobilisation of sex workers of networking and cooperation. motion, self-defence training, The joint commitment to more This discussion was greatly and the legal framework of sex systematically share informa- facilitated by the presence of work, a subject which attracts tion on indoor sex work is also sex workers in teams working considerable interest from sex a key step in terms of capacity on the projects and the input workers of a sex worker who wanted to building. Use international themed encourage the self-organisation days such as 17 December and The meeting allowed partici- and mobilisation of other sex the activities planned during pants to share knowledge and workers. Barriers to mobilisa- this event to interest indoor sex methodologies. There was a tion and how to overcome them workers in collective actions significant need in France to were discussed – it is a fact that exchange outreach practices indoor sex workers are hard to Work with peers as cultural implemented in different cities, reach and to involve. facilitators to create and in order to eventually adapt and maintain links with indoor The repressive political context coordinate contact method- sex workers. partly explains their reluctance ologies. Moreover, it allowed to give up anonymity, while a participants who had no current more personal barrier is linked projects or actions targeting to their self-perception. Indoor indoor sex workers, but wished sex workers generally refer to to develop them, to get informa- fra nc e themselves as ‘escorts’ as a way tion about methodology and of differentiating themselves data on indoor sex work, and from street prostitution, from to discuss good practices in outreach. 77 Indoor outreach requires flex- common position on defending Moreover, it was an important ibility, creativity and innovation, sex workers’ rights is retrospec- way to raise the awareness of as it is more or less hidden and is tively all the more important in students about indoor sex work never directly presented as such, this precarious context. If this issues and to take the opportu- given the political context and law comes into being, it will seri- nity to discuss and debate the particularly the law against solic- ously affect sex workers’ working current law proposals on the iting. This is why sharing experi- conditions by increasing their criminalisation of clients, as the ence is particularly important in vulnerability to violence and recent resolution voted by the the context of indoor sex work. abuse, thus impeding their deputies of the National Assem- Should the political context be- rights even further. bly reaffirming the abolitionist come more repressive through position of France is commonly the criminalisation of clients, considered as a first step in that CBOs will have to be even more direction. flexible and creative. TRAINING SESSION The idea of carrying out a three- Facts An initial step forward was taken hour training session on 9 Nov in terms of the other objective, In total, 70 students were trained ember and 7 December 2011, to create a better community- on sex work issues and more targeting students, particularly based dynamic and to encour- specifically on indoor sex work from the Social Work Institute of age the participation of the issues. Several themes were Marseille, came from two main community. Capacity building tackled: the legal and political considerations: inside the community is a very framework of prostitution, the difficult issue because of difficul- Students in the social sector working methodology of the as- ties in creating and maintaining are not trained on sex work sociation, the basis and ethic of links. However, all participants issues, or if they are it is only a community-based project, the view this process as a priority. by NGOs with an abolitionist importance of peer education, The national meeting allowed approach which are not active and the discrimination and stig- all participants to reaffirm their in health prevention. Yet, these matisation faced by sex workers. common position on defending students will be in the situation The training sessions enabled sex workers’ rights. of working with sex workers dur- awareness-raising on sex work ing their careers. issues as a form of advocacy: A few weeks after the meeting took place, the abolitionist The institute where the To improve the students’ position was reaffirmed and a training took place asked Autres knowledge of indoor sex work law proposal concerning the Regards several times for train- – to inform them about the criminalisation of clients was in- ing due to the strong interest in difficulties, needs and working a sex work approach. conditions of sex workers 78 troduced. The reaffirmation of a To encourage a non- judgemental approach and SOCIAL fight against stigmatisation and discrimination MOBILISATION

To encourage students to Thanks to the grassroots and It allowed the general public to promote better access to rights community-based work of get a more representative and and to health for sex workers. Autres Regards since 1995, this non-judgemental picture of organisation is considered to be indoor sex workers and to go Impacts a key local actor and a resource beyond all the misrepresenta- The two training sessions car- in terms of its knowledge and tions and clichés about this ried out by Autres Regards are experience of sex work. population. just a start in the development Autres Regards has strong links Furthermore, when a local ac- of social work in France, but with local stakeholders such as tion is planned or when research they represent the ability of the local governments, and more is commissioned in the field organisation to promote: specifically the City of Marseille of harm reduction or outreach Future advocacy actions in and the regional administration, work, Autres Regards is often France, since the training ses- but also with local and regional asked to participate either as sions focused heavily on political service providers and the media. a key informant or as an active and advocacy issues related to partner. The data, documentation and sex work research written and collected Recently, the local police forces More comprehensive ser- during these years allow the decided to strengthen current vices enabling sex workers to ac- organisation to better advocate local policy and to clamp down cess health and rights, since the for the rights of sex workers and on a specific district where target group was future social for a better understanding of Autres Regards carried out work professionals the importance of community- outreach work. Several meas- Cooperation with local social based work. ures were decided: more police service providers and the devel- checks, clampdowns on drug The publication of the research opment of future networking to users and sex workers, etc. on indoor sex work edited under benefit sex workers. the INDOORS project had a great impact on local and national

newspapers and TV. fra nc e

79 In this context, a mobilisation Autres Regards participates in of experience, knowledge and of alliances took place, includ- the meetings of neighbourhood expertise. ing the City of Marseille, Autres associations in those districts Although this is an important Regards and other local NGOs, where sex work takes place. It basis of Autres Regards’ work, in order to advocate against this helps to solve problems and the organisation often faces planned change in policy. It was disagreements and may prevent barriers to the mobilisation highly important to explain the the creation of petitions. of sex workers. Particularly in impact of the outreach work at At a national level, as a part of terms of advocacy and lobby- a grassroots level in the context the national network Collectif ing during events, for example of public health, the importance Droits et Prostitution, Autres a demonstration, sex workers of not impeding such work, and Regards takes an active role in do not easily get involved. Sex how this policy would negative- position papers and national workers’ activism in Marseille still ly impact the work of the local consultations on sex work. needs to be developed with the organisations. support of Autres Regards. In April 2011, the organisation, The advocacy and lobbying along with other NGOs, was actions of Autres Regards also heard by the Parliamentary take place through active par- Mission on Prostitution in ticipation in the drafting of re- the framework of a consul- gional health programmes and tation ordered by the French regional calls for proposals, so government. that community-based projects are included – and continue to Autres Regards could not have be included – in their regional such a local and national impact priorities. without the participation of sex workers. They play an active role Autres Regards is not only a in the projects of the organisa- key actor for institutions and tion as staff members, volun- services but also for sex workers. teers, members of the Board, This organisation often acts as and also key informants. Projects a mediator between service are set up, implemented and providers and sex workers and evaluated with and for them. between neighbourhoods and Autres Regards considers sex the sex worker community. workers as agents of prevention and the work of the organisation is based on an active exchange 80

Within the Ratschlag Prostitu- Germany Local tion, all NGOs and the local health service offer counselling Networking and conduct regular outreach n Germany, even though work for indoor- and outdoor- The Ratschlag Prostitution in sex work is legal and regu- based sex workers of all genders, Hamburg (Working Group Pros- lated by law, the condi- including drug users. With the titution Hamburg) has existed tions under which many exception of KaffeeKlappe, all as a self-organised, informal sex workers provide sexual of them also work with migrant local network since 2005. It is services are not always sex workers and with cultural composed of representatives favourable. Stigma and other mediators. All the organisations Idiscrimination-related aspects from eight member organisa- offer voluntary, anonymous, tions: six NGOs working with are still an issue for the organisa- confidential and free of charge different target groups within tions that work for the improve- services. There is no autono- the sex work community, one ment of sex workers’ working mous or sex worker-led GO (the local health service) conditions and rights in the organisation in Hamburg. country. The situation of migrant and one trade union. The aim sex workers, in this context, re- of the network is to exchange The partners mains one of the main concerns information regarding the legal of the majority of service provid- and social issues affecting sex NGOs work and sex workers in the Basis Projekt ers, especially considering the Male sex workers, including juveniles high mobility and vulnerability city. Moreover, the group carries www.basis-projekt.de of this population. out advocacy activities such as KaffeeKlappe presenting position statements German sex workers; support for those This chapter presents two to policy-makers and the media, wishing to move on from sex work www.kaffeeklappe-hamburg.de examples of capacity-building and promoting International initiatives in Germany – one at a KOOFRA, Koordinierungsstelle Whores’ Day. gegen Frauenhandel local and one at a national level Victims of trafficking – which represent the efforts Although informal, the network www.koofra.de to improve services for sex in Hamburg is often acknowl- Sperrgebiet edged by governmental depart- Drug-using female sex workers, workers and strengthen their including juveniles capacity for agency and to fight ments because of the expertise www.sperrgebiet-hamburg.de for their rights. of its members. On these occa- TAMPEP Germany

sions, it is considered an ally in Migrant sex workers g erma ny discussions involving sex work www.tampep.eu and trafficking. ragazza www.ragazza-hamburg.de 81 GO particularly against Romanian statements against the criminali- CASAblanca and Bulgarian sex workers. sation of clients. Public health service, Centre for AIDS and STIs, counselling, And since February 2012, clients The criminalisation of clients in testing and treatment who approach outdoor-based Germany is already a reality in www.hamburg.de/casablanca sex workers on St. Georg’s Düsseldorf, Bonn, Mannheim, Trade Union streets are penalised and have Stuttgart, Cologne, Leipzig, ver.di to pay fines of up to €5,000. Karlsruhe and Frankfurt/Main. Technical support for specific These measures are applied only labour questions, logistic support The aim is to remove street within the ‘restricted areas’. for advocacy events, participation prostitution from this area in advocacy discussions www.verdi.de and transfer sex workers to an isolated site distant from the The context city centre. The reasons for national these measures are not only Although sex work is legalised moralistic, but economic, as the Networking in Germany, there are some plan is to transform St. Georg areas in some cities where street into an upmarket, upper middle The German national network of prostitution and soliciting is not class neighbourhood. Given sex work organisations, BUFAS allowed: the so-called ‘restricted this situation, the Ratschlag has (Bündnis der Fachberatungs- areas’ (Sperrbezirke). not limited itself to the role of a stellen für Sexarbeiterinnen St. Georg, in Hamburg, is one discussion forum about the in- und Sexarbeiter e.V | Alliance such area. Nevertheless, despite creasing repression; it has taken of Counselling Centres for Sex this regulation, sex work was action to raise awareness among Workers), is an NGO formed in always tolerated because it is a politicians, authorities and civil January 2010 as an umbrella traditional red light area, near society of the consequences of organisation for all NGOs work- the main train station, and a such repressive policies. It serves ing in Germany with and for sex workplace for national and mi- as a political pressure instru- workers. BUFAS’ main goal is to grant sex workers of all genders. ment for policy reflection and advocate for the labour and hu- reform. man rights of sex workers of all Since 2009, however, street- genders in Germany. based sex workers in St. Georg An example of intervention have faced increasingly repres- was the creation, in 2011, of a Since the end of the 80s, the sive measures. Sex workers are flyer in 11 languages, informing Rights/Prostitution Working fined up to €200 each time they sex workers about the working Group, an informal group of sex are stopped by police. Police conditions in St. Georg, and in workers and activists from NGOs checks have been systematic, January 2012, the publishing of dealing with and for sex work- 82 ers, was responsible for produc- Only NGOs can become mem- Dortmunder Mitternachtsmission | ing and disseminating political bers of BUFAS. All 16 members Dortmund German and migrant statements to inform policy- are committed to offering female sex workers makers, media and the general counselling and support for www.standort-dortmund.de/ mitternachtsmission public about the situation of sex German and migrant sex Nachfalter | Essen workers, while demanding the workers, on a voluntary, anony- German and migrant improvement of their work- mous, confidential and free of female sex workers ing conditions. This group was charge basis. They all carry out www.nachtfalter-essen.de responsible for pushing and regular outreach activities for Nitribitt | Bremen German and migrant advocating for the legalisation indoor and outdoor-based sex female sex workers of sex work in Germany. workers of all genders. www.nitribitt-bremen.de www.bufas.net Phoenix | Hannover Despite the legalisation of German and migrant prostitution in 2002 and efforts female sex workers The partners www.phoenix-beratung.de by rights activists, the situation Basis Projekt | Hamburg Pink | Freiburg did not change or improve as Male sex workers, including juveniles German and migrant expected. Therefore, to be able www.basis-projekt.de female sex workers to approach politicians and the Hydra | Berlin www.pink-baden.de civil society in an official man- German and migrant Tamara | Frankfurt/Main female sex workers German and migrant ner, and achieve more effective www.hydra-ev.org female sex workers results in advocacy work, the Kassandra | Nuremberg www.diakonischeswerk-frankfurt.de/ zefra/kontakt_tamara.php group decided to create an German and migrant female sex workers TAMPEP Germany | Hamburg NGO, BUFAS. Another important www.kassandra-nbg.de Participation through ragazza reason for this step was that Kober | Dortmund ragazza | Hamburg through a legalised institution it German and migrant www.ragazza-hamburg.de would be easier to get funding female sex workers www.kober-do.de BUFAS | Positive to develop activities and sustain Madonna | Bochum the structure. German and migrant aspects of the female sex workers National Network BUFAS has a homogeneous www.madonna-ev.de character and is able to nation- Marikas | Munich All 16 NGOs provide services ally centralise the claims of German and migrant to migrant and national sex male sex workers sex workers and sex worker www.marikas.de workers of all genders, and carry organisations in a strategic man- Mimikry | Munich out outreach activities and ad- g erma ny ner, developing cooperation German and migrant vocacy actions for sex workers’ between service providers and female sex workers www.mimikry.org rights. sex workers. 83 It is a broad network with The equalisation of sex work in 2011, BUFAS constantly points wide national coverage. with other labour activities out that any repressive measure BUFAS is based on a par- The decriminalisation of sex taken by the police and local ticipatory structure: the board work and the destigmatisation authorities violates sex work- members are NGO representa- of sex workers ers’ human rights and working conditions. tives, but at the decision-making BUFAS demands level they work together with an Support for professional BUFAS’ relevance goes beyond advisory committee comprised and cultural education for the recognition of a national exclusively of sex workers. sex workers network on sex work. It takes advantage of the well-developed Support to increase the The context local NGOs to build national ca- awareness of policy-makers, pacity against repressive meas- BUFAS members meet twice a managers and the general ures and other topics related to year to discuss relevant topics public of the interests and the needs of sex workers. around sex work in Germany needs of sex workers and Europe, to exchange in- Support for the self-organisa- BUFAS’ legacy lies in the formation at the national level tion of sex workers National Seminar on Prostitu- regarding legislation and labour, tion (Fachtagung Prostitution) BUFAS goals and to decide on priorities for which takes place once a year. advocacy actions and/or any To work together with the It represents the main effort other activity at the regional whores’ movement, and in the in the mobilisation of service and national level, focusing on interest of sex workers, to make providers and sex workers, drawing the attention of politi- changes through social and and the improvement of their cians and the general public political participation capacities. Recognising today’s to the situation of sex workers To demand, at a national and European context of sex work, and their rights. The topics are international level, respect for BUFAS involved NGOs from the chosen in accordance with cur- sex workers and the recogni- neighbouring German-speaking rent need. tion of their human rights, countries, Austria and Switzer- BUFAS advocates for by expanding the network of land, to its discussions. solidarity The improvement of the working and living conditions of Considering the ongoing insti- sex workers tutional repression faced by sex The juridical and social workers in many German cities, equalisation of sex workers with such as Dortmund, where out- other workers door prostitution was banned 84 indoors partner local and national capacities of than others, according to their service providers, including an organisational and structural ragazza evaluation of what can be im- capacity. Despite the lack of proved through mobilisation. specific financial resources for With twenty years of experi- the national network, the Ger- ence in outreach work to female As part of its networking on man capacity-building example drug-using sex workers, and local and national levels, ragazza is significant in revealing the counselling for prostitution is able to share its knowledge importance of the contribution and drug use, ragazza is an through seminars, meetings and that each member can bring to a important actor in the local and training. The quality of the infor- specific network. national arena. ragazza’s par- mation and the level of critical ticipation in different local and analysis of its data can be a tool The result of such effort is an national networks is important for the improvement of other increase in field knowledge and in lobbying for the improvement service providers in Germany. promotion of political influence of the working and living condi- This is only possible within the guided by mechanisms of coop- tions of outdoor-based female context of organised discussion eration among service provider drug-using sex workers, in order platforms and collaborations organisations and sex workers. to advocate an end to the stig- where members are entitled to This model of cooperation is matisation and discrimination present results as well as pro- able to identify national and suffered by this group. mote actions. local needs, and assess them according to the reality of each A good structure responds In relation to referral systems, state within the German federa- adequately to the needs of this networks are fundamental tion and legislative system. specific target group: a secure in spreading technical and place to sleep, warm meals, professional skills among their showers, a drug consumption members. They improve com- room, a needle exchange ser- munication between members Time for vice, and counselling on health and the development of com- and social issues. mon actions. action

The financial capacity of the Actions should not always be Barriers and networks depends heavily capacities seen on an individual basis. on the input and presence of The German capacity-building Networks such as the Ham- their members, leading to a model proves that common g erma ny burg Ratschlag Prostitution mechanism that enhances actions can be taken to reach and BUFAS – one informal and the networks’ aims. As in any certain goals. In this sense, the other formal – build the network, some contribute more ragazza’s work with different 85 networks enabled the organisa- National level Examples of tion to participate and promote In November 2011, ragazza, successful reaction a variety of advocacy actions. in cooperation with the Rosa and cooperation Local level Luxemburg Foundation (Berlin), In January 2006, six months organised a seminar in Hamburg before the Soccer World Cup in In March 2011, ragazza about the situation of outdoor- Germany, there were constant organised a march in St. Georg based sex workers in Germany. discussions and media reports to call attention to the situa- The aim of the seminar was to heralding the arrival of an enor- tion of street-based sex workers question, pragmatically, what mous quantity of women from working in the area and to raise actions should be taken and Central and Eastern Europe, ap- awareness among the residents, how, and to start and maintain parently all victims of trafficking, who demanded that sex workers cooperation with other social who would be forced to work in leave their part of town. Other groups, institutions and political prostitution during this event. NGOs dealing with sex workers forums in order to improve the in this area gave support and situation of outdoor-based sex The members of the Hamburg participated in the action. The workers, including those using Ratschlag Prostitution network, media covered it, increasing the drugs. as well as all similar networks impact of the event. in Germany, had an important BUFAS has already pro- role as local sources of informa- The area of St. Georg is a duced several declarations tion for policy-makers and the restricted area regarding street and position papers. One such media, in showing that this prostitution in Hamburg, where paper was published in April ‘invasion’ would not take place soliciting is forbidden and where 2011, against the repression and that it was just an argument the police conduct regular in Dortmund. In June 2011, on to increase border controls. and repressive checks of sex International Whores’ Day, they workers. In order to offer legal issued one titled “Rights Instead The Ratschlag members decided counselling for the sex workers of Repression”. In September to carry out three different of this area, ragazza provides the 2011 they presented a position actions related to the Soccer regular service of two lawyers, paper against the European World Cup: paid for through donations for Women’s Lobby campaign and Outreach – Increasing indoor this purpose. one against the different forms and outdoor outreach activities, of taxation on sex work, applied to better inform sex workers differently by various towns. before and during the event. Information – Creating an information point for sex work- 86 ers by putting an information and the decreasing number kiosk in front of the main railway Events of sex workers, the remaining station of Hamburg, shortly group of sex workers and other before and during the event. carried out rights activists – the Rights/ The existence of this kiosk was during Prostitution Working Group – publicised during outreach decided to name it Seminar and in the different counselling INDOORS on Prostitution (Fachtagung centres. Social workers and cul- Prostitution) and undergo tural mediators from the various structural changes. member organisations of the NATIONAL SEMINAR The Seminar is held only Ratschlag were responsible for From 1985, with the creation once a year. It is organised on a the counselling in the kiosk. of Hydra in Berlin, the first sex rotational system, with a differ- Clients – in cooperation with workers’ organisation in Ger- ent NGO or sex worker organisa- other organisations in Germany, many, the Prostitutes’ Congress tion responsible for carrying it the Ratschlag members partici- (Hurenkongress) was held twice out each year. pated in a national campaign a year, initially with the majority There is a special space for clients and potential clients of attendees being sex workers. reserved exclusively for sex of sex workers – Freiersein – on Based on these first meetings in workers, either the day before safer sex and increased respect Berlin, sex workers started creat- the Seminar or the day after. for sex workers. This campaign ing autonomous organisations was extremely successful and in other towns, like Bremen, The Seminar is open to sex distributed around 500,000 Nuremberg, Bochum, Frankfurt workers, social workers from condoms during the four-week and Saarbrücken. NGOs and public health services, event. www.freiersein.de students and academics from Social workers were a minority German-speaking countries

at these Congresses; however, as (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). time went on, there were fewer The idea is to offer a wider sex workers and more social cross-section of the public the workers. One of the reasons opportunity to better inform for that phenomenon was the themselves about sex work. The closure of many sex workers’ or- only ones not allowed access are ganisations during the 90s due journalists and the police.

to lack of financial support. g erma ny Since 2010 the Seminar is or- In 2000, because of the increas- ganised by BUFAS. Every annual ing amount of social workers meeting deals with a special 87 issue, according to the political can and should do to adjust to The 2011 Seminar was held over moment. The issue is proposed this process. the course of two and a half by the annual hosting organisa- days, with the participation of tion and agreed within BUFAS The Sex Workers 75 individuals. There were two meetings. Only Day presentations in plenary, with As usual, the Seminar provided a discussions afterwards. The last Seminars on space for sex workers to discuss Prostitution had the and exchange knowledge and Discussion subjects following themes: experiences of their work. The The core discussion themes 2008, 39th Seminar: day before the official start of were: Sex Work and Migration the Seminar, sex workers attend- From self-help to profes- ing the Seminar, and those who sional counselling: what are 2009, 40th Seminar: just came for this special day, counselling centres for? What Sex Work is Work went through a 12-hour pro- do sex workers need/want/wish 2010, 41st Seminar: gramme. The Sex Workers Only from counselling centres? Day was attended by 19 female The increase in Romanian Does prostitution policy and male sex workers from Ger- and Bulgarian sex workers require a change in advocacy many, Austria and Switzerland. in Germany work? What could this look like? The program consisted of two The 2011 Seminar workshops - “For Professionals Social work and social by Professionals”, and “Sex work science: their uses in specific The theme of the 42nd Seminar and Psychology”, both delivered counselling work. was: “Working professionally: by sex workers – along with a 10 years of the Prostitution The marketplace film, and a theatre performance Law, its consequences for In the afternoon of the first day by a German sex worker. sex work and the demand for of the Seminar, an open space professional counselling.” The seminar facilitated the exchange of information, materials and new The main goals of the 42nd This offered space for discussion publications. Seminar were to evaluate regarding the current sex work the Prostitution Law after 10 context in Germany, the capacity years, and discuss the German of counselling centres to adapt prostitution scene and how their services to it, and how to society sees sex work nowadays. improve advocacy strategies Furthermore, it aimed to look and support regional, national more closely at the changes and and European networking. discuss what counselling centres 88 Workshops The praxis: In reality very at the European level should little changed in those 10 years: be improved, along with the 10 years of the the Prostitution Law was not services offered by existing 1. Prostitution Law linked to other legal areas like counselling centres. the Criminal Law, Civil Law, Alien Sex workers’ wishes Law or Tax Law. The fact that Work with before the Law: secure social each town or state can ‘inter- cultural and financial support in case 2. pret’ the law independently led mediators of illness, less control by public to insecurity and uncertainty institutions (police, tax depart- This workshop examined the among sex workers and officials; ment, etc.), less stigmatisation, different competencies of trans- none of the suggestions made more social security rights, lators and cultural mediators, by the Official Evaluation car- recognition of sex work as an while pointing out the addi- ried out in 2005 were taken on activity. tional advocacy role of cultural board; almost no work contracts mediators and the importance Aims of the Law in 2002: were signed because employ- of integrating cultural mediators improve the working conditions ers can be considered pimps in all levels of planning, reflec- of sex workers; abolish sex work and because the majority of sex tion and practical activities of an being legally seen as ‘immoral’; workers prefer to work on a self- organisation. allow sex workers access to employed basis. social benefits; make work Despite the legalisation of sex Wearing different contracts legally possible; de work, sex workers in Germany 3. hats: sex workers stigmatise sex workers; improve are still often seen as ‘victims’. as social workers training for those wanting to It has been difficult to develop There are difficulties in linking move on from sex work. legislation that harmonises the the two activities due to the What happened since interests of sex workers, brothel high expectations and bureau- then: the legal definition of managers, counselling centres, cracy demanded in Germany prostitution as being immoral official departments, and the for a person to work as a social was abolished; the organis- police. worker. It is important to employ ing of prostitution venues was What should be improved: sex workers as cultural media- decriminalised; sex workers the Prostitution Law should tors and outreach workers, and can work as employees and as have been linked to the Civil to include them in regular self-employed; they have access supervision sessions with social and Tax Laws; a national image g erma ny to social benefits; three training campaign should raise pub- workers, with the aim of recipro- projects were created for lic awareness of sex workers’ cal learning. those wishing to move on from working conditions; networking sex work. 89 Moving on NGOs’ perspective – It is It was decided that not only 4. from sex work important for organisations the BUFAS board but also some in charge of qualification BUFAS members would be In 2009 the German government programmes to have a encouraged to act as advocates financed three organisations multicultural team. in the name of the network. This (NGOs) to develop a five-year will happen on local, regional, project and create further Quality manage- national and European levels. education programmes for 5. ment within sex workers wishing to move counselling centres The action – which will mainly on from sex work. The chosen highlight the difference be- Counselling centres should also organisations were sex work tween sex work and trafficking have the role of evaluating, projects in Berlin (Hydra, with in women, in order to get sex awareness raising and influ- DIWA) and Nuremberg (Kassan- workers out of the ‘victim’ role encing policy-makers and the dra, with OPERA), and a Christian – will be carried out in various general public regarding sex organisation in Freiburg (Diako- steps and will be coordinated by workers’ needs and situation. nisches Werk, with PINK). BUFAS. The steps are as follows: Sex workers’ expectations Press conference Use more frequently the – Important issues identified by already existing advocacy texts, The Seminar closed with a press sex workers when participating developed since 2008 by a conference with members of in such programmes include working group of activists called BUFAS and Kassandra as repre- flexible services, addressing in- the Image Campaign Group. sentatives of the network. dividual needs, reliable contact These texts tackle the topic of persons, coaching, conversa- sex work alongside themes of Results and labour, health, migration, clients, tions, therapeutic support, guar- improvements anteed coverage of costs of competencies of sex workers, qualifications, transparency, ab- The main outcome of the 2011 and taxes. sence of conditions requiring an Seminar on Prostitution in Exchange experience regard- exit from sex work in exchange Germany was the decision to ing what has already been done for access to qualifications, intensify advocacy work aimed in Switzerland and Austria. and guaranteed coverage of at a positive image of sex work living costs during qualification and sex workers in the media, Contact individuals outside period. among the general public, counselling centres and health policy-makers and academics. care services who could support advocacy campaigns and activities. 90 Impacts TRAINING SESSION in the precarious and vulnerable situation of sex workers, In the long term, the most im- In December 2011, ragazza and as they lose their capacity for portant impact of the 2011 Semi- the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation self-determination, are forced nar on Prostitution in Germany organised a one-day European to work clandestinely, and was the strengthening of BUFAS seminar with a training element have fewer customers and less as a central reference point for on the theme ‘City, Prostitution, income, which leads to more German sex work issues and a Expulsion’, with 70 participants. working hours and bad working lobby group for sex workers’ The intention was to raise aware- conditions. rights. ness of the repressive meas- This impact will enable sex ures against street-based sex Impacts workers and organisations to workers occurring in St. Georg There was a final consensus count on BUFAS support when in Hamburg, and to compare among the seminar partici- developing and carrying out the process of gentrification pants that the recognition of advocacy activities or facing and its impact on sex work and sex work as work, as is the case specific difficulties or demands. access to services in Amsterdam, in Germany since 2002, still Other activities were mentioned Vienna, Barcelona and other remains a political issue which as support for the campaign to German cities. The seminar needs to be tackled. Moreover, destigmatise sex work: trained participants (mostly the participants agreed that service providers and academ- the current law only provides Organise brothel sightseeing ics) on issues related to sex work, security for some sex workers tours migration, and gentrification. and has little impact on societal Offer information sessions recognition. They further agreed for youth Facts that it is necessary to point out Get the activity ‘sex work’ Since 2010, pressure from local the heterogeneity within sex under the Labour Ministry and residents and growing financial work and make marginalised sex out of the Women and Family interest in turning the St. Georg workers visible regarding the Ministry area into an upmarket residen- Prostitution Law. Create a film to support all tial area have led to more repres- The event also reinforced the the above-mentioned activities. sion against street-based sex mobilisation of local sex work- The INDOORS video clip Equal workers in the area. Sex workers ers, with the support of NGOs Rights was welcomed as an are fined up to several hundred and independent groups, to g erma ny excellent initiative for the euros and, since January 2012, protest against the actions in empowerment of sex their clients are equally checked the neighbourhood. Statements workers in Germany. and fined up to €5,000. The ef- were delivered to the media and 91 fect of this policy is an increase politicians. However, the main effort of this Hydra was the first sex workers’ SOCIAL group was to apply pressure and organisation in Germany. It was push for the abolition of manda- founded in 1985, in Berlin, and MOBILISATION tory health examinations for sex slowly other organisations were workers, which was achieved in created. In Germany, advocacy actions 2001, and the recognition of sex aimed at social mobilisation The Rights/Prostitution Working work as an activity, which was around sex work and sex work- Group started functioning as an achieved in 2002. ers’ rights were, and still are, informal group at the end of the initiatives of NGOs, whether sex These activists, independent of 80s. They comprised around 20 workers’ organisations or those the situation, always used strate- activists, both sex workers and working with or for sex workers. gies to raise awareness among NGO members. They organised different stakeholders and look discussion meetings and the The exception is the trade for their support, either to make Prostitutes’ Congresses. Actions union ver.di, which, after the political pressure or to spread were carried out occasionally, legalisation of sex work in 2002, information. The stakeholders and only at a local level, because offered support and developed were policy-makers and the me- the group did not have national an example of a work contract dia, but also public authorities in representation. between a sex worker and a the social and health fields, the brothel enterprise. The Soccer World Cup in Germa- main funding sources of NGOs. ny, in 2006, was a very important These were and are the actors One example of such a situa- political moment in the discus- who, since the 80, have been tion was the support given by sion process about sex workers’ responsible for developing the Green Party in 2001, the situation and rights, despite the campaigns, presenting state- then coalition partner of the huge anti-prostitution campaign ments, and spreading data and Social Democratic government, in the media, a result of the con- information about the real work- in order to pass the Prostitu- flation of sex work with trafficking conditions of sex workers in tion Law. During this process of ing in women. The Rights/Pros- Germany. legalising sex work, others who titution Working Group, even as acted on an individual basis an informal group, had a very were very important, such as important role in demystifying lawyers specialised in labour law and clarifying the situation by or human rights, and independ- writing and distributing state- ent sex workers. ments and giving interviews to local, national and international media representatives. 92 The 2006 World Cup also After all these years and despite provided the opportunity to the legalisation of sex work in develop another sort of social Germany, sex workers are still mobilisation directed towards stigmatised and discriminated sex workers’ rights, which was against. Although the media the FairPlay campaign, an action treats sex work in a more open targeting sex workers’ clients. manner, the overlapping of sex This campaign had the partici- work and trafficking is very com- pation of NGOs in 11 different mon. Therefore, one could say German cities, all members of that even after 10 years of legal- the Rights/Prostitution Working ised sex work, work remains to Group. be done to guarantee sex workers full acceptance in society. In January 2010, the Rights/Pros- titution Working Group founded BUFAS is, and will continue to the NGO BUFAS (Bündnis der be, a very important instrument Fachberatungsstellen für Sexar- and source for the development beiterinnen und Sexarbeiter e.V. of this process, not only within | Alliance of Counselling Centres Germany but also in the Euro- for Sex Workers, www.bufas. pean context. net), in order to gain, through a legal entity, more political representation and space, have more influence, and be the official representative of NGOs in Ger- many engaging in sex workers’ rights. Because BUFAS’ structure includes an advisory board comprised solely of sex workers, the organisation is able to guarantee a position that defends and prioritises sex workers’ interests at all levels. Since 2010 BUFAS has been responsible for the g erma ny organisation of the annual ‘Seminar on Prostitution’ in Germany.

sex work. There was an immedi- ITALY NATIONAL ate string of anti-prostitution ordinances aimed at wiping out LEVEL or significantly impeding street n Italy, prostitution is prostitution as a whole, with neither legal nor illegal. National Platform Observatory National severe clampdowns on anyone The national law on pros- suspected of prostitution. The titution imposes numer- coordination and observatory of street/ imposition of a €500 fine for ous restrictions on sex both sex workers and prospec- workers, who are forced to mobile units dealing with prostitution tive clients has almost become work in legally marginal condi- standard practice throughout Itions. If the national laws are not For a brief moment in 2008, the the country. favourable, local ordinances are regulation and elimination of even worse. In some cities, pros- prostitution in public places be- The enactment and application titution is prohibited in public came the topic of the day for a of these strong, repressive meas- areas and sex workers and their new government. After a fever- ures functioned as a catalyst for clients, too, have become the ish month of media scrutiny, sex the majority of NGOs involved subject of heavy fines. work was suddenly transformed in social issues. A number of into a national emergency. With- NGOs decided to hold a meeting This chapter of the guide is a out consulting the NGOs work- to discuss the negative effects reflection of an organisation that ing in this field, that autumn the of this legal decree and to take counts on the direct participa- Council of Ministers drafted a action against its application. tion and leadership of sex work- bill to ban outdoor sex work. So In the past, the proponents of ers, and therefore its advocacy far, this bill has been discussed this meeting had participated work is directly influenced by in the parliamentary Justice in ministerial discussions with the sex workers’ opinions and Commission, but has never been the former government about demands. It is an insight into the formally presented in parlia- shared proposals. Representa- engagement of Italian network- ment, and there has been no tives of other associations were ing in influencing the public promulgation of a decree of law also invited to this ‘emergency’ debate on a national level, and regarding prostitution. meeting, so attendance was not the gathering of national allies limited only to those associa- from a diverse range of projects At the same time, the govern- tions focusing on sex work. It and fields to set up a common ment produced a legal decree included associations tasked advocacy agenda. concerning public security. This with assistance to victims of decree gave city mayors plenty trafficking and child abuse and of room to manoeuvre in enact- the exploitation of immigrant 94 ing local measures against minors. With the signatures of more seminated network that would It offers the opportunity to than 100 NGOs and GOs, a posi- be further strengthened by measure the effects and overall tion paper was prepared titled the input and contribution of impact of enacted policies on ‘Prostitution and Trafficking, knowledge and experience of all prostitution directly from the Rights and Citizenship: The Pro- the participant associations. To field. It also facilitates develop- posals of Those Who Work in the this end, a shared data collection ment and experimentation of Field’ (Prostituzione e Tratta, Di- and communications system new ways of field intervention, ritti e Cittadinanza: Le Proposte was developed. particularly for indoor prostitu- di Chi Opera sul Campo). tion, the development of local The analyses and findings of the community projects, and the A month later, in July 2008, group were based on the daily mediation of conflicts, zoning these proposals were forwarded experiences of people involved patterns, and so forth. to relevant government minis- in street activity or shelter ters and members of parliament. management. These findings Political significance Numerous kinds of advocacy enabled the members to gain actions continue, including timely and accurate knowl- Through constant advocacy ac- flash mobs (small groups of sex edge and a capacity to gather tions, the staff of street/mobile workers and supporters visibly evidence concerning the effects units must strive in every way protesting in front of Rome’s of the new security measures. possible to maintain both local city hall and in front of the Prime The first important statistic and national political power. At- Minister’s residence) and large that surfaced showed that the taining political power will allow public demonstrations in Rome new measures were forcing a official recognition as valuable, convened by the CDCP with MIT significant number of street sex influential experts and interlocu- (Movimento Identità Transes- workers to transfer their place of tors, who deserve a strong voice suale) and other NGOs in the work from the street to closed in all matters regarding policy network, supported by a news- environments such as private and procedure for public secu- paper that participates in the flats, public bars or night clubs, rity issues and field interventions organisation, to raise awareness where it is much more difficult involving sex workers, media- and warn politicians about the for outreach workers to establish tion of conflicts or other social inherent dangers of repression or maintain contact with them. issues, such as harm reduction and the lack of a social support measures, and the active promo- policy. Technical significance tion of civil rights and duties.

It was obvious that this large The National Platform Observa- i t a ly gathering of associations would tory is a virtual laboratory and gain strength by working offers broad-scale analyses and comparisons of models in place. together as one in a widely dis- 95 The partners Movimento Identità Transessuale | Representing several regions in Italy, the oldest Italian transgender the Italian NFP is a group of experts The following organisations par- association (formed in 1980) that who come from public institutions or includes sex workers, counselling and non-governmental or volunteer or- ticipate in the Italian National assisting persons regarding gender Platform Observatory: transition, assistance and shelter ganisations, who study migrant flows for victims of trafficking and determine the associated health NGOs www.mit-italia.it needs of foreign populations. CNCA, National Coordination Associazione Libellula | transgender www.iss.it/binary/iss3/cont/National. of Shelter Communities | association, counselling and pdf umbrella association, counselling support of transgender people for sex workers and shelter and sex workers Italian Civil Forum on HIV/AIDS for victims of trafficking www.libellula2001.it A national network of the associations www.cnca.it Consorzio Nova | group of in the fight against AIDS. It is affiliated Gruppo Abele | counselling associations and social cooperative to the 6th Conference on HIV Patho- for sex workers and shelter in socially marginalised fields genesis, Treatment and Prevention for victims of trafficking www.contextus.org (IAS2011), which took place in Rome www.gruppoabele.org CDCP Committee for the Civil in 2011. Besides working on a series of Caritas | counselling and shelter Rights of Prostitutes scientific events, the Forum has drawn for victims of trafficking www.lucciole.org up the Declaration of Rome for the www.caritas.it Italian institutions, which underlines Dedalus social cooperative | GOs matters urgent to the community counselling for drug users, Commune of Venice | coordinates for counteracting the spread of the male and female sex workers the national hotline dedicated to traf- infection and assuring a better level and victims of trafficking ficking, assists sex workers and offers www.coopdedalus.it shelters for victims of trafficking. of assistance and support to persons TAMPEP Onlus | counselling This service exists since 1995, when infected with HIV. for sex workers and shelter it was started with the consultancy www.forumhivaids.it for victims of trafficking of the TAMPEP project. www.tampepitalia.it www.comune.venezia.it Other local On the Road | counselling Piedmont Region | proponent networks for sex workers and shelter and financing institution that gathers for victims of trafficking regional projects for reception/shelter Le Graziose www.ontheroadonlus.it of victims of trafficking run by Working group that includes social Free Woman Onlus | counselling various NGOs workers and sex workers. It is the for sex workers and shelter www.kila.it Genoese representative of the CDCP for victims of trafficking (Committee for the Civil Rights of Pros- www.freewoman.it Other national titutes). In 2008, following the com- Save the Children | Italian branch networks mencement of some initiatives against of the large international association sex workers, the CDCP began a series that safeguards minors Italian National Focal Point (NFP) of initiatives to improve the living and www.savethechildren.it A permanent working group working conditions of sex workers in ASGI, Associazione Studi Giuridici coordinated by the Superior Institute the Maddalena area of Genoa. This Immigrazione | widespread of Health of Rome (Istituto Supe- association of lawyers supporting the riore di Sanità). The NFP began as working group has been engaged on human rights of migrants and nomads a member of the network of the several fronts, especially advocacy, 96 www.asgi.it European AIDS and Mobility Project. and has succeeded in establishing dialogue, collaboration, and network- INDOORS partner Eliminating of rules and ing with local institutions and NGOs. regulations that discriminate The Patto per la Maddalena CDCP | Committee for the against or restrict the freedom (The Maddalena Development Pact) Civil Rights of Prostitutes of sex workers. Residents and merchants of the his- Opposing the exploitation torical centre of Genoa came together Founded in 1982 in Pordenone, of sex workers and trafficking with the intention of improving the Italy, the CDCP is a non-profit ‘bad’ image of this area by improving in human beings. association of sex workers and public security and infrastructure. The CDCP has constantly strived www.incubatorecentrostorico.it supporters. From the beginning, this association has been a bea- to eliminate the stigma of pros- Comunità San Benedetto al Porto con for sex workers. Its mission titution throughout the whole A popular community and main of society and to defend the refuge for outcasts in Genoa, created is social and cultural activism by an anarchist priest, whose authori- intended to influence decisions right of any person, regardless tativeness greatly influences public in both the private and public of gender, to voluntarily engage opinion. It offers aid and comfort to sectors to improve the living and in sex work whilst enjoying the persons in severe distress, especially working conditions of sex work- same social and labour rights those with drug and alcohol depend- as any other worker. The CDCP ency or mental disorders. ers. The CDCP strives in every www.sanbenedetto.org way possible to promote respect also promotes the regularisation for the dignity and rights of sex of migrants who engage in sex Princesa Committee work on a voluntary basis, and is The members are transgender sex workers. It also performs inter- workers who work in the old ghetto ventions that offer training to involved in the struggle against located in Genoa’s historic centre. sex workers and provides them any acts of abuse, violence, and It was founded in 2007 when they with useful, accurate informa- exploitation. also encountered the same problem tion so that they may empower faced by the sex workers in Barriers the Maddalena area. themselves and improve their quality of work and life. and capacities Faculty of Sociology of the University of Genoa Over the years, the CDCP has The political debate on sex Supports several of the networks’ entered into dialogue with work in Italy affects the member initiatives and protests, though it is GOs and NGOs to achieve the organisations of the National not a permanent member. following legal goals: Observatory in various ways. Decriminalising sex work On one hand, the repressive and legalising the workers measures endorsed by the Ital- as professionals. ian government have generated i t a ly an environment in which sex Preventing mandatory workers are at the highest risk of registration or health checks. 97 violence and often have to work their work methodology as they of the spending limitations im- in hidden places. On the other, constantly lose contact with the posed by the national Economic the organisations are struggling targets. There is an urgent need Stability Pact. to implement their projects in to update this strategy and to spite of the financial needs they train both social workers and Successful have, which depend on a shift in agency operators. joint action and the debate and the Italian eco- In this context, NGOs dealing cooperation nomic situation. Although the with sex workers and victims of Nationally, all the above-named sex worker movement in Italy is trafficking are set up for either associations promote the net- considerable, and has the sup- outreach or counselling/drop-in work, and act at the local and port of many NGOs, opportuni- services. The services provide national level when needed, ties for effective interventions in a vast amount of information with brief communications in sex work settings are becoming to the target group, through small groups that take decisive harder every day. educators, psychologists, and actions and respond collec- For this reason, the CDCP volunteers. Accompaniment to tively for the network, as well as reports that many outreach health care facilities is provided endorsing the above-mentioned programmes for sex workers are where necessary. Some of the document presented to govern- being cut due to lack of financial NGOs possess lodgings to house ment ministries. In 2008-2009, support. The target has become victims of trafficking and to inte- the network decided to monitor harder to reach because of grate them into long-term state- the effects of ordinances that restrictive measures authorised funded social programmes. both left- and right-wing ad- in recently enacted ordinances. Today these programmes ministrations had promulgated This crackdown has caused a no- against trafficking constitute throughout Italy in several table shift towards underground a network of dozens of pro- communities. activity and, at the same time, jects throughout the country. With no regard to geography has increased the mobility of sex Because of the current economic or size, the salient finding was workers, especially those who crisis, funding from the Depart- the total absence of interface work under coercion. ment of Equal Opportunities, between local institutions and This situation presents an ob- which by law has the duty to the project personnel who stacle to reaching the weakest fund these projects, is insuffi- worked in the mobile units, and members of the target popu- cient. Although the laws require the existing system of integrated lation in order to offer them local regional or municipal insti- socio-health services set up for assistance and accurate informa- tutions to contribute 30% of the persons involved in prostitution tion. Therefore, the field workers costs of these projects, they are or victims of trafficking. 98 must continually reorganise often unable to do so because All the mobile street units of the Owing to the tendency of politi- In April 2012, for the second national network took part in cians to ignore NGOs, several time, the Constitutional Court the monitoring effort. associations, comprising in par- expressed its opposition to the ticular sex workers and trans- ordinances. Still the mayors The monitoring was based on sexuals, waged an intense battle continue to apply them. their fieldwork, which keeps to gain access to the Justice them in constant contact with However, a positive aspect of Commission’s hearings. Finally, street-based sex workers and a network comprising many a hearing was conceded for local agencies. The observa- associations in various cities is some sex worker delegates and tions of the evolutionary effects that each NGO organised and the representatives of another of anti-prostitution ordinances participated in public debates, four NGOs, all participants in the were constant and widespread, further promoting awareness network. Once again, this hear- which enabled in-depth of the issue and involving the ing was to no avail. Some legal analyses that resulted in a series media also. actions by the CDCP against the of cogent proposals which, anti-prostitution ordinances hopefully, would bring political went to court. The result was a decision-makers to seriously success in the court of Venice, Events consider a change of attitude in which declared the ordinance their policies and adoption of of the mayor of Verona carried out these proposals. unacceptable. Upon completion, the report during Meanwhile, the same opposition was sent to the relevant politi- to the ordinance by the mayor of cians, with a strongly worded INDOORS Rome was rejected by the court appeal for immediate change. in Rome. An appeal was made, In the first trimester of 2009, the NATIONAL SEMINAR and at the same time, Verona’s mayors from several regions and The Italian National Seminar mayor appealed Venice’s ruling. the minister, the proponent of was held in the city of Turin The dispute finally concluded the draft bill concerning prosti- on 30 September 2011, at the a year later when the Consti- tution, appeared at formal hear- headquarters of TAMPEP Onlus, tutional Court declared the ings before the Justice Commis- with 35 participants (sex workers ordinances unconstitutional sion of Senate. The minister has and social workers) present. The because they granted excess always refused direct dialogue group was heterogeneous in the power to the mayors. This, how- with the CDCP and other NGOs sense that it included experts i t a ly ever, did not halt the application of the Observatory. in human trafficking, migration, of the ordinances, which and drug-related issues from the mayors continue to apply NGOs, and public bodies dealing without penalisation. 99 with outreach projects for sex Given the political moment in concrete terms, it had to recog- workers. This initiative involved Italy and the possible changes nise that appropriate economic several members of the National foreseen in the government, resources are needed and that it Network Observatory. The semi- planning a National Seminar was is not possible to update or train nar was carried out by the CDCP a crucial step and a determinant outreach workers, nor to sustain in collaboration with TAMPEP for raising awareness regard- possible agency visits among Onlus, as an associated partner ing the current situation. It also members of the network. For in the last INDOORS phase. served to contribute to future these reasons, the meeting con- public debate. The meeting was cluded by putting in candidates The main idea was to bring the addressed to the staff of NGOs for a European-funded project network up to date on the evolv- of the Prostitution National in the justice sector, “Prevenzi- ing situation. It had been a year Observatory Network, with one e lotta contro la criminalità: since it had last met in order to participants from all over Italy. bando europeo 2011 sulla tratta assess the recent legislation and degli esseri umani”. This repre- case law on immigration and Aims sented a good opportunity for its impact on sex workers and the network to develop capacity victims of human trafficking. The event aimed to get an building and follow the same Since 2009, the actions of the updated overview of the work- objectives, as well as expanding National Observatory, despite ing conditions in outdoor and the potential of the network’s great effort, have not positively indoor sex work settings. The development. influenced the politicians. In stakeholders were to look at the addition, the latest repressive social and political aspects from policies towards migrants in a new perspective, considering particular underscore a highly how to analyse the process of negative stigma against sex long-term changes on the local workers. and national level, and how to organise the National Observa- At present, the repression tory effectively and adequately against sex workers in every to make it more attentive to way has fed violence against the actual needs identified. sex workers, which, in 2011, was rife and sometimes even fatal. Furthermore, the meeting Instances of abuse in the appli- sought to establish dialogue and cation of the ordinances are also cooperation between the or- very evident. The CDCP believes ganisations and to develop new that it is necessary to remotivate projects and common advocacy actions where possible. In more 100 the network for further actions. Contents Libyan revolution), the new road The network considered, among to Italy for Nigerian women. other things, the option of During the morning session, Workers in CARA centres dealing drafting a new law proposal on a brief report was given on the with asylum seekers have en- sex work, putting more focus on new legal system, with regard countered many Nigerian wom- the right to voluntarily engage to migrants and related matters, en who have been transported in sex work, the necessity of focusing on the impacts across Libya to Lampedusa, educating the general public on of repression on victims of where they request asylum in sex work issues and gaining human trafficking. order to have the documents support from society, and During the afternoon session, required to stay in Italy. Then, the need to set up a national two working groups were while remaining under the reaction to the present political established: control of third parties, they situation in Italy. leave CARA and are forced to As always, the seminar opened sell sexual services. During their with brief individual presenta- Workshop travel in Libya, many of them are 1 tions by all participants, to focused on a deeper analysis detained by military personnel inform each other about their of sex workers’ conditions: what and raped or forced to provide professional roles and give is occurring on the streets and sexual services, so many arrive snapshots of their experiences. indoors (more police control, in Italy with psychological and micro-violence, abuse, drug health problems. and alcohol addictions); how Results and to counsel sex-workers; do we Following participants’ pres- improvements entations about their work really know their expectations In spite of a lack of time to context, sex work conditions and their needs? How do mobile address all relevant issues, the and the policies enacted by local units work – should they adapt National Seminar was an op- administrators, a debate led or modify the methodology portunity for organisations from to a group conclusion that the in their approach to women, all over Italy to contribute to the network must continue working including transgender sex advocacy agenda of the mo- tirelessly to eliminate ‘preju- workers, in indoor settings? ment. One of the main decisions dices’, focusing on sex workers’ taken within the framework vulnerable position in society. As of this national event was the Workshop a consequence, the plan was to 2 participation of the network discussed the Emergency North design, evaluate and implement

in the European Commission i t a ly Africa (ENA analysis of inter- strategies to favour the recogni- Justice Programme. Even within ventions in the emergency in tion of sex workers’ rights in the a limited period of time, the Lampedusa arising from the human rights framework. roles of each organisation in this 101 programme were set up accord- The main achievement of this ing to their expertise, resources, seminar was to strengthen the SOCIAL and ability to mobilise other capacity of the network to make European partners. This reflects joint decisions, even though the MOBILISATION the power of these organisations political moment does not pro- The CDCP has a long history to put their differences aside, vide proper financial support. of awareness-raising activities focus on common and collective The National Observatory wants and promoting the rights of sex actions, and recognise common to be a national reference point workers, by involving various problems. for issues of outdoor and indoor parts of society, cultural spokes- sex work, and is the country’s The network decided that it is persons and the media for a only tool to face repressive crucial to meet one more time greater impact and visibility. measures on a national level. in 2012 to address other specific One successful approach used needs in between other achieve- Moreover, thanks to this event, to fight stereotypes about sex ments; there was an agree- the participants feel very mo- workers was taken by publishing ment on the continuation of tivated towards advocacy and the stories and life experiences online communication among towards taking action with the of sex workers with the help of participants, and the provi- network. The CDCP reports that well-known authors. Schools sion to them of updated data more organisations within the and universities also par- and information. The network network are willing to support ticipated in awareness-raising also decided to prepare a flyer the cause of sex workers’ rights activities by organising debates aimed at women believed to and also of trafficked persons. on sex work and collaborating in be underage, about their rights The network held another meet- research on violence. to assistance and free access to ing in April 2012 in Rome to up- Mobilising together with health services and the justice date the situation and take the other active groups such system. Believing that they decision to ask the new minister as LGBTI groups, feminists, will be rejected, many young for a hearing. pacifists, human rights associa- women often lie about their age. tions and other social groups At the moment, minors still have has contributed to a support rights in Italy and thus it is network for awareness-raising not an advantage for them to campaigns, public protests, declare that they are adults, and petitioning. Even theatre which can lead to automatic actors, documentary-makers, deportation or arrest. musicians, photographers, and other artists have been taken 102 into serious consideration by the CDCP, noting how their work services was set into motion, The role often contributes significantly favouring dialogue and carrying of the media to the image of sex work and to out specific projects with the denouncing social inequalities. participation of the municipal The local media interviewed the From a historical viewpoint, sex ities, health services and sex sex workers of the Maddalena, workers would have remained a workers. who complained about the mere dark, shadowy appendix measures and asked for the help As many cities take measures to our society had it not been of the CDCP. A delegation of the against prostitution, some for artists. CDCP organised a small protest NGOs attempt to intervene with in Genoa. The first action taken The Action Plan the institutions by employing by the Graziose was to render mediation measures. The CDCP the protest visible by organising As for the plan of action aimed decided to intervene against the a red umbrella demonstration in at changing legislation, there initiatives taken by the Com- the Maddalena neighbourhood. have been many meetings with mune of Genoa by putting in The initiative involved a number public and political administra- place certain strategic practices of sex workers who took part in tors, both individually and in for that particular context. the organisation and publicising public debates. This collabora- The Commune of Genoa initi- of the event. tion has prepared some drafts ated measures to close the bassi for new laws that have been Media attention was drawn in the downtown district of the presented by members of parlia- by giving voice to sex work- Maddalena, where sex work- ment in every legislature. ers’ ideas and rendering the ers have always exercised their protest respectful. Leaflets that Regarding health concerns in profession in former storerooms explained the reasons for the sex work, in addition to the located on the ground floor or protest were distributed to the founding of an association to in the basements of buildings. press, tourists and citizens who fight AIDS, the CDCP has been In 2008, the councillor in charge gave due concern and respect to involved in a new method of of Genoa Safe City sought to the issue. The sex workers stated outreach since the 90s that respond to the discontent of its that they refused to leave the consists of street-based inter- citizens by introducing a meas- neighbourhood in which they ventions with the help of peer ure aimed at restricting the use have lived for years. educators and cultural media- of the bassi so as to have a safer tors in many Italian cities, as well and better neighbourhood for At the same time, the CDCP called a public meeting, at San as implementing the TAMPEP ‘new’ residents. i t a ly project. The public health sector Benedetto al Porto, with a local appreciated this effort and so NGO that participates in the na- a new involvement of social tional network, and associations 103 and stakeholders of the area Maddalena to mediate/negoti- with the potential to become ate with merchants and citizens sensitive enough to the issue who were overwhelmed by the to side with the sex workers, general state of the neighbour- such as women’s associations, It is a constant work of me- hood and taking out their people who work in drug harm diation because the repressive frustrations on the sex workers. reduction, workers in city and tendency towards sex work is a During a three-day cultural provincial shelters for trafficking constant in the municipal secu- initiative organised by the Patto, victims, some representatives of rity policies. the CDCP also proposed to have the LGBT movement, academics the sex workers as active, mobile from the city’s university, and The role points of reference for cultural other citizens. In a way, these of the CDCP dialogue. people would be key persons An information day was organ- to creating and building public The CDCP put itself forward as ised to present Le Graziose and opinion in the area. a community-based group that promotes social initiatives such the project to the neighbour- The media coverage of the as cultural activities, get-togeth- hood. Residents, merchants, as- protest had a fundamental role, ers, and solidarity actions. The sociations, institutions, citizens, allowing it to resonate with the idea of enhancing sex workers’ tourists and sex workers in the rest of the country and to put a self-esteem and enabling them area were invited to play a board lot of pressure on the Commune, to become a part of the neigh- game called Puttanopoly in so that the sex workers’ request bourhood in concrete terms is order to increase their knowl- to meet with the authorities of utmost importance. edge and understanding of the was immediately accepted. In a complex phenomenon of sex meeting with the councillors for Comprising social workers, sup- work. Social Policies and Genoa Safe porters and sex workers, a per- The participation of some sex City, the Graziose sex work- manent action committee called workers from the neighbour- ers and social workers asked Le Graziose was established. hood was essential, because for respect for their rights and One of the agreements made without them the impact would dignity. From that moment a at the discussion table was the not have been so great. In ad- long process of negotiations CDCP’s task of collaborating in dition, the CDCP is attempting and proposals began, with not the monitoring of sex workers to create a sense of solidarity always satisfactory outcomes: at and their living conditions in the amongst working colleagues. times quite positive, but never neighbourhood, and to partici- definitive. pate in the Patto per la

104 The agreements also foresee the CDCP because of the stalemate The CDCP is undertaking a range use of an office in the neigh- in the neighbourhood. It seems of actions at the national level bourhood to use as a point of that nobody can win the battle, to achieve its goals: campaigns contact in the Patto building and of course nobody wants to against stigma, research on shared with other groups, to lose it either. violence in sex work, advocacy guarantee a dialogue between for respect and recognition of the citizens and the sex workers. Persons involved rights, outreach with street operators and cultural mediators to Since January 2010, in Genoa, The people involved strategical- contact indoor- and street-based CDCP operators are present ly in the local area are business sex workers and trafficking once a week in a drop-in centre operators, residents, sex workers victims, support and integration located right in the centre of who work in the zone in ques- with specific personally-tailored the area where the sex workers tion, the personnel of the Vivo programmes, training for peer are focused, in order to stay in il Centro Storico and the Patto educators, organising and close contact with them. In 2010, per lo Sviluppo della Maddalena participating in seminars dealing other anti-prostitution measures (Maddalena Development Pact) with sex work, migration, health were taken by the mayor in programmes, ARCI migrants, issues and HIV prevention, other neighbourhoods, but they the residents of the quarters, harm reduction, human rights, were greatly contested by the Associazione Princesa, and the violence and gender policies, sex workers, CDCP supporters University of Genoa Department and political actions to acclaim and other sectors of the popula- of Education. better laws, along with other tion as well. Official relations actions. between the CDCP and the Commune have deteriorated. Movement actions like those in Genoa are easily applicable in After several months, the Patto local areas, but they require the and the Commune again asked effort and involvement of sex for the collaboration of the workers as well as many other stakeholders. i t a ly

105

separate from the main issue THE NATIONAL of legalisation which saw, since the approval of the legalisation NETHER- LEVEL law in 2000, an improvement in the working conditions of sex The national platform on sex LANDS workers. work, Landelijk Platform Pros- titutie (National Prostitution In spite of the advocacy work n the Netherlands, even Platform), is an informal national done by the Platform, the new though sex work is legal platform which was founded prostitution law proposal, and regulated by the in 2009, with the main goal of known as the ‘Law regulating law, the situation for sex advocating for the labour and prostitution and combating workers has worsened human rights of sex workers of malpractice in the sex industry’, as a result of ongoing all genders. The Platform has was voted in by the Dutch Parlia- changes in policy and legisla- been very concerned about ment in March 2011, and is today Ition, particularly at the national blocking the new prostitution under analysis by the Senate. level. Since 2000, police and law proposal through clarifying Prostitution has been legalised tax authorities took increased debates on prostitution, traf- in the Netherlands for 12 years. control of sex work settings, and ficking and exploitation. Lately, Originally, the intention was to since 2009, the government has public opinion and politicians create a licensing system that been seeking to reform the leg- tend to wrongly conflate prosti- brought the sex industry into islation on prostitution, which if tution with criminality, traffick- line with labour law, tax systems, approved will impact heavily on ing and exploitation. immigration law, municipal sex workers’ right to privacy and safety and hygiene regulations, integrity. Advocacy work and public order measures. This chapter presents two exam- Since the end of 2009, an The focus of the policy and its ples of capacity-building efforts. informal group of sex workers implementation has, instead of First, on the national level, an and activists working for NGOs normalising sex work, shifted advocacy platform focused dealing with and for sex workers progressively to prioritise stricter primarily on awareness raising took responsibility for produc- controls of workplaces and and halting the new prostitution ing and spreading political state- workers, particularly migrant law. Second, a comprehensive ments to inform policy-makers, sex workers. As a result, many training programme was carried media and the general public sex work premises were closed, out in a bilateral cooperation about the situation of sex work- amounting to almost half of the between TAMPEP and ARAS in ers in the Netherlands. workplaces. Most sex workers 106 Romania on peer education and The current debate is not hu- would not describe the current sex worker leadership. man rights-based and is totally situation in favourable terms, and would argue that they have tion, and possibly criminalising cific case, petitions are signed less autonomy, more obligations clients who pay for the services individually by members of the and little formal recognition of unregistered sex workers, Platform, or collectively. Each or support of their rights. More whether they are nationals, legal member brings in their own over, following legalisation, migrants or undocumented influence and competencies. some evaluation reports migrants. The end result is in- The number of members varies concerning the impact of the creased control over sex work- depending on the action and new system resulted in the con- ers, fewer legal working places, urgency of organised responses, clusion by some municipalities and more pressure on (migrant) but there are about 20 to 30 ac- and governmental bodies that sex workers to move to clandes- tive members. All are committed it was not effective in combat- tine and less safe work settings. to preparing letters and state- ing criminality nor trafficking. The political position and social ments, giving media interviews, As a result, an alternative law opinion regarding sex work have organising public debates, proposal was presented to also shifted from the recognition and meeting with politicians. the parliament in 2009. of sex work as work, and of the Additionally, strong connec- sex industry as a commercial tions with the health and legal Objectives of business, to the association of sectors, academics, sex workers’ the Platform sex work with trafficking and organisations and union, social exploitation. The goal of the The main objectives were to services for sex workers, the Platform is also to reshift this correct the disparities in policy clients of sex workers, members perspective to the normalisation implementation across mu- of the municipality, and other of sex work and protection of nicipalities and to improve the marginalised and stigmatised the rights of workers in the sex means to combat trafficking and communities empower the industry. exploitation. However, there network’s actions and afford are several proposals within the The network is flexible and able legitimacy. draft legislation that will further to organise the efforts of individ- seriously affect the living and ual sex workers and activists, sex The partners working conditions of sex work- worker organisations, supporter Soa Aids Netherlands | Amsterdam ers, which includes compulsory organisations and other stake- National Institute for STI and registration of all sex workers AIDS Control holders and individual experts in www.soa.nl, www.prostitutie.nl working in all areas of the sex a strategic manner, developing Rode Draad | Amsterdam industry – whether full-time, cooperation in responses and Information and empowerment part-time or occasional workers centre for sex workers. th e n er l a ds social mobilisation activities, www.rodedraad.nl – along with further closures of using the fields of influence and Humanitas | Rotterdam brothels, restrictions on licens- expertise of the various partici- Social support for sex workers ing and street-based prostitu- pants. Depending on the spe- and trafficked persons. 107 www.humanitaspmw.org La Strada International | Individual members are free With this in mind, network Amsterdam to express their opinion and members meet several times a European network against trafficking. www.lastradainternational.org position independent of organi- year to discuss relevant topics FairWork | Amsterdam sational policy and position. around sex work, to exchange Support for victims of trafficking. information on the national www.fairwork.nu It is a broad platform with a level regarding legislation and Vereniging voor vrouw en recht wide representation and skills. labour rights, and to decide on ‘Clara Wichmann’ | Leiden It is based on a participatory Platform of feminist lawyers. priorities for advocacy actions structure, with representa- www.vrouwenrecht.nl and/or any other activity on tives coming from different Prostitutie Informatie Centrum | the regional and national level, Amsterdam backgrounds towards common focusing on raising awareness Information and advice about actions. prostitution for sex workers and among politicians and the the general public. www.pic-amsterdam.com The context general public of the situation TAMPEP | Amsterdam of sex workers and their rights. European network for Considering the still unfavour- The topics are chosen in accord- migrant sex workers. able working conditions expe- ance with the necessity of the www.tampep.eu rienced by sex workers in many Femme Fatale | Alkmaar moment. A working group for support of Dutch cities, due to the strict sex workers in the city of Alkmaar. regulation and limitation of sex The Platform advocates for Outreach work work settings by local authori- Improvement of the working Stichting Geisha | Amsterdam ties, the Platform points out that An autonomous organisation that and living conditions of sex represents the interests of women improvement of the situation of workers and men in sex work. sex work and regulation of the The juridical and social Other members participate on sex industry must be based on an individual level. equalisation of sex workers better and favourable condi- with other workers tions for sex workers, access Platform | Positive The normalisation of sex to labour rights, and justice. work as with other labour aspects Instead, the police and local activities All participants bring to the authorities currently employ Platform their own knowledge repressive measures and further The decriminalisation of sex and resources: some are sex limit the autonomy and self- work and the destigmatisation workers, others human rights determination of the workers, of sex workers, as well as social experts, academics, representa- violating their human rights and reaffirmation of the original tives of clients, policy-makers, freedom of choice with regard principles of the legalisation of and service providers. to working conditions. sex work 108 The Platform demands Other national Besides the regular members, policy-makers and representatives of Support for the autonomy networks ministries and other state agencies of sex workers as independent Landelijk Prostitutie Overleg are invited to participate in ad hoc workers and the recognition of (LPO) | National Prostitution meetings. All members share the same their social benefits Consultation Platform ideas and take actions collectively. Abolition of the new prostitu- The LPO was set up at the end of Landelijk Overleg Tippel tion law proposal the 90s for the coordination of the prostitutie (LOT) | National position and interests of different Consultation of Street The involvement of sex work- stakeholders and organisations Prostitution Services around the issues of the legalisation ers against this new law-making Since the legalisation of sex work, out- of prostitution. process, ensuring that their door prostitution was banned in most voices are heard by politicians This is a platform where organisa- cities. Today outdoor sex work is only and policy-makers. tions meet, share opinions, discuss all tolerated in four special allowance aspects of prostitution policy, monitor zones, in Utrecht, Arnhem, Nijmegen, The Platform’s goals impacts, and potentially agree on a and Groningen. Drop-in projects are run in these four zones, and also in To be active for the interests joint position that will determine a common policy. Eindhoven. Services include social and of sex workers in the political health care, including harm reduction. The members are: and social debate on sex work, This group of drop-in centres operates Soa Aids Netherlands as a network representing the inter- through social and political Service provider ests of the outdoor-based workers. Its participation. www.soaaids.nl main aims are common analyses and To demand at a national and The Red Thread policy advice for the management of international level respect and Sex worker NGO the zones. www.rodedraad.nl awareness for sex workers’ human rights. CoMensha Anti-trafficking NGO INDOORS partner The Platform’s relevance goes www.comensha.nl beyond the formal recognition VER | Association of Operators TAMPEP International of a national network on sex of Relaxation Companies Foundation www.v-e-r.nl work. It takes advantage of the The TAMPEP International broad representations to build SOR | Foundation for Collaboration of Window Brothel Operators Foundation is a non-profit or- up national capacity against ganisation based in Amsterdam. repressive measures and other The Excellent Group Representatives of sex clubs The Foundation carried out topics related to the needs of www.excellent-groep.nl different projects related to sex th e n er l a ds sex workers and social accept- LOT | National Consultation work issues, among them the ance of sex work. of Street Prostitution Services TAMPEP project.

109 TAMPEP – European Network for Barriers To respond to this repressive HIV/STI Prevention and Health and capacities trend and the new prostitution Promotion among Migrant Sex law proposal, organised discus- Workers – was founded in 1993 Considering existing networks sions and collaborations are in response to the needs of in the country, capacity building necessary. Networks are funda- migrant sex workers in Europe. It means the development of ad- mental to spreading knowledge, operates a community develop- vocacy and alternative policies expertise and professional skills ment and participation model based on a multidisciplinary among their members. They im- that is rooted within the human approach and with a large num- prove communication between rights framework, and seeks to ber of actors. It evaluates and the different stakeholders and lay the foundations for equitable monitors what can be improved develop joint actions. access to support and services by means of connecting the The result of such efforts is infor (migrant) sex workers. actual situation in sex work with creased knowledge and promo- TAMPEP’s aim is to reduce sex the legal and policy network on tion of political influence guided workers’ vulnerability to HIV and prostitution. by mechanisms of cooperation. sexually transmitted infections. The quality of information from This format for informal cooper- The TAMPEP Foundation counts such different stakeholders and ation is able to identify national on extensive experience, in- the level of critical analysis of and local needs, and assess novative tools, resources and the impact of the legalisation them according to the reality of knowledge on migrant sex of prostitution and regulatory sex work. It provides a critical as- workers across Europe. As a measures for sex work are sessment of the implementation centre of expertise, it offers powerful and necessary tools to of the legislation and policies on technical consultation, training, counteract the current repres- prostitution in the country. information and resources to sive political moment. various groups of stakeholders This is very relevant in a context (public institutions, policy- in which financial support for Time for makers, sex work programmes sex worker organisations and and international organisations). sex work services programmes, action The Foundation’s mission is to particularly outreach pro- develop and promote programmes, is being reduced and The actions of the Platform are grammes and advocacy for the shifted to exit programmes. The organised and focused on the equal access of sex workers to Dutch Platform is an example of main advocacy and lobbying ac- health and rights. how to overcome financial bar- tivities to influence the opinions riers in a model of cooperation of politicians and the general between experts. public on the negative impacts 110 of the new law proposal in rela- law proposal and the expected politician’s reaction to the pros- tion to the safety, autonomy and positive and negative conse- titution law proposal. In 2011, privacy of sex workers and their quences. In this way, parliamen- Platform member association clients. tarians were well-prepared with Vereeniging for Vrouw en Recht arguments and critical opinions prepared a juridical assess- National level that could be directed to the ment report on the aspects of Ministers of Justice and promote compulsory registration for sex Influencing media, an amendment of such a law. workers that are against the law 1. public opinion Experts from the network were on privacy, and other contra- and politicians present at these meetings. dictory aspects of the new law Members of the Platform proposal on prostitution. The organised or participated in report’s results were used for public debates on the situation Advocacy additional juridical evidence on of sex work, in round tables as 2. tools the contradictory aspects of the experts, including in ministerial Over the years, network mem- law that introduced special and bodies, and provided articles to bers have produced several exceptional measures for sex newspapers and interviews for declarations, position papers, workers – such as registration. television. letters, and tools for discussion Sex workers prepared state- with politicians. One of them ments and letters to politicians The Platform also promotes was a document called questions on the consequences of such a information and dialogue with and answers. It outlined 10 of the law. politicians. One of the creative most common questions related proactive actions for influenc- Finally, these actions were able to sex work and trafficking, and ing parliamentarians was the to gather together a common was disseminated to politicians organisation of two breakfast force and expertise against and policy-makers, aiming at meetings by the Soa Aids Foun- the law proposal, providing short arguments for political dation with representatives of politicians with legal and social discussions. The document was the parliament and experts from arguments which have a direct given out to parliamentarians in the field. The intention was to impact on sex workers’ lives. December 2011. inform the members of parliament about the contradictory The reason for having short aspects of the prostitution law questions and answers is that proposal. Through this means, politicians normally need to th e n er l a ds the parliamentarians could ask have brief arguments to respond the experts for their opinions in political discussions. This on the practical effects of the could facilitate, for example, a 111 Successful In turn, the UN Committee in 31. The Committee urges the joint action and their final report considered the State party to carefully conduct cooperation critical arguments and concerns, a risk assessment of the new law, as quoted below: including from the perspective CEDAW’s of privacy, in consultation with Exploitation of Prostitution critical opinion concerned groups and relevant (Original text from the UN Committee) In February 2010, the Dutch organizations before adopting (…) 30. The Committee is CEDAW Network issued a it. The Committee also calls concerned that the new bill on shadow report titled ‘Women’s upon the Netherlands to pro- prostitution in the Netherlands Rights – Some Progress, Many ‘ vide more comprehensive and making the registration of pros- Gaps’. On behalf of 54 Dutch concrete information in its next titutes compulsory may lead the women’s organizations, critical periodic report on the measures majority of prostitutes to work il- points on the gaps in Dutch taken to improve the working legally. Among those prostitutes policy on the protection and conditions of prostitutes and are migrant women from third promotion of women’s human to enhance their autonomy, countries [non-EU countries] rights were presented to the privacy and safety. The Commit- who will not have the possibility UN Women’s Convention, the tee encourages the State party of registering. The Committee committee that oversees com- to allocate adequate funding for is therefore concerned that the pliance with the Convention on the empowerment of prostitutes law, rather than improving the the Elimination of All Forms of while maintaining funding for situation of prostitutes, might on Discrimination against Women. exit programmes. the contrary undermine efforts In the preparation of the shadow to combat the sexual exploita- International report, the expertise of differ- tion of women and increase Campaign ent members of the Platform ’ the vulnerability of prostitutes was gathered with regard to the A campaign was launched who are not able or not will- Dutch governmental obligation against serious violation of ing to register by worsening to Article 6 of the Convention: human rights and medical confi- their working conditions and combating trafficking in women dentiality through the disclosure exacerbating their social exclu- and forced prostitution. Critical of details and photographs of an sion. The Committee expresses points were collated and the HIV-positive female sex worker concern that this new legislation report related to the gaps in im- by the Greek police and the may also create serious risks for plementation of anti-trafficking media. registered prostitutes’ privacy policy and measures and to the and safety. In May 2012, Greek authorities new prostitution law proposal. announced the arrest of 17 HIV- 112 positive women who allegedly sparked a number of articles worked illegally as sex workers, in the press and media reports Events accusing them of intentionally naming and shaming the causing serious bodily harm. The women, publishing their per- carried out arrests come amid a crackdown sonal data, which was followed during on hundreds of unlicensed by publication in newspapers brothels around Greece. 130 sex outside Greece. INDOORS workers were arrested and sub- TAMPEP, the ICRSE, the NSWP jected to compulsory HIV testing and SWAN immediately began TRAININGs by the state-run Centre for Dis- a campaign with a protest letter ease Control and Prevention. to members of the European On peer education in In an action without precedent Parliament. The network of Romania in in a European country, the people living with HIV/AIDS, the cooperation with ARAS competent authorities of Greece EU HIV/AIDS Civil Society Forum The TAMPEP International publicised first, through a press and UNAIDS were also mobilised Foundation, in partnership with release by the Greek police, the in a common protest action, ARAS | Asociatia Romana Anti- full details, photographs and together with numerous Greek SIDA, carried out a comprehen- medical records of a 22-year-old organisations. This campaign sive training programme on sex worker from Russia. resulted in two questions being peer education for sex workers put officially from different MEPs Following this first publication of and outreach teams in the to the Commission, letters of the photograph on 28 April, two national sex work programme concern to the EU Commission- days later the police uploaded in Romania. The training was ers of Health and Justice, and to their website photos of an- in the framework of the health an international protest petition other 12 sex workers working in promotion project “it is your which collected more than 1000 Athens. 17 women are to face a right to know”, for women from signatures. prosecutor on charges of inten- vulnerable groups (including tionally causing grievous bodily Roma women and sex work- harm and misdemeanours re- ers). The project was carried lated to illegal prostitution, and out from 2011 to 2012. The first it is not known how many more training sessions were delivered will be prosecuted if found to by TAMPEP from 10-16 July 2011, and the second was scheduled, be HIV-positive. th e n er l a ds at the time of going to print, for As a consequence, the inhuman the autumn of 2012. initiative of the Greek authorities 113 The importance of this training guidelines, as well as on peer techniques and contact in differ- programme relates to the fact involvement in prevention ent sex work settings. that Romanian sex workers com- activities and the programme Examples of other experienc- prise one of the largest groups combating violence against es: TAMPEP’s outreach experi- of migrant sex workers in the sex workers, the coalition and ences in indoor settings (clubs Netherlands. Direct involvement involvement of human rights and apartments). How to do it? and empowerment of Romanian organisations and civil society, Is this feasible? Discussion sex workers as peer educators and social mobilisation. on the possible application of will determine the potential for The training was carried out new methods for reaching sex target intervention in the home in the form of presentations, workers working in different set- country and in the receiving exercises in working groups, tings and methods of national countries. interactive discussions and shar- mapping/assessments. This training contributed to the ing experiences. How to scale up peer educa- improvement of health profes- The intention was to involve tion? The aspect of diversity sionals’ and sex workers’ local peers in the outreach teams’ of peer programmes and sex capacity in Romania by underlin- activities. workers’ support on advocacy ing the principles of peer educa- actions. tion and sex worker leadership. - How to recruit; how to select; For the Dutch contingent, it Training 1 for service providers how to work with empowering improves the knowledge of the activities; how to reach new sex situation of Romanian sex work- Starting locally: what does workers and involve them; how ers, particularly those of Roma peer education mean, what to mobilise them? and Sinti origin. are the basic conditions, what Model of intervention: dia- The six-day training was organ- are the expectations, what is logue with stakeholders. How to ised for two different targets: realistic? deal with institutional repression Three day-courses for 50 Working in partnership with in cities? Examples of TAMPEP’s ARAS outreach staff members sex workers: introduction of the experience with acceptance of from 10 cities basic concept and experiences. street workers in an urban area New methods and change of Three day-courses for 20 and how to involve the public attitude of service providers. sex worker-selected peers authority, police, and citizens. Sex workers as the experts: Priorities and decisions: The training programme their voice, their advocacy. How which stance to take? How to included the technical expertise to empower sex workers and prepare an action plan? of TAMPEP on peer education peers? Discussions on outreach methodology, materials, and 114 and commitments with the sex media and among the general Training 2 worker community? public, policy-makers and law enforcement officials. Actions for peers and sex The six-day training was closed against stigma and discrimina- worker leaders with a plenary involving all par- tion must also highlight the Stories of sex workers: ticipants (service providers and difference between sex work presentation of sex worker-led sex workers), an evaluation of all and trafficking in women, in organisations: present situation, the training days, the presenta- order to get sex workers out of principles and characteristics tion of joint action plans and the ‘victim’ role – humanising of projects. the announcement from the sex work. Needs and wishes: peers’ leaders of the founding of conversation with peers. a group comprised exclusively Additionally, it was decided that of sex workers, with the name the peer educators and leaders Self-help and solidarity: Maria Magdalena. will have a position equal to out- why is it necessary, what are the reach workers in the outreach advantages? The second part of Training 2 teams. Self-defence: actions on the will happen in autumn 2012, in street, examples of successful order to monitor and discuss ARAS staff will explore the possi- self-defence practices. the improvements following the bilities of involving peers in their action plan set up in 2011. staff team by recognising their Feedback: what do peers qualifications and expertise, giv- expect from ARAS teams in Additionally, it aimed to explore ing them regular contracts with terms of support and integration the practices, gaps and barriers, the organisation, and allowing in activities? What are the peers improvements and the impact them to be employed and fairly committed to do? What do they of the advocacy actions carried paid. propose as a priority for com- out in the past year. Supporting mon action and advocacy? the work of the peers and the ARAS also committed itself to Community activities: solidification of Maria Magda- supporting the creation of an what do they wish to do? lena were among the main aims. independent sex worker-led How to make workshops more organisation in Romania and appealing? Results and helping with the legal registration of the organisation. Preparation of peers/leaders: improvements how can peers contribute to The main outcome of the 2011 Action against institutionalised

the setting up of organisations training was the decision to violence from the police will th e n er l a ds led by sex workers? intensify advocacy work aimed be carried out in a formal way Agreements and action at creating a positive image of through collection of evidence, sex work and sex workers in the cooperation with human rights plans: how to make agreements 115 institutes, and presentation of sponding to specific difficulties ments, and spreading data and documented cases of abuse to or demands. information about the real work- the Ombudsman and Ministry of ing conditions of sex workers in Other activities were mentioned Interior. the Netherlands. However, the as helpful to the destigmatisa- main effort of this group was to This training strengthens allian tion campaign on sex work: apply pressure and push for the ces and networking in Romania Interviews with supportive abolition of the article of the law with other stakeholders and civil media outlets related to the commercial ex- society representatives for the Social media as a campaign ploitation of prostitution which promotion of rights, and links tool passed in 2000, and the recogni- with other European networks tion of sex work as an activity. on sex work. Calling for the recognition by the Labour Ministry of peer work These activists, independent of Impacts as a labour activity the situation, always strategised to raise awareness among differ- In the long term, the most Presentation of INDOORS clip ent stakeholders and seek their important impact of the 2011 Equal Rights as a peer education support, either to apply political and 2012 TAMPEP training and empowerment tool. pressure or to spread informa- programme in Romania was the tion. The stakeholders in ques- empowerment of sex work- tion were policy-makers and the ers and the strengthening of SOCIAL media, but also public their participation and visibil- authorities and local ity in ARAS health prevention MOBILISATION municipalities in charge activities. This formalised a joint of the system licensing commitment by ARAS and sex In the Netherlands, advocacy sex work premises. worker leaders and peers to actions aiming for social mobili- set up a sex worker-led group sation around sex work and sex In this process, the Rode Draad as a central reference point for workers’ rights continue to be was the first sex worker-led Romania on sex work issues and related to initiatives by NGOs, organisation in the Netherlands. a lobby entity for sex workers’ either sex worker-led organisa- It was founded in 1985 as the rights. tions or those working with or national organisation of sex for sex workers. workers. After the legalisation This impact will support sex of sex work, one of the pro- workers and organisations to These were and are the actors grammes of the Rode Draad was count on the support of ARAS who, since the 80s, have been the setting up of a labour union when developing and carrying responsible for developing for sex workers. out advocacy activities or re- campaigns, presenting state- 116 The Platform on Prostitution a new definition of pimping and The first one is the compul- opened a dialogue channel with involuntary exploitation of pros- sory registration of sex work- government bodies on issues titutes and underage persons. ers, including the provision of related to the implementation personal data (citizen service Since 2000, the jurisdiction for of measures for the legalisation/ number or tax office registration regulating prostitution and im- regulation of sex work. They number) and identity informa- plementing prostitution policy started functioning as informal tion. lies with city councils. Prostitu- and formal consultation and tion is only permitted in licensed The second is a general obliga- policy development networks. sex work establishments. In tion for a licence to run any form All these groups and platforms principle, street prostitution is of sex business, including the are at the national level. prohibited, apart from in four erotica/porno sector. This regu- In 2000, legalisation was authorised zones. lation system includes individu- introduced to regulate and als working on a self-employed In practice, however, the govern- control prostitution businesses basis and other regular sex ment drew up guidelines for and improve the situation of work businesses and services. local authorities that referred to sex workers. This is a national Although this new registration regulations on commercial ex- law that allows, under certain and regulation system will apply ploitation of prostitution within conditions, forms of prostitution nationally, the rules for applica- the municipalities. In most with which adult sex workers tion and running a business will cities, this regulation was put voluntarily engage. still depend on the local pros- into practice in a very restrictive titution policies and licensing This means that the sections way, resulting in the reduction criteria. Many other additional that previously imposed an of more than half of the exist- limitations on licence holders overall ban on the organisa- ing club brothels and window will be implemented. tion or promotion of prostitu- brothels. Many municipalities tion were removed from the also consider escort agencies The new law proposal also Dutch Penal Code (Article 250B, and apartments as sex work prohibits prostitution businesses concerning the commercial enterprises requiring obligatory unless they have a municipal li- exploitation of prostitution by licences. It is anticipated that in cence. At this time it is clear that third persons). the near future, due to the law the definition of ‘sex work busi- proposal voted on by the Dutch ness’ covers escort and internet The Penal Code only lifted the Parliament in March 2011, two agencies, which would have to ban on brothels and the part

measures will be enforced. supply an actual street address th e n er l a ds regarding third persons exploit- and a landline telephone num- ing prostitution for profit, and ber, all for insertion in a national substituted the old article with register. As a result, businesses 117 that provide access to sexual With this common background, Advocacy services without possession of the Platform acts as a protest The actions of the platforms and a licence will be closed. Self- and advocacy group focused on allies are based on the conclu- employed sex workers who the following main issues: sion that after all these years work without a licence to run a Compulsory and despite the legalisation of sex business and without being registration sex work in the Netherlands, sex registered as sex workers will be workers are still stigmatised and fined. In addition, this law pro- The Compulsory registration of discriminated against. Although poses that clients who purchase sex workers has nothing to do some media treats sex work in a services from unregistered sex with the original goal of this law more open manner, others place workers or those working at proposal: combating exploita- more emphasis on statements illegal (unlicensed) workplaces tion. This is a control mechanism from local administrations, be sentenced to prison or to pay that reduces the autonomy of religious groups and stories a high fine. To avoid this, they sex workers and their right to that link sex work with criminal- should verify the licence of the privacy. ity, and the overlapping of sex sex business and/or the registra- Legalisation, work and trafficking dominate tion of the sex worker. not regulation the public debate and policy Another controversial amend- The legalisation model of opinion on prostitution. In con- ment to the law is a change of prostitution can become a clusion, there is a great need for the age limit for lawful work in regulatory repressive system, social mobilisation to guarantee prostitution, from 18 to 21 years. without any attention to or sex workers full acceptance In opposition to this new frame- focus on sex workers’ situa- and equal participation of their work on policy and prostitution tion and autonomy. Even the voices in public debate. law, in 2009, the Platform on principle of the ‘normalisation’ Prostitution started running of prostitution abounds because activities and involving repre- of an exceptional measure that sentatives of organisations. The will be adopted by the new law majority of the members of the if approved. Sex work is the only platforms are or were involved profession outside the regular in the other original platforms Labour Law system. on sex work and in the history of The criminalisation of clients legalisation of sex work. will be unique in a framework of legal prostitution.

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networks, an idea which was PORTUGAL NATIONAL welcomed by all participants. LEVEL Another push factor that led to here is no spe- the creation of this network was cific legislation National Network the absence of a legal frame- related to sex on Sex Work work for sex work in Portugal. work in Portu- RTS | Rede sobre Sex work is not legally recog- gal: it is neither Trabalho Sexual nised as work, and sex workers legal nor illegal. are marginalised through the The National Network on Sex disrespect for their rights. There Although voluntary prostitu- Work, or Rede sobre Trabalho tionT is not a crime, the profes- are still some policy-makers Sexual (RTS), was set up with the and other stakeholders who, sion is not legally or socially aim of responding to the need recognised. The lack of a legal on moralistic grounds, insist on to connect services, knowledge presenting a single image of sex framework to protect sex work- and political actions among ers renders them vulnerable. workers as victims of violence, all the outreach projects and and confuse sex work with the In this chapter, the guide intends activists working in the field trafficking of human beings to explore the kinds of initiatives of sex work in Portugal. The for sexual exploitation. This and networking engagements idea was that coordinated, approach is particularly danger- which were developed in the all-encompassing work would ous when we consider that a face of this situation. The Por- improve interventions and high proportion of sex workers tuguese sex work projects and strengthen common positions in Portugal are migrants, with national network are newcom- when discussing policies with added vulnerabilities. ers to the scene if compared stakeholders. to those in other countries in Most of the organisations work- During TAMPEP’s 2009 meeting in the sex work field, how- Europe, and relate to the coun- ing in Porto, which involved the try’s capacity-building efforts on ever, are still very focused on the main Portuguese organisations prevention of sexually transmit- services to sex workers. While working in the field of sex work, this field in Portugal is still not ted diseases. This network there- the idea for a collaborative ac- fore also encourages a collective greatly made up of sex workers tion was put forward for the first themselves, service providers effort towards lobbying and time. With this goal in mind, AP- advocacy for sex workers’ rights across the country have devel- DES invited all the organisations

in a broader sense. p o r tug a l oped links to address sex work- working in the field of sex work ers’ needs and are committed to for a meeting in October 2010, the involvement of sex worker to evaluate the relevance of such representatives. 119 Formally established in 2011, RTS The network is coordinated ANO | Associação Novo Olhar | is a national network comprising democratically and on a rota- Leiria, Coimbra, Figueira da Foz NGO with project targeting organisations and individuals tional basis, with APDES and indoor sex workers. involved in sex work-related is- GAT currently responsible for GAT | Grupo Português de Activistas sues. RTS is based on a commit- the secretariat. All actions take sobre Tratamentos de VIH/SIDA | Lisbon ment to defend human rights, into account each member Portuguese NGO composed of particularly social and labour position and all votes have the activists for HIV/AIDS treatment. rights, and the right to freedom same weight in decision-making Has two projects for sex workers. www.gatportugal.org from discrimination and other processes. LPCS | Liga Portuguesa Contra a forms of violence against sex Sida (LPCS) | Lisbon workers. The partners NGO with a project that supports male sex workers. Its main objectives are to share The partners are NGOs, GOs www.ligacontrasida.org practices, methodologies and individuals. OSIO | Obra Social das Irmãs Oblatas do Santíssimo Redentor | Acompanha | Porto and knowledge, to optimise Lisbon Social cooperative for HIV prevention resources and working strate- Private Institution of Social Solidarity. among sex workers. gies, to discuss and monitor Supports street-based sex workers. APDES | Agência Piaget para o www.oblatas.com/oblatas.php policies related to sex work with Desenvolvimento | Porto Positivo | Lisbon NGO with specialised projects on public institutions and other NGO supporting sex workers indoor sex work. in Lisbon. stakeholders, to develop collec- www.apdes.pt www.positivo.org.pt/site/index.php tive actions, to encourage the APF | Associação para o UMAR | União de Mulheres Planeamento da Família | Porto production of knowledge and to Alternativa e Resposta | Lisbon, NGO committed to promoting promote awareness campaigns Porto, Almada, Açores health among sex workers, with Feminist non-profit organisation, and activities to mark significant several projects in this area. actively involved in the fight http://www.apf.pt dates in the sex work calendar. for sex workers’ rights. The network is composed of Programa Autoestima | Porto www.umarfeminismos.org Governmental programme for the eleven NGOs, one GO and two improvement of sex workers’ health. academics, and still has low http://portal.arsnorte.min-saude.pt/ Other national representation of sex workers, portal/page/portal/ARSNorte networks with only one activist. Its mem- Médicos do Mundo | Porto International NGO. Develops Other networks in Portugal have a bers come from all regions of interventions for sex workers. common interest in advocacy for the country and, in addition to www.medicosdomundo.pt human rights and interventions for networking by email, meetings Associação Existências | Coimbra the most vulnerable populations, NGO for the promotion and protection including sex workers. are held every two months. of the health of sex workers. The position regarding sex work is www.existencias.net not shared by all participants, but the presence of NGOs that work with and 120 for sex workers ensures that sex work- the unemployed) with the goal when governments change and ers’ needs are being discussed in this of improving access to health, priority areas of intervention forum and are on the political agenda. employment and education, change as well, when short-term R3 | National Harm Reduction empowering populations, and projects are about to end and Network Comprehensive harm reduction strengthening social cohesion. there is no easy way to ensure projects. Integrates projects related to the continuity of responses al- In accordance with its vision, sex work. ready implemented in the field, APDES intends to influence the National Civil Society Forum even if the need still exists. The agenda of social and develop- on HIV/AIDS main consequence is a negative Development, implementation, ment policies. To do so, its impact on the overall structure monitoring and evaluation of policies interventions are based upon regarding HIV/AIDS. of social services and social sup- action-research principles, port for marginalised groups, participatory methodologies, including sex workers who INDOORS partner proximity strategies, principles are supported by civil society of citizenship and human rights. APDES | Agência organisations. APDES also takes a multidiscipli- Piaget para o In order to have some sustain- nary approach and counts on al- Desenvolvimento ability, APDES prepares training most 50 collaborators within the on subjects in which gained APDES is a non-governmental framework of various projects expertise is needed, establishes development organisation, and interventions. founded in 2004 to promote several partnerships with strate- sustainable development To strengthen its actions, APDES gic services and structures, and among the communities and also relies on the involvement of implements innovative projects countries where it works. Al- national and regional networks. to promote social and environ- though the majority of its work mental responsibility. Another is undertaken in the north of Barriers strategy to overcome the barri- Portugal, APDES is in geographic and capacities ers is to train staff for a proper expansion, with ongoing pro- The primary current barrier for and comprehensive approach to jects in other cities of Portugal APDES and other members of sensitive issues. (Lisbon, Guarda, Viseu), and RTS is the Portuguese socio- As for the concerns of RTS, eco- in other countries (Angola, economic conjuncture, which nomic issues are also at the root Mozambique, Cape Verde). impacts heavily on non-profit of its main challenges, given that APDES’ interventions are mainly organisations, particularly those this network has no financial p o r tug a l directed at vulnerable com- which depend on governmental support and no budget for any munities and populations (drug funding. The organisations’ ser- of its activities. As the majority users, migrants, sex workers, and vices experience great fragility of members are NGOs working 121 within limited budgets, the sim- in sex work settings in different ple act of organising a meeting TIME FOR European countries. and ensuring the presence of all For this purpose different mate- partners is sometimes a difficult ACTION rials have been created (leaflets, task. APDES has organised several posters, newsletters, manuals), Nevertheless, RTS members training courses targeted at: designed to improve sex work- work in a cooperative environ- outreach workers in the field ers’ skills on harm reduction ment in which different opinions of harm reduction; issues, social integration issues, are exchanged and discussed rights and mobilisation. sex workers’ development in order to identify common of peer education and harm It is also important to mention positions. The existence of the reduction skills and knowledge that APDES has been actively network allows the members to for participation in civil society, involved in the organisation combine efforts for advocacy among other things; and mobilisation of sex workers issues related to sex work. How- in the advocacy of their rights ever, RTS’ biggest vulnerability students from social sciences and in the improvement of their is the under-representation of faculties, sharing experience living and working conditions. sex workers within it. In order and knowledge regarding harm For example, during the May to overcome this limitation, the reduction, social and health Day (Labour Day) parade, the 17 current members are trying to intervention in their respective December commemorations, mobilise sex workers to be a part fields. and in the production of politi- of the network. APDES also organises several cal statements and positions. events, conferences, and seminars, mostly concerned with Recognising the great power harm reduction, in which sex and impact that the media have work is consistently included in influencing opinion, APDES as a topic to be discussed. collaborates with the media in Examples of these initiatives are: order to raise community and CLAT5, with several initiatives stakeholder awareness of sex and presentations on the topic workers’ rights and needs. of sex work; R3 Seminar with a Even if it is in its early stages, panel dedicated to sex work; RTS has had the opportunity European Summer School on to develop a common defini- ‘Risk Society and Human Rights’ tion of sex work, to outline the with the participation of sex fundamental principles that workers and outreach workers guide members’ work, and to 122 share experiences and also tion with other service provid- Porto G, co-funded by the materials among the participant ers, NGOs and governmental National Coordination for HIV/ organisations and collaborators. structures, allowing for the AIDS, completed three years of RTS works with the media and expansion of sex workers’ access outreach work with indoor sex journalists in the production of to a wide range of services (e.g. workers and used this occasion media articles and pieces on the legal support, dentist consulta- to present significant results subject, and has publicised its tions, etc.). achieved, listen to sex workers’ existence, along with its main voices, and involve partners All the members of RTS benefit principles, to important stake- and other relevant stakehold- from this recent partnership in holders. ers. Given the seemingly harsh terms of strengthening their socio-economic circumstances, RTS has also had the opportu- advocacy and political impact. APDES invited decision-makers nity to disseminate members’ Additionally, some members and other relevant stakeholders common positions, for exam- of RTS participate in other to discuss the future of interven- ple, repudiating a European networks, such as the National tions in the field of sex work in campaign designed to eradi- Civil Society Forum on HIV/AIDS, Portugal. cate prostitution. Recently the which allows further reinforce- network organised a debate ment of common positions and The relevance of the event was and a social event concerning 17 causes. to take a human rights approach December. This event counted to sex work, to denounce the on the participation of relevant violation of fundamental rights, stakeholders in the field, namely and to foster sex workers’ sex workers, outreach and advo- Events agency. This is a fundamental cacy organisations, academics carried out task considering the lack of an and representatives of almost all organised sex worker move- political parties. during ment in Portugal. Politicians, journalists and other important Successful INDOORS stakeholders were also invited, joint action and to offer them different perspec- cooperation NATIONAL SEMINAR tives on sex work and on the main challenges that sex work- Many of the achievements of On behalf of its projects Porto G ers face at the present time. Porto G, the outreach project and INDOORS, APDES organised that APDES designed to support the Sex Work and Human Rights p o r tug a l indoor sex workers, were only seminar on 25 November 2011. possible due to close collabora- 123 Aims Contents and holistic interventions that do not focus only on the preven- The seminar was planned to The seminar programme tion of STIs, and the association raise societal awareness of sex involved a large number of pres- between sex workers and high- workers’ rights and to draw entations and lectures, as well as risk groups in terms of STI rates decision-makers’ attention to moderators and rapporteurs. was strongly debunked through the need to combat the fac- In the opening session, each the presentation of data from tors that increase sex workers’ speaker reaffirmed the impor- the gynaecologist partner. The vulnerability, through integrated tance of civil society’s interven- final presentation in this panel actions. tions with marginalised popula- was given by Porto G cultural It brought together different tions and the need to promote mediators, who presented their key actors from diverse fields and protect human rights. In experiences in the outreach pro- (social intervention, activism, particular, and with regard to ject and reiterated the need to academia, research), who had in Portugal’s ongoing crisis, the Na- involve the target population in common the fact that they had tional Coordinator for HIV/AIDS each phase of intervention, from close contact with sex workers’ stated that the infection may conception to evaluation. principal needs. The main aim re-emerge if the government was to promote a better under- decides to reduce public health standing of these needs and to responses, with added costs in Panel 2 reaffirm the importance of tak- the future in terms of economic Civic mobilisation ing collective action to eradicate impact, but mostly in terms of and activism the most common violations the quality of life of the most The second panel included a and prejudice. vulnerable populations. presentation by a sex worker Furthermore, presentations activist who shared her experience of advocating for sex work- were given by peer educators Panel 1 ers’ rights. She also outlined who shared their experiences, Outreach work in highlighting the need to take the main risks related to public sex workers’ knowledge into indoor settings exposure and talked about the consideration when designing The first panel had speakers pre- consequences of stigmatisation and evaluating an outreach senting some experiences from and victimisation. The slogan project. the field. The coordinator of ‘Nothing about us without us’ Porto G presented the project’s was used to communicate sex main results and effectiveness. workers’ capacity to decide what In this panel the importance was is best for their lives and that also discussed of comprehensive no policy regarding sex work 124 should be made without the full work?”, and was attended by The conclusions panel of this and direct participation of sex people from various profes- seminar stressed the need to workers. The INDOORS project sional backgrounds to highlight bring a usually taboo theme into was also presented in this panel. need. the public domain, the need to distinguish between phenom- The evening started with the The presence of the northern di- ena that even if sometimes con- screening of a documentary rector of the Aliens and Borders nected can’t be treated as the entitled ‘Das 9 às 5’ (From 9 to 5). Department, the Portuguese same (sex work versus traffick- This documentary brings authority responsible for the en- ing), the need to support civil together testimonies of people try and deportation of foreign- society’s interventions with vul- who use sexual activity as a ers, raised a discussion around nerable populations, the need means of making money – porn sex work and its relationship to to evaluate projects in terms actors, strippers, sex toy vendors human trafficking for sexual pur- of cost-effective relationships, – suggesting that multiple poses. Those present were near- and the need to strengthen the activities may fall under the unanimous that there is a need space for dialogue between civil umbrella term of ‘sex work’. to distinguish between these society and the state. two phenomena in order to bet- With viewpoints from psycholo- ter protect human rights. Also gists, outreach workers and one Challenges discussed were the difficulties politician, the two film-makers that undocumented migrants encountered show the vulnerability of these face in accessing health services, It remains a challenge to moti- workers resulting from the and strategies to counter this vate decision-makers from di- absence of a law regulating their form of violence. verse political backgrounds, and activity. representatives of governmental The round table finished by ac- In the discussion after the bodies, to participate. knowledging the importance of screening, the makers revealed civil society’s interventions with how difficult it was to gather vulnerable populations whose Results and testimonies about sex work from voices have been historically improvements political parties in parliament, silenced, and the importance lamenting the fact that some In the aftermath of the discus- of participatory methodologies issues do not appear in parlia- sions that were held, activist which involve these populations mentary debates. voices were heard and some in the designing and ongoing stakeholders made commit-

Afterwards, a round table was activities of such interventions. ments to take action. It was very p o r tug a l dedicated to the theme “What gratifying to acknowledge that is in the future for social and all the speakers used the term health interventions within sex ‘sex work’, from government 125 representatives to outreach Invitees included key political This was a three-day course, workers. actors trying to make an impact seven hours each day, targeted on the political agenda; and at administrative staff, front- The event was publicised in six line professionals who mediate Portuguese newspapers and Different channels were used access to health care in public in alternative media (website, to ensure a broader dissemina- health centres. blogs, social media, etc.) and tion of the event across the generated some discussion on community. During outreach work carried the legalisation of sex work and out with migrants, sex work- the impact that the extinction Impacts ers and drug users, APDES of some outreach teams would was made aware of numerous Given its wide and varied have on services provided to sex situations of discrimination attendance and media cover- workers. and misconduct by front-line age, the seminar enhanced the professionals working in public Awareness was raised about the visibility of sex workers and health centres. The reality is economic crisis in Portugal and increased understanding of their that many people, including its effects on services for sex main vulnerabilities and needs. sex workers, face real obstacles workers. Having sex workers representing when accessing public health themselves countered a trend services. These obstacles have Results of and reinforced their agency. the meeting to do with moral judgements, prejudice and stigma about As many stakeholders as marginalised populations, along possible were involved in the with limited knowledge about implementation of the seminar the legal framework regarding and in its dissemination; access to health. When it comes It gave the opportunity to to migrants, particularly those the APDES partners and the in- who are undocumented, these volved community to participate barriers are even more critical. and share their points of view; TRAINING APDES implemented this train- It enabled sex workers to APDES designed and imple- ing with the aim of improving speak for themselves; mented the training course health professionals’ resources, Donors were involved in the “Promoting the development of information, skills and aware- event, highlighting the rel- skills among front-line profes- ness related to the specific evance of their support; sionals: how to deal with vulner- needs of vulnerable popula- able groups”. tions, including the importance 126 of confidentiality. Relevance of the training SOCIAL The relevance of this training MOBILISATION programme is to guarantee uni- strengthen the knowledge Most social mobilisation actions versal access to health, in partic- of health and hospital services in recent years in Portugal have ular for those populations who about the problems associated been faded with time and were often experience some kind of with various phenomena of developed by organisations, discrimination that distances social exclusion and the main academics or other individu- them from health structures. Sex obstacles experienced by these als. Stigma, prejudice, fear of workers, migrants and drug us- groups in accessing public retaliation, and, for migrant sex ers are often afraid to use public health services workers, irregular status and health services because they raise awareness among these temporary stays in the country, quite frequently have to face professionals about the impact may explain the lack of involve- discriminatory attitudes from that stigma and discrimination ment of sex workers in advocacy administrative staff. play in social exclusion initiatives for better working and living conditions. The training developed inter- improve interpersonal skills, personal skills and the necessary enabling these professionals to The creation of RTS in 2011 knowledge among front-line better mediate access to health. made easier the collective professionals working in public mobilisation of organisations health centres in order to guar- Impacts and individuals towards com- antee universal access to health APDES believes that training mon causes, and members of and to enable these profession- targeting those professionals this network are increasingly als to perform their role with who mediate people’s access organising for political action, vulnerable groups, taking into to services will definitely benefit working on legal issues, involv- account their specificities, in many people, particularly the ing sex workers in their work, a non-judgemental way and most marginalised groups, even and motivating sex workers for based upon a human rights if indirectly. APDES also expects self-organisation. approach. that these professionals will Below is a list of the most sig- The training was able to: share with their colleagues nificant initiatives developed in provide clear information the knowledge, tools and Portugal in recent years towards strategies acquired to best about legal frameworks regulat- the self-mobilisation of sex p o r tug a l ing public health access, in par- respond to some clients’ needs, workers, the capacity building ticular for migrant populations counting towards a sustainable of organisations and individuals, achievement. the involvement of sex workers, 127 the improvement of policies and organisations working in duction of the products ‘Work and the recognition of sex the field, along with sex work- Safe in Sex Work’, ‘Sex Work workers’ rights. ers and other relevant actors, Migration Health’, ‘Sex Work in were called on to decide on the Europe Report’, and the website All organisations mentioned course and contents. www.services4sexworkers.eu contributed to this national overview of major events. The result, which was highly Several meetings, confer- disseminated, raised enormous ences and seminars on this topic controversy among the com- were held in recent years. UMAR munity, particularly among the organised the Feminist Congress Portuguese Communist Party. in 2008 with a panel on traffick- Much of this controversy had to ing in women and prostitution, do with the use of the term ‘sex a training course titled “Prostitu- work’ and how this reality was tion and Sexual Services” was presented. RTS issued a position held in 2008 with the participa- paper supporting the appropri- tion of Colectivo Hetaira from ateness of such a campaign to Madrid, and two workshops sex workers’ realities. about prostitution were held in Strengthening Lisbon and Porto in 2011. cooperation between The network produced another organisations and collective statement repudiat- The Autoestima programme, on promoting policy ing a campaign produced by behalf of the TAMPEP Network, the European Women’s Lobby organised a national confer- change that clearly violates sex work- ence in 2009 which gathered Collaboration fosters debate ers’ rights and dignity and that together almost all the NGOs and the taking of collective the Portuguese Platform for working in the field of sex work positions regarding sex workers’ Women’s Rights disseminated in the country. rights. on 18 October, the EU Anti-Traf- APDES organised in Porto the ficking Day. The National Coordination for 5th Latin American Conference HIV/AIDS, the major funder of Autoestima, the Portuguese on Harm Reduction in 2009, interventions and research in representative partner of the integrating some panels and the field of sex work, launched a European project TAMPEP, workshops to discuss sex work- campaign targeting sex workers involved almost all the national related issues, with the partici and their clients. To develop this organisations working in the sex pation of European activists campaign, a participatory meth- work field in the mapping of sex such as Pia Covre, Laura Agustín odology was put into place, work in Portugal and in the pro- and Pye Jacobson. 128 In 2011, Panteras Rosa wrote Developing NGOs to promote the collective an open letter about trade activist initiatives mobilisation of sex workers. unions and sex work in time of and giving APDES developed two editions crises, calling on sex workers to of the training course Manage- join and to fight for equal rights, sex workers visibility and voice ment of Associations of Drug and demonstrating their sup- Users and Sex Workers with the port for the prevention cam- Several organisations, aca- aim of promoting the involve- paign launched by the National demics and sex workers have ment of these target groups in Coordination for HIV/AIDS. been involved in the organisa- the development of collectives 17 December has motivated tion of the May Day commemo- and associations. The NGO OSIO the development of some initia- rations and in the mobilisation implemented in 2009 the pro- tives to raise community aware- of sex workers calling for the ject ‘Together we can. Stop dis- ness of sex workers’ rights and recognition of sex work as work. crimination’, aiming to promote the need to combat prejudice This initiative was seen in 2009 the mobilisation of street-based and other forms of violence. in Lisbon and in 2010 and 2011 sex workers for their rights. In 2005 two academics and in Porto and Lisbon. The actions, priorities and themes debated during this activists organised a national During the last few years, a project were selected by around meeting with sex workers and transgender activist member of 16 sex workers taking part. stakeholders; in 2010 APDES or- RTS has been participating in ganised a debate and a party at several networks, projects and Some videos have been which the Sex Workers in Europe conferences on behalf of sex developed giving visibility to Manifesto19 was read; in 2011 the workers and transgender rights. sex workers’ reality and voice: Network on Sex Work devel- In 2010, some sex work- ‘Do corpo à palavra’ (2007) oped a national event with the ers, one manager of an indoor regarding sex workers’ right involvement of politicians, sex sex venue, and the mediator to motherhood. workers, academics and NGOs in of Porto G (APDES) worked a debate, followed by a party. ‘Prostituição: Não ao precon- together to successfully negoti- ceito. Sim à pessoa’ (2010) to ate a reduction of prices of ads combat prejudice and giving in the newspaper that has the voice to sex workers. monopoly on commercial sex advertisements in the city of ‘Das 9 às 5’ (2011) regarding the

Porto. diverse picture of sex work in p o r tug a l 19 Signed by 120 sex workers from 26 countries Several projects and other Portugal. at the European Conference on Sex Work, Human Rights, Labour and Migration, initiatives were developed by October 2005, Brussels, Belgium. 129 Consulting and involving sex workers in decisions Some NGOs integrated mediators and/or peer educators into their teams, benefiting from their knowledge, experience and integration in sex work venues. These include Espaço Pessoa, (APF), OSIO and Porto G (APDES). Additionally, under the PREVIH project GAT and APDES initiated in 2011 the training A high number of organisa- Sex workers took part in the of outreach teams to integrate tions involve sex workers in the needs assessment to select the peers in their work, and training planning, implementation and most suitable and essential peers to develop their skills as evaluation of their projects and services to provide. They were peer educators. initiatives. GAT is developing also involved in the design of For the preparation of the a pioneer study ‘PREVIH: HIV/ the project, in the development European Conference on Sex AIDS Infection in Groups of MSM of events, interventions and Work, held in Brussels in 2005, a and Sex Workers: Prevalence, publications, and in the annual participatory process to involve Determinants, Prevention Inter- evaluation of the project and Portuguese sex workers in the ventions and Access to Health subsequent redefinition of the initiative was set in motion by an Services’. actions and strategies. activist member of RTS. Testimo- This study involves the par- nies were collected from several ticipation and consultation of sex workers in Porto in order to a large number of sex workers identify their main needs and and NGOs working in the field. complaints, and this information APDES’ outreach project Porto G was compiled into a document has, from its conception to which was sent to the commit- its constitution, incorporated a tee of the Conference. consistent participatory methodology and consultation of sex workers. 130

situation in Spain of sex workers’ ers’ rights. Since its foundation SPAIN rights. Sex workers’ rights were there has been a steady increase not only poorly recognised, but in organisations taking part. In were also being actively cut 2011 there were ten participants, n Spain, sex work is back. It had become impossible but there was a motion to incor- neither legal nor illegal. for sex workers to work without porate three more organisations However, pimping is a persecution and stigmatisation from Barcelona and Madrid. criminal offence. As sex in cities like Madrid, as a result of The network is composed of a work is a marginalised and the City of Madrid’s Plan Against mix of organisations with varied clandestine activity it is Sexual Slavery, and Barcelona, backgrounds. They all share the still hard to unify and mobilise due to civic by-laws passed by Isex workers in the country. In common goal and understand- the city hall. Both of these mod- ing that sex workers should be spite of this, Hetaira and other els were repressive, and were given their rights and not be dis- organisations in Spain have de- starting to appear in other cities criminated against. It is a means voted considerable effort to am- around the country. plifying sex workers’ voices and to unite the voices of those who keeping them at the forefront of Eleven organisations responded do not identify with abolitionist the debate on their rights. to the call, and in March 2006 or prohibitionist ideas, but who the first Plataforma Estatal por believe in the diverse realities of In this chapter, the Spanish civil los Derechos del Trabajo Sexual the sex industry and in differ- society networking initiatives in was created. ent solutions to consider. The the field of sex work reveal the network’s demands are: country’s capacity to improve The National Network for Labour and social rights for the living and working situation the Rights of Sex Workers is a those who work in prostitution of sex workers in the country, in- network of like-minded NGOs cluding migrants. It is a chapter that exchange information, Quality jobs with adequate devoted to strong activism and ideas and tactics concerning salaries, not fake programmes remarkable social mobilisation. the fight for sex workers’ rights. based on the idea of ‘rehabilita- The network meets once a year tion’, rescue, and benefits for and these meetings have been those who want to leave sex traditionally organised in Madrid work (for whatever reason) NATIONAL by Colectivo Hetaira. In 2009, a Combating organised crime, NETWORKING website was created, trabajo- without negative repercussions sexual.org, where the network’s for the women spai n In 2006 it became apparent that manifesto, goals and press Attention to migrant sex a network needed to be organ- releases may be found. It is a vis- workers’ needs. ised due to the ever-declining ible space promoting sex work- 131 In 2007, the mixed senate Since 2004, there has been one, that impede sex workers’ congress of the Spanish govern- a highly active abolitionist rights and put sex workers in ment came to a resolution that feminist lobby, whose pressure a more vulnerable position in prostitution is violence against can be increasingly felt in the society. It is there to affirm their women. government’s general attitude rights, to improve knowledge towards prostitution. The and evidence about this field, Although it was admitted that criminalisation of clients and the and to intervene in the media, there was no official or serious conceptualisation of prostitu- policy development and sup- data concerning prostitution in tion as violence are ideas that port services for sex workers. Spain, it was still concluded that are gaining strength. Although 90% of female sex workers were The member organisations of the government has not drafted forced into sex work. It was also the network are typically very any direct laws concerning sex here that the idea of banning present and active at their local work, it has remained passive in sex ads in the daily press was levels, including taking an active the face of municipalities that first proposed. role in their local networks and implement by-laws whose main environments. This fact has sig- In June 2008, the network is- purpose is to eliminate street nificant relevance if we consider sued a press release against the prostitution. that strong local networks are campaign to eliminate these Sex workers are suffering even able to influence coalitions and advertisements in Spanish more persecution, and are stakeholders on a national level. newspapers. That same year, stamped with the contradic- In other words, due to strong the government put together tory label of victim or delin- and active engagement at local the National Plan Against Human quent. Public opinion is being levels they are able to share and Trafficking. Fundamentally, it swayed towards the abolitionist raise awareness on these mat- related to trafficking for the discourse in which women, in ters at a national level. purposes of sexual exploitation. particular, never choose to be This would have been an appro- Basically, each organisation in in sex work. It is regarded as a priate move had it not constant- this platform contributes infor- form of sexual exploitation and ly confused trafficking of people mation on what is happening in violence and therefore should with the smuggling of people their part of Spain or with the be removed from public view, across borders; and prostitution sex work population that they and eventually from Spain in its with trafficking. This national specifically work with. They also entirety. plan was protested against and each contribute different forms criticised again in a press release The Plataforma is a network for of expertise (e.g. problems faced in the name of the network. responding to these challenges. by male sex workers), ways of It found a way to join forces resolving conflict (community 132 against discourses such as this meetings, demonstrations) and fresh problem resolution meth- The partners AMTTTSE | Malaga ods (e.g. the use of data protec- Spanish association for female, CATS | Murcia including transgender, sex workers tion laws against the fining of Committee for the Support of (Asociación de Mujeres, Travestis sex workers or clients). Sex Workers (Comité de Apoyo y Transexuales Trabajadores a las Trabajadoras del Sexo) de Sexo de España) There are three organisations Spanish and migrant sex workers. For all sex workers in Spain. www.asociacioncats.org that are LGBT. The LGBT move- CTSX | Madrid Fundaciòn Triangulo | Madrid Committee of Sex Workers ment is pro-sex workers’ rights Male and transgender sex worker (Comité de Trabajadores de Sexo) because 1) there are many LGBT organisation. Branches in Andalucia, Exclusively by and for sex workers. Canarias, Castilla y la Mancha, Colectivo Hetaira | Madrid people involved in sex work; 2) Castilla y Leon, Extremadura Female, including transgender, they recognise that sex workers www.fundaciontriangulo.org sex workers. who are pushed out of sight are Transexualia | Madrid www.colectivohetaira.org more vulnerable to all forms of Transgender sex workers. www.transexualia.org abuse and to STIs/HIV; 3) they Lloc de la Dona | Barcelona INDOORS partner are against moralistic law-mak- Female sex workers. ing and believe that sex workers www.llocdeladona.org Colectivo Hetaira in general should be able to Ambit Dona | Barcelona Male and female sex workers. work in the best conditions Colectivo Hetaira is an organisa- www.fambitprevencio.org/ tion that was founded in 1995 to possible. The main contribution treball-sexual.php fight against the social stigma of these groups in particular is Genera | Barcelona that they complete the picture Female sex workers. that fell upon sex workers; to http://www.genera.org.es of sex work in Spain through the defend their rights; to facilitate Cogam | Madrid the organisation of sex workers direct participation of male and LGBT sex workers. transgender sex workers. www.cogam.org as workers; to promote solidarity APDH Andalucia | Andalucia between women; to erase the The network can be loosely Andalucian Pro-Human Rights divide between ‘bad’ women divided into three main types Association (Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de Andalucía) (sex workers) and ‘good’ women of organisations: advocacy and Male and female sex workers. (everyone else); to reinforce sex social provision, community and www.apdha.org workers’ self-esteem and seek to human rights, and sex worker- Lambda | Valencia empower them; and to be a ref- led. Collective of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals (Colectivo erence point in their daily lives de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y and as a mediator in conflicts. Bisexuales); LGBT sex workers. www.lambdavalencia.org spai n

133 Barriers sex workers, and service provid- wide range of actors, including and capacities ers working with and for them, the general public via social in Spain. Its importance has media. Hetaira and the Plataforma work grown of late due to extreme Finally, all members of the net- on a cooperation model. They governmental actions against work share a need to overcome share initiatives which aim to sex workers. The information ideological problems with improve the services and work- coming from local actions local governments that do not ing conditions of sex workers provides evidence of the reality favour sex workers’ rights. While in Spain. This model depends faced by sex workers and plays a financing diverse pro-rights pro- heavily on individual know-how role in the demystification of sex grammes remains a great chal- and engagement of the network workers as victims. members. The organisations lenge for all NGOs in the field, contribute to the network’s The network is self-funded by the network takes advantage development, the meetings its member organisations, and of what each member brings to and other bilateral activities for this reason meetings are the table in terms of solution- in accordance with their own crucial to improve capacities and finding and powerful advocacy capacity. overcome barriers. Members work. contribute by sharing the divi- Hetaira is not just historically sion of tasks following network the organiser of the network; meetings. In opposition to the its actions influence the ideol- lack of funding, the network Time for ogy and position of network makes use of its national cover- action members. Even with limited age to develop national cohe- human resources and a lack of sion and mobilisation on sex Since 2006, the network contin- financial support, Hetaira is able workers’ rights and needs. ues to be the only sex worker ac- to engage volunteers in events, tivist forum in Spain. By unifying projects, training, referrals and Another form of capacity build- and strengthening communica- network activities. Sex workers ing is the ability of some of its tion between members, the net- involved in Hetaira take part in members, such as Hetaira, to work was able to react on differ- the leadership of the organisa- join advocacy tools such as ent fronts. This is because most tion and also influence strategic creative art materials (banners, organisations are grassroots and actions within the network’s leaflets, etc.) with provocative community-based. The network decision-making process. The and ironic language demand- itself serves to support them in Plataforma represents the only ing rights for sex workers. These their individual actions, and in national capacity building and materials are available on the their local contexts. awareness-raising initiative for organisations’ websites, and are 134 circulated on the internet to a The consensus-building of this Successful This seems accurate to us, and platform is highly relevant to the cooperation we agree with the distinction homogeneity of local actions, that the introduction makes with the same ideology and as- Hetaira’s recent position paper between human trafficking and sociated decisions behind them. regarding the National Plan the trafficking of illegal im- It can be argued that although Against Human Trafficking migrants. Nevertheless, in the the network itself has few com- reflected upon the networks’ package of measures proposed mon actions, the capacity of position and capacity to coun- by the Government, this distinc- members to agree on certain teract the current situation in tion is obscured, since both issues promotes a common Spain. phenomena are, in many cases, national strategy on sex work. treated identically. Integral Plan against One example of a common ac- Trafficking of Human We are particularly concerned tion developed by the network Beings for the Purposes of by the fact that the measures was the ability to arrange a Sexual Exploitation proposed by the plan for protec- meeting with the Defensor del tion and care of the victims are We are delighted that the Pueblo – the Ombudsman – to determined by reporting and Government has at last worked demand action be taken against collaboration in the pursuit of ‘out a plan against the trafficking the discriminatory by-laws that criminal networks. Trafficking is of human beings. Nevertheless, persecute outdoor sex work- such a grave crime that protect- we are worried that, given the ers. This commissioner would ing the victims should be the grave violation of human rights be able to put pressure on the focus of governmental actions. that is trafficking, the resulting relevant municipalities. These must be considered plan is focused on ‘purposes subjects of protection, rights As a network and in terms of sexual exploitation’, leaving and repair, independently of of advocacy, press releases behind other forms of human their collaboration with police were disseminated after every trafficking (labour exploitation and the judicial system. On the national seminar, denouncing in other economic activities, contrary, in the plan presented the national and local govern- forced marriage or servitude). by the Government, victims are ments for the actions they have According to the International considered fundamentally as taken against sex work, and the Labour Organisation (ILO) in the witnesses in judicial processes, if inefficiency of the National Plan European Union, the traffick- not delinquents should they re- Against Human Trafficking. Fi- ing of human beings for the fuse to cooperate. In this sense, nally, the network is highly con- purposes of sexual exploitation spai n not only police measures but cerned with the implementation is not the only existing kind of also social measures are lack- of said Plan, as can be read in exploitation, nor even the main ing, for early detection and the the position paper below. one (20-32% of cases). 135 protection of victims. Expulsions victims to obtain a work permit, Aims and deportations of victims to which is indispensable for their their countries of origin urgently recovery and social integration, The national seminar itself is the need to stop. and the residence permit is only main collective action promoted mentioned for those who have by the Spanish network of or- We believe that the Government previously testified. ganisations that work with and is wrong when it claims that for sex workers. The whole struc- “trafficking cannot be dissoci- Finally, we welcome the Govern- ture of the event is focused and ated from prostitution”. For us, ment’s commitment to under- based on Spain’s main problems it is essential that ‘voluntary’ take studies and research in related to sex work. The aim was prostitution is interpreted as an order to shed light on human to address and better under- economic activity that should trafficking and its consequences, stand what these problems were have labour rights, and forced making intervention possible and respond to them in a collec- prostitution is a crime. However, in the recovery of victims and tive and adequate manner. some measures are aimed at initiation of adequate and perti- fighting prostitution (control of nent social resources. In 2011, the national seminar contact ads in the media, cam- aimed specifically to develop paigning to reduce demand), a national strategy to respond not the trafficking of human ’ to stricter and more confining beings. EVENTS by-laws developed by local municipalities which push Proposed measures are pending CARRIED OUT outdoor sex workers out of further development whose urban centres and indoors. The efficiency will have to be evalu- DURING idea was mainly to advocate for ated at the time, but some of adequate working conditions for them are clearly insufficient. INDOORS outdoor-based sex workers in For instance, the 30-day period Spanish cities. With this in mind, given to victims to consider if National Seminar discussions were held to identify they want to testify is too short, On 7 May 2011 the annual effective ways to stop fines and as explained by NGOs work- national seminar took place in institutional oppression. Organi- ing with victims suffering from Madrid at the Colectivo Hetaira sations and sex workers could trauma, which point out that at office. Attending were members also define and agree on which least 90 days are necessary. of the national network and two specific workers’ rights needed We are particularly worried new sex worker-led organisa- to be protected, respected and that the plan does not explic- tions, AMTTTSE and CTSX. fulfilled. itly mention the possibility for 136 Throughout the event, members stop to the repressive actions As the discussion progressed it of the Plataforma exchanged against sex workers across Spain, became clear that there was no knowledge on the situation of improving access to rights, unanimous agreement between indoor sex work in other parts of information, safety, and better members on the exact mean- Spain (which differs province by working conditions. ings of these words and terms. province), discussed strategies It was therefore decided that He- used for outreach and project Contents taira would organise a workshop implementation and their re- on sex work terminology. It is The seminar took place over one sults, addressed the lack of lead- noteworthy that without the ef- full work day in Madrid, and its ers and/or peer educators, and forts of this seminar, members of discussions were driven accord- had a lot to say about working the network would still differ in ing to specific topics of common conditions. Specifically regard- their use of those terms, which concern. ing indoor workers, the focus could badly impact the progress was on the obligatory health Defining terms related of the networks’ actions. To have checks enforced by club owners, to human trafficking common terminology and in- control over time schedules, and prostitution terpretations of some key terms what types of sexual services The seminar began with a is fundamental for the develop- were offered, rent price, percent- discussion on terms used by ment of any social movement. age taken by owners, imposed the press, the government and The reason for this discussion conditions, and violence within society in general concern- was to find strategies to end this the workplace. ing human trafficking and sex confusion and put the notion of At a glance, this seminar was an work. The network has noted voluntary prostitution back in opportunity to develop com- a constant confusion of the the public mind. It was also con- mon strategies; mitigate the smuggling of undocumented cluded that a dossier should be negative impacts of repressive migrants with human trafficking made for the press so that they policies, measures and legisla- and sex slavery. There is also the know how to define sex work. tion on sex workers’ lives; to indiscriminate intermittent use An interesting point that came prepare recommendations; and of (voluntary) sex work and sex out of this talk was that in the to train and support peers and slavery/sexual exploitation. The National Plan Against Human sex worker community leaders idea that sex workers may be Trafficking and the Penal Code, to take action. exploited in the workplace be- a sex worker’s consent to work cause of bad working conditions

As a result, the network expects for a third party is considered ir- spai n is never covered in the press. that the sharing of knowledge relevant because the sex worker The idea of consensual prostitu- and expertise – at this seminar is in a vulnerable position and tion has disappeared from these and at future ones – can put a therefore has no choice. How public debates. 137 ever, consent is defined under Data Protection Agency, there- (social, health, etc.) the respons- the notion of Contract Law, fore any effects would remain es and information shared are which states that two adults local) is of course a good exam- varied. Organisations that work who are of age and are not ple for other NGOs across Spain. with male and transsexual sex incapacitated, nor under duress, workers appear to see higher The Spanish Constitution can consent to offer and accept prices for services and more guarantees, at least in theory, an agreement (the contract). flexible working conditions. the right to privacy. This right Denying sex workers the right to was further developed in the It seems that every venue consent (without threat, intimi- Organic Law on Data Protec- decides on its own rules, dation or violence) is to consider tion, passed by the Spanish regulations and standards. Some them either as minors or facile. Parliament and thus in force all places impose regular health The increasing over Spain: this means that the checks while others don’t, and national tendency unconstitutionality of such sanc- clubs may take up to 80% of the towards eradicating tions ought to be investigated sex workers’ earnings, though street prostitution should appeals be dismissed. the usual percentage tends to be 50-60%. Sex workers In Malaga, sex workers from In regions across Spain, local normally feel they can decide AMTTTSE demanded from municipalities are adopting for themselves what sort of the municipality a ‘tolerance stricter and more confining by- services they are prepared to zone’ in which they could work laws aimed at pushing outdoor offer, except in venues where safely. All the institutions they sex workers out of urban cen- they are not in charge of the approached denied having the tres. The NGOs in Barcelona have advertising. In this case they can jurisdiction to grant that space. been dealing with these by-laws find themselves confronted with for five years. According to their The conclusion reached was that a client demanding a service experience, since fines are ad- members of the network would they do not want to provide, in ministrative resolutions, it is the refer the case to their local Peo- an environment in which the issuing administration (i.e. the ple’s Advocate and issue a press pressure for customer satisfac- municipality) that has the power release regarding the violation tion is high. to revoke or revise the sanction. of and damage to sex workers’ As far as violence goes, the re- If a fine is challenged by an NGO rights due to the criminalisation sponse is varied: few sex workers but upheld by the municipality, of their work. the next step is court. admit to experiencing violence. Indoor sex work Outreach teams do not see it The experience of Catalonia first-hand and sex workers may As all of the network members (where challenges to fines are only talk about it when it con- presented to the Catalonian function from a different angle 138 cerns another person, another venue and another time. Vio- press to draw journalists’ atten- In the discussion on how to lence from clients does happen, tion to the ill-used terms in their identify and train leaders and but is rare. Owners mostly take articles; a letter requesting a peer educators, the outcome the sex workers’ side and throw meeting with the local People’s focused more on problems the client out. On the other Advocate in order to address encountered by the members hand, sex workers do not feel the persecution of outdoor in getting sex workers involved that they can turn to the police, sex workers in many regions of in advocacy. However there was because they won’t be listened Spain; and a workshop in 2012 a very strong conclusion that to or taken seriously. for network members concern- only sex workers who feel proud ing the misused terms in the of their work could be leaders. Training of press about prostitution. This shows that more incentives peer educators should be made to fight the The network wanted to update stigma attached to sex work and Although there are two network information concerning prostitu- to provide sex workers with sup- member groups that were tion laws in different regions and port to stand up for their rights. formed exclusively by and for to analyse the legal responses of sex workers, it is still difficult to other organisations to by-laws Another breakthrough was the get sex workers involved long- against sex workers. The ex- definition of consent in the civic term for the continued fight for change of information between code, of which members were workers’ human rights. It was the Genera and Ambit Dona and unaware. This is a good political agreed at the seminar that one the rest of the group was invalu- tool to use in the fight for sex of the priorities later on is to able. They explained the process workers’ rights. support, train and mentor sex of how they fought against fines, It was also learned that many workers in their activism, to in- and the obstacles they encoun- members were not clear on the crease the number of individual tered. ATTTSE´s effort to obtain differences between different sex workers involved in advo- a tolerance zone was a positive terms used in the press concern- cacy work and attain a stronger one for the sex workers, but also ing sex work. The future work- sex worker leadership. showed that the municipality shop will be an effective way to is only interested in pushing out- unite the network and build its Results and door sex work out of sight and capacity. improvements is not, at least presently, open The outputs of the national to negotiation. Furthermore, a seminar were a press release to united move to write to all of spai n be distributed about the meet- the People’s Advocates was a ing; a press dossier to be made good conclusion, keeping the and distributed to the Spanish plight of outdoor sex workers on the agenda. 139 Impacts SOCIAL One of the most important aspects of the network is the MOBILISATION support that is generated and felt by each organisation. Many of the members are small grass- Hetaira’s approach of social mo- The campaigns, actions and roots associations that not only bilisation and capacity building strategies are shared on He- need to learn from each other is strongly influenced by its char- taira’s website and social media and exchange knowledge, but acteristics (small size, limited tools in a creative and artistic also need to feel that they are financial and human resources, manner. local scope), and the social not alone in their defence/sup- Being a grassroots project context in which it operates port of sex workers’ rights. makes it a reliable interlocu- (strongly abolitionist, with great tor for both sex workers and Several agreements were influence on legislators and small communities, such as reached and these unified and policy-makers, on one hand, and neighbourhoods, small business strengthened the network. This the media and Spanish society, owners or the municipal police. seminar succeeded in gather- on the other), giving Hetaira an These are all stakeholders in ing together, for the first time, even stronger ideological twist, the environment in which sex forces from two organisations since the organisation’s position work takes place in most cities exclusively led by sex workers is in the minority and its work of Spain. (AMTTSE and CTSX). The impact goes far beyond mere social of this is not in terms of political assistance. Taking all these factors into ac- action, but in terms of legitima- count, Hetaira’s key stakeholders The internet has significantly cy of the network as one work- can be divided into the follow- broadened Hetaira’s geographic ing with and for sex workers. In ing categories, which require scope, making it possible to this way, sex workers were able different strategies to achieve reach similar organisations all to represent themselves directly its goals. in the discussions and improve over the world; thus, it can over- the knowledge of the group come the invisibility imposed Policy-makers (public ad- regarding the current situation. by the mass media, allowing ministrations, international for an enriching exchange of organisations such as UN agen- information with other agents cies, the Spanish judicial system, that until recently could not the police) are large and not express their opinions (sex easy to reach; nevertheless, workers, small unions, neigh- Hetaira has participated since 1999 in several commissions 140 bourhood associations). and conferences convened by In a more informal way and in Here media’s importance is authorities such as Congress, the small geographical areas, it is to be highlighted, since they Senate and the Judiciary General important to keep in contact transmit information between Council to debate different is- with other relevant actors who policy-makers and the gen- sues related to prostitution. have contact with sex work- eral population. They provide ers, such as the local police, On another level, Hetaira has Hetaira with great opportunities community-based organisa- been campaigning through its to spread its pro-rights position, tions, neighbourhood associa- website and social media tools although it is usually ignored. tions, small business owners, etc. (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), in order Hetaira also has strong links In such contexts, Hetaira to effect policy change. It has with the LGBT movement, since an online campaign asking Mrs. has a solid enough reputation to participation in its activities (for Leire Pajín, the Spanish Minister act as a mediator between sex instance, a sex worker presence of Health and Equality, to re- workers and the local commu- at Madrid’s Gay Pride), attracts spond to sex workers’ demands nity, in order to solve conflicts of strong media attention. regarding safety and health. interest. This has already taken Nonetheless, Hetaira is ex- place in Montera street and Service providers (health tremely careful when deciding the Villaverde district, where a services, other NGOs, legal advi- whether or not to appear on conflict between sex workers sors) are key potential partners, certain television programmes. and local residents has allowed since they bridge the gap It prefers to lose media cover- Hetaira to go further in its between sex workers and public age if it has suspicions about the defence of sex workers’ rights. A policy-makers. Hetaira regularly production methods, especially press conference and demon- meets representatives of other concerning sex workers’ privacy. stration in Madrid have recently networks, to inform them of the Hetaira will not sell out nor de- put Madrid’s sex workers in the current situation of prostitu- stroy its relationship with the sex spotlight, gaining attention from tion in Madrid. This is also a way workers, which, like all strong the Spanish media. Accordingly, to build strong partnerships relationships, is built on trust. a meeting with the Mayor of Ma- with those who cover essential drid, Mr. Alberto Ruiz Gallardón, But there is nothing like directly multidisciplinary aspects like has been requested to highlight reaching public opinion, advocacy, health and human the sex workers’ request for the although this is difficult within rights protection. negotiation of an appropriate the current abolitionist climate. space in which to work with Nonetheless, Hetaira’s website dignity, ‘without disturbing or and Facebook profile are prov- spai n being disturbed’. ing to be powerful tools.

141 It’s through Facebook, however, matter how the advocacy work Within a more academic envi- that Hetaira conducts most of its is carried out, Hetaira always ronment, Hetaira has given lec- online campaigning. There it can focuses on bringing out the sex tures and organised conferences deliver up-to-date messages to workers’ role in claiming their (La prostitución a debate – por its followers (more than 4,700), rights, giving them an empow- los derechos de las prostitutas, engage with the public, and ering visibility. Promoting sex Madrid, 2004, with a compila- provide an interactive space for workers who accept themselves tion book edited in 2007; …Y sex workers, other collectives as such and talk about it publicly ahora, las trabajadoras del sexo, and activists. It is further used as puts them back in the leading Madrid, 2010), offering a more a means of monitoring opinion role, one they should have had theoretical and specialised on its campaigns and a tool to from the beginning. This idea, viewpoint on sex work, aimed at develop them. It is an excellent though, is difficult to develop universities and academics. way to show Hetaira’s multifac- since the stigma continues to Up until now, the key stakehold- eted involvement in sex worker weigh heavily. That’s why He- er who remains widely unknown support. taira focuses on strengthening is the client. The campaign their self-esteem by providing Hetaira has strong links with ‘I am a sex professional’, aimed them with the necessary tools the world of art and culture. at clients, involved sex workers and training to express and de- Artistic works are excellent ve- handing out brochures that con- fend their rights by themselves. hicles through which to express tained some basic health, safety pro-rights ideas. For instance, in An example of this attitude and rules on mutual respect to recent months Hetaira has been could be the Lumifashion show ensure the fair transaction of promoting Hetairas, a book con- (Madrid, 2008). Here sex workers sexual services. taining photos of sex workers by promoted their own trendiness Spanish artist Alexis W, and Puta as a tongue-in-cheek response Poesía, a compilation of poems to municipal authorities and about prostitution. local entrepreneurs who wanted to transform the red light district Hetaira always tries to maintain into a ‘trendy’ shopping area. a positive, optimistic perspec- Another good example is the tive in its declarations. A sense catchphrase directed at activists of humour is far more persuasive calling Spanish politicians ‘sons and captivating than the usual of whores’ (hijos de puta) during victim rhetoric. This is entirely the demonstrations in May 2011: consistent with its philosophy, ‘We whores insist – politicians which is not views sex workers are no sons of ours!’ 142 as possessing agency. In fact, no Recommendations

Capacity building Sufficient financial resources for Awareness raising sex worker-led organisations should Governments and NGOs work- be provided in order to enable Awareness raising should have ing with and for sex workers should them to assist sex workers in their the ultimate objective of empower- empower sex work projects to bet- fight for their rights, for advocacy ing sex workers, which should be ter respond to sex workers’ needs. and lobbying activities. reached through peaceful coexist- ence and mutual understanding Governments should acknowl- Nowadays, electronic means between sex workers and the wider edge the expertise of NGOs and permit broader communication. society. CBOs by incorporating them in the Therefore, these should be used policy-making process. more often to inform, facilitate co- Awareness should be raised Comprehensive service provi- operation, and empower sex work- among politicians to ensure services sion should involve law enforce- ers. Additionally, new information that protect sex workers’ human ment authorities and the public and and communication technologies rights, which include their access private sectors. are effective tools for building net- to non-discriminatory social and health services. Services should be able to works and cross-border alliances. reach diverse sex work venues and Because capacity building can Awareness raising within sex communities, especially those more be a time-consuming process and work requires a regular updating of isolated, hidden and distanced from the results are not always immedi- information regarding the legal and support services. ate, organisations working with a social situation of a given context, as well as the evolution of the in- Services should work with mul- multicultural team and targeting door and outdoor sectors and their tidisciplinary outreach teams: they a multicultural group should be working conditions. Organisations increase the effectiveness of the flexible and tolerant regarding their carrying out outreach work should services provided. own structure and working plan. adapt their intervention strategies Regarding the principles of Services should establish to these changes in order to antici- participatory feminism, capacity partnerships with other services pate possible problems. acting in different areas, in order to building should be built upon the Law enforcement activities have develop a comprehensive approach good practices recommended by significant impact on sex workers’ to sex workers’ needs and realities. those who fought for sex workers’ rights from the beginning, pursuing working conditions, increasing their Measures undertaken by differ- the idea of solidarity within the vulnerability. Rights-based evidence ent stakeholders should always be women’s movement instead of and information should therefore adapted to the living and working dividing it. be made public to clarify to the realities of sex workers, and should general public the consequences of include respect for the full protec- punitive and repressive policies. tion of sex workers’ human rights. 143 Regarding public opinion and To build the capacity of service outcomes, to support sex workers’ the media, organisations working providers and reduce the vulner- rights and combat discrimination with and for sex workers should ability of sex workers, organisations and stigmatisation. take the role of deconstructing should ensure the participation of Whenever possible, other stereotypes and myths related sex workers on all discussion levels. stakeholders – bar and apartment to issues such as the distinction Peer educators should be managers and receptionists, clients between sex work and trafficking, trained and integrated into every and other key actors – should be by insisting on and promoting the outreach team in a formal and pro- involved in actions and projects use of correct terminology by the fessionalised manner, permitting related to sex work. media. them to be employed on a regular Local and national networks of Organisations should develop contractual basis and paid fairly. sex work projects should facilitate initiatives to raise awareness among Sex workers should be allowed the sharing of knowledge and good all stakeholders involved in the sex to speak for themselves, because practice to encourage international industry, including the clients of sex nobody knows better than they do exchange. workers. about their own reality and needs. Advocacy campaigns should Organisations and politicians Sex workers should be given a link in with long-term activities. should consider the development voice to facilitate their visibility and Organisations should identify of a policy framework that focuses demands.

Recommendations key informants before launching on the safety and well-being of sex Existing networks dealing with advocacy campaigns, and raise workers, ensuring equal treatment sex work issues should be further awareness among key agents deal- and protection under the justice developed and have their structures ing with issues connected to sex system, regardless of their status. better adapted to promote, support work and labour, migration, health Respect for individual choices and integrate sex workers. and human rights. and an absence of moral judgement Networks and allies should be should be fundamental require- Advocacy and responsible for the information they ments for every person working in cooperation provide as well as bearing respon- the field of sex work. sibility for the dissemination of any Local, national and regional misleading information. Sex worker networks should be strengthened through cooperation between leadership | different human resources and peer education expertise, between civil society Sex workers and sex work representatives and sex workers. projects should be included as Networks of different institu- experts in all phases of the design, tions and organisations, together development, implementation and with sex workers, should con- evaluation of any policy that affects tinuously monitor policies on sex sex workers and their well-being. work, their implementation and