SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES

Transcription

1 SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES An Introduction to Sex Work November 6, 2012 AGENDA Sex Work 101 Prostitution Laws Stigma & Discrimination HIV & Sex Work Strategies for Service Provision 1

2 SEX WORK Sex work and sex worker are umbrella terms to describe any person involved in the sex industry who is exchanging sexual services for money or goods Sex work takes place in many venues: Street-based, indoors (massage parlors, hotels, online) Sex workers are female, male and transgendered People who buy sex are as varied as the people who sell sex. HUMAN GRAPH Opinion Exercise No right or wrong answers! 2

3 CONTINUUM OF SEXUAL EXCHANGE EXPLOITATION VS. SELF-DETERMINATION Exploitation: Under 18 years old is always exploitation! 18 years and over who experience any of the following: - External forces dictate activities: poverty, homelessness - Coerced or forced to provide sexual favours through guilt, threats, blackmail, etc. - Lured or tricked - Human trafficking 3

4 EXPLOITATION VS. SELF-DETERMINATION Self-Determination: Mentally competent and consenting adult Individual identifies that sex work is something they chose without coercion Individual in charge of their earnings Individual recognizes that sex work is an occupation choice and that many people make the decision to make their livelihood this way SELF-DETERMINATION Why choose sex work? Where does this question come from? Understand the difference between what is right for you and what is right for someone else Recognize that everyone has different ways of understanding and expressing sex Many jobs have high risk of occupational hazard Many workers feel they are able to manage these risks Sex work can have its benefits: Flexible hours, high income, autonomy, education/experience not required Sex work may be a short or long-term employment choice 4

5 HUMAN TRAFFICKING Human trafficking involves a process, method and goal. According to the United Nations, human trafficking occurs when one of the activities in each of the following columns is met: ACT Alberta (2011). Retrieved from on June 27, 2011 HARM REDUCTION Harm reduction is the philosophy of working with individuals and communities from where they are at to reduce harm and risk. Recognizes that some harm is inevitable Offers solutions to people to help make safer/healthier choices Understands that abstinence isn t always possible, or the best and only option Strategies include: education, empowerment, occupational health and safety, provision of safer sex supplies, access to safer drug works, prevention, condom negotiation techniques, etc. Every sex worker who wants to exit the sex trade needs the option to do so. All sex workers, however, need the option to work safely, without fear of violence and exploitation - Pivot Legal Society 5

6 RIGHTS BASED APPROACH Respect for basic human rights of people is a core foundation of Shift s approach to sex work. Shift recognizes the rights of sex workers as individuals and as workers Shift advocates on behalf of individuals working in the sex industry based on basic human rights for themselves and their families Basic rights can be things like appropriate health care, housing, safety & security Sex workers are worthy of respect, dignity and protection from all forms of discrimination and stigmatization Violence is NOT something we should accept as part of this job. - Sex Worker SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH Economic and social conditions which determine a person s health and wellbeing Health Services Social Environment Income & Social Status Physical Environment Support Services & Networks Biology & Genetic Endowment Employment & Working Conditions Personal Health Practice & Coping Skills Gender Education Culture Early Childhood There are stereotypes that sex workers are stupid, uneducated, and lazy. - Sex Worker 6

7 PROSTITUTION LAWS IN CANADA Exchanging sex for money and other items of value (Prostitution) is legal in Canada Prostitution laws make it almost impossible to engage in sex work without breaking the law The four main provisions in the criminal code that make it difficult to practice sex work are: 1. Section 210 outlaws common bawdy-houses 2. Section 211 makes in illegal to take or direct a person to a bawdy house 3. Section 212 prohibits living on the avails of prostitution 4. Section 213 outlaws communicating for the purposes of prostitution SEX WORK & LICENSING There are currently three bylaws associated with sex work: Dating and Escort Service Bylaw Exotic Entertainers Bylaw Massage Bylaw 7

8 LEGALIZE OR DECRIMINALIZE? Legalization: Theory to legalize all forms of sex trade The sex trade would be monitored and regulated by government/state May mean that sex workers are required to work only in brothels, pass regular physical exams, etc. E.g. Nevada, Amsterdam, Germany and the State of Victoria in Australia Decriminalization: Ideology to abolish all criminal laws as they apply to the sex trade Means removing sections out of the criminal code. Sex workers could then work without fear of legal persecution as all of the steps involved in their work would be legal E.g. State of New South Wales, New Zealand SHIFT SUPPORTS DECRIMINALIZATION AIDS Calgary endorses efforts to decriminalize prostitution in Canada for those adult individuals who engage in sex work. Reasons for this include: Impact of criminal charges on workers Clarity around exploitation and human trafficking Access to health services Reduce stigma and discrimination Reduce the harm associated with working Addresses legal contradictions Moral Argument 8

9 STIGMA & DISCRIMINATION (The stigma) has created what some call a society where the [sex workers] women are seen as disposable and nobody cares about them. - Stepping Stone, Halifax LANGUAGE Language choices impact the way that we see and understand people involved in sex work: The term sex worker shows respect for the person and for their basic human rights, as well as recognizes that for some sex work is an occupation choice Historically the term prostitute has been associated with criminal and moral deviance, and dehumanizes the person Sexual exploitation as a blanket term for all people involved in sex work does not an accurate portrayal of all sex workers Use person first language 9

10 RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SEX WORK Health Concerns: HIV / Hepatitis C / STI s Substance use Access to health care Mental Health Issues Trauma (physical, emotional) Stigma, Discrimination, & Vulnerability: Isolation Lack of protection / Legal representation Violence / Rape /Abuse Working conditions Media portrayal: Victim vs. Vermin Normalization of violence Cumulative effect of other experience of stigma (race, gender, etc.) HIV & SEX WORK It is important to recognize that HIV transmission is related to unprotected sex, not the exchange of sex for money. Canada: There is no epidemiological evidence in Canada to show that transmission of HIV from sex workers to their clients regularly takes place. Globally: FSWs have 14 times the odds of being infected with HIV. HIV Prevention: Working with sex workers across the continuum. AIDS 2012(2012):Retrieved from: on October 30, 2012 Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network (2012): Retrieved from: =1283 on November 2,

11 NEW DIAGNOSIS & SEX WORK Newly Diagnosed HIV Cases in Alberta by Selected Sexually Risk Exposure and Sex, 2008 to Sex worker Patron of sex worker Total HIV cases Sex worker Patron of sex worker Total HIV cases Sex worker Patron of sex worker Total HIV cases Sex worker Patron of sex worker Total HIV cases Number of cases Male Female Age Group Kimberley Simmonds, Epidemiologist with Alberta Health in her HIV in Alberta Epi Update presentation. STRATEGIES FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS Understand the Continuum of Sexual Exchange and recognize that not all people involved in sex work will want to exit or be prepared to exit Adopt a harm-reduction and open-minded attitude Validate and focus on their individual needs and expectations: identify their priorities and work where they are at Remember a sex worker is a person like any other! Feel comfor table expressing concern about safety Create a resource bank in your organization that will address sex workers specific needs Support the fight against the stigmatization of sex workers 11

12 SHIFT Mission: By utilizing a harm reduction and rights based approach, Shift works with adults involved in the sex industry to assist in improving quality of life, and reaching individualized goals Launched in 2007 as a program of AIDS Calgary Exiting the sex industry is not a requirement of the program Works with men, women, and transgendered adults from both self-determined and exploitation situations SHIFT Case Management Model Work from where the client is at Rights based / Strength-based Advocate: individual, community & systems Education, retraining, employment Reduce the Risk of Harm Safer sex supplies; Occupational & workplace safety; Basic needs Outreach Street, Online & Partnerships Community Presentations/ Education 12

13 THANK YOU! Catharine van der Linden, RSW Team Leader, Support Services org Amanda Berjian, RSW Shift Program Supervisor y. org Samantha McCarthy, RSW Shift Case Manager smccar org 13