Structural Stigmatization of Sex Workers in Cambodia A two-part report by Melissa Ditmore, Ph.D. for Women’s Network for Unity, a community-based organisation of sex workers in Cambodia, and Womyn’s Agenda for Change STRUCTURAL STIGMATIZATION OF SEX WORKERS IN CAMBODIA 2 Map of Cambodia STRUCTURAL STIGMATIZATION OF SEX WORKERS IN CAMBODIA 3 Structural Stigmatisation of Sex Workers in Cambodia A report in two parts by Melissa Ditmore, Ph.D., for Women’s Network for Unity and Womyn’s Agenda for Change 2006. All rights reserved. This work may be used with acknowledgement of the original. STRUCTURAL STIGMATIZATION OF SEX WORKERS IN CAMBODIA 4 Contents Map of Cambodia ............................................................................................................... 2 List of Tables and Illustrations ........................................................................................... 6 Part I: Everyday Lives of Female Sex Workers in Cambodia............................................ 7 Abstract............................................................................................................................... 7 Background......................................................................................................................... 7 Recent Cambodian history and current context.............................................................. 7 Legal context of sex work............................................................................................... 9 Methods............................................................................................................................... 9 Interviews with sex workers ......................................................................................... 10 Interviews with third parties ......................................................................................... 10 Focus groups addressing the history of WNU .............................................................. 11 Findings ............................................................................................................................ 11 Sex industry venues .......................................................................................................... 11 Brothels and massage parlors........................................................................................ 12 Bars ............................................................................................................................... 13 Beer girls................................................................................................................... 13 Karaoke girls............................................................................................................. 14 Independent sex workers in the bars......................................................................... 14 Street-based sex work ................................................................................................... 14 Street prostitution...................................................................................................... 14 Orange sellers............................................................................................................ 15 Entry into sex work........................................................................................................... 15 Economic pressures ...................................................................................................... 15 Social pressures, social connections ............................................................................. 18 Age at entry into sex work............................................................................................ 19 Divorce.......................................................................................................................... 20 Family life......................................................................................................................... 21 Living conditions .............................................................................................................. 23 Earnings from sex work................................................................................................ 29 Other income................................................................................................................. 32 Everyday expenses........................................................................................................ 32 Paying off the police ................................................................................................. 34 Homelessness............................................................................................................ 35 Remittances............................................................................................................... 36 Access to health care and services.................................................................................... 37 HIV/AIDS infection and ARV access .......................................................................... 40 Condom use and access .................................................................................................... 40 Condom distribution by health services........................................................................ 41 Condom supplies at work.............................................................................................. 41 Purchasing condoms ..................................................................................................... 42 Mandatory condom use................................................................................................. 42 Violence and abuse by clients and others ......................................................................... 43 Sisophon........................................................................................................................ 44 Pursat............................................................................................................................. 44 Krakor ........................................................................................................................... 44 STRUCTURAL STIGMATIZATION OF SEX WORKERS IN CAMBODIA 5 Kampot.......................................................................................................................... 45 Kompong Speu.............................................................................................................. 45 Phnom Penh .................................................................................................................. 45 The Garden................................................................................................................ 45 The Building ............................................................................................................. 46 Svay Pak.................................................................................................................... 46 Trolockback .............................................................................................................. 46 Police response to violence against sex workers .............................................................. 47 NGO assistance reporting violence and abuse.............................................................. 49 Abuse and violence by police ........................................................................................... 49 Police violence.............................................................................................................. 49 Arrest as a form of abuse .............................................................................................. 50 Drug use............................................................................................................................ 51 By sex workers.............................................................................................................. 51 Regional availability and use of yama.......................................................................... 52 By clients, police and others ......................................................................................... 53 Drug related arrests....................................................................................................... 54 Violence and drugs ....................................................................................................... 55 Conclusions and recommendations................................................................................... 56 Part II: The History of Women’s Network for Unity ....................................................... 58 WNU and global forces ................................................................................................ 59 WNU and local prejudices............................................................................................ 61 US influence on the Cambodian legal system .................................................................. 61 The current law ............................................................................................................. 61 Local context: Donor dependence and its consequences.............................................. 62 The draft law and its potential impact........................................................................... 62 Conclusions and recommendations..................................................................................