Comments by “Citizens against Trafficking” about Photo of Cambodian Sex Workers Protesting Law Enforcement Brutality

“Citizens against Trafficking” (CAT)  wrote the following about a photo of Cambodian sex workers protesting law enforcement brutality under U.S. imposed anti-prostitution legislation:  “Look at this photo from a ‘sex workers’ rally’ in Cambodia. The writing on their t-shirts says ‘Sex Work is Work: Defend the Right to Livelihood.’ Look at the faces of these […]

Cambodian sex workers speak out.

Aproase, an amazing sex worker group in Cambodia and part of the APNSW (which just won a Human Rights Watch award) built an amazing video, that made featured video status at change.org, called ‘Caught Between the Tiger and the Crocodile’.  You can check it out right here:   UPDATE (1/9/09 3:30PST): Sorry I’m a moron.  Aproase […]

Urgent Call to Action! Anti-Trafficking Law in Cambodia

From Andrew Hunter at the Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers Cambodia has recently passed an anti-trafficking law which equates all sex work with trafficking and has led to massive closures of brothels and widespread human rights abuses against sex workers. Sex workers have been forcibly detained in rehabilitation centres where they have been raped […]

International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers: December 17

This annual event is coming up again, with activities in various parts of the U.S. along with Capetown, South Africa; London, England; Montreal, Quebec Canada; and Phnom Penh, Cambodia: http://www.facebook.com/#!/aphunter/posts/10150586436448852 . The purpose is to support the safey and well-being of sex workers, and promote anti-violence policies, attitudes, and practices as well as build community, remember sex workers whose […]

MTV Anti Trafficking and MTV NO exit discussion.

Below is an email from the MTV Exit campaign, which is a Anti-Trafficking organization. MTV NO Exit is a campaign by sex workers that are part of the APNSW (Asia Pacific Network of Sex Work projects). Let’s be VERY CLEAR: Those of us fighting for Sex Worker Rights, are totally against slavery, and coercion. The […]

One thing Obama can ignore in his first week in office

(In light of the continuing debates about how US sex workers understand trafficking, I’m crossposting this from my personal blog.) Nicholas Kristof has been issuing ad-hoc Presidential guidance on the sex trade for years now. The archive of his editorial column in the New York Times serves as a record of his proposals. In 2004, […]

World AIDS Day: A PEPFAR for the United States, without The Pledge?

I was chosen as the first caller today on NPR’s Talk of the Nation to discuss the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Pledge — “On World AIDS Day, researcher Robert Gallo salutes President Bush’s successful efforts to fight the disease overseas. But with infections on the rise in America’s inner cities, Gallo […]

MARCH FOR A HAPPY ENDING! END RACIAL PROFILING AND PATRIARCHAL, MORALISTIC TRAFFICKING HYSTERIA

MARCH FOR A HAPPY ENDING! END RACIAL PROFILING AND PATRIARCHAL, MORALISTIC TRAFFICKING HYSTERIA !!URGENT CALL TO ACTION!! PEOPLE OF ASIAN DESCENT and OF all ethnicities and nationalities! Sex Workers and allies! Immigrant Rights activists! –Please vote YES ON PROPOSITION K! WHEN: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd 6pm, WANTED: lion head masks, lion dancers! Asian Drummers (taiko?), horns, […]

Anti-Prostitution Pledge Results in Discriminatory Treatment

Melissa Ditmore’s latest on the anti-prostitution pledge at http://www.rhrealitycheck.org: Anti-Prostitution Pledge Results in Discriminatory Treatment Melissa Ditmore on October 9, 2008 – 8:00am Recently on RH Reality Check, I examined the damaging effects on sex workers of a new law against prostitution in Cambodia. The perception on the ground is that the law was passed […]

The first sex worker plenary from the International AIDS Conference

I was in the audience and weepy all thorough this — several thousand participants from the International AIDS Conference got to hear directly from a sex worker — Elena Reyanga, from Argentina — about exactly what we want when it comes to HIV and human rights. No, not just condoms. What good can condoms be […]

Sex Workers Group Wins HIV and Rights Award: Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers Honored at AIDS Conference

Mexico City, August 6, 2008 – The Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW) is the recipient of the 2008 international Award for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and Human Rights Watch announced today. The award, which recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations that protect the rights and dignity of […]

International Aids Conference, Pre Conference for Sex Workers.

It’s the first evening and Welcome Reception for the Universal Action for the Sex Work Inclusion Pre-Conference meeting about Sex Work, which is an Official Affiliated Event of the International Aids Society. which is part of the International Aids Conference in Mexico City. For me this is HUGE. This is my first time with the […]

ON THE ISSUES MAGAZINE featuring Juhu Thukral, Ann Jordan, Carol Leigh, Erin Whitfield, Rita Brock and others

Their press release.. ON THE ISSUES: The Progressive Woman’s Magazine Works Hard For Her Money: Feminists and Prostitutes http://www.ontheissuesmagazine.com/july08/index.php A print publication from 1983-1999, ON THE ISSUES MAGAZINE ONLINE offers full archives and all content for free as a committed public service to upgrade the level of feminist conversation. Visit http://www.ontheissuesmagazine.com “NEW YORK: Prostitution penetrated […]

Sex Workers & HIV/AIDS: Reality Check

Melissa Ditmore’s latest piece at http://www.realitycheck.com: Punishing Sex Workers Won’t Cure HIV/AIDS, Says Ban Ki-moon Add United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the list of people who understand that arresting and punishing sex workers is counter-productive in the battle against HIV/AIDS. And take the government of Cambodia off that list. The Global Working Group on […]

Sex Workers Thank UN Secretary General for His Support

Contact: Laxshmi Narayan Tripiti, Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers, laxmirakasha@yahoo.co.in Melissa Ditmore, Network of Sex Work Projects, +1 646-242-1658 Prostitutes of New York, pony@panix.com Women’s Network for Unity, +855-12-222-171 Sex Workers Thank UN Secretary General for His Support Sex workers from around the world unfurled a banner reading “Sex workers support Ban Ki Moon” […]

Vlogging as Advocacy / Expression Under Repression

boingboing.tv has on Ethan Zuckerman of Global Voices to talk about how videobloggers in Tunisia are producing videos that challenge government repression and the fallout from expressing themselves freely — having their conferences and workshops infiltrated by state police thugs, and activists being arrested for participating. (Click to play at boingboing.tv) This reminded me of […]

Another message from Melissa Farley

Apparently, somebody set up a counter-blog to our blog-in, a blog for responses from Farley, but to the best of my knowledge, nobody here ever got word of it. I had no idea this blog even existed until accidentally running across it when googling for something else. The blog is at vegasmadam.wordpress.com and apparently is […]

TVPRA, Donna Hughes, Contradictions, some feminists, funding, hypocrisy.

More information about Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, statements from it’s supporters about it’s successes, apparent lack of successes, about needing more money, TVPRA supporter Donna Hughes on President Bush being the most Pro Woman President she can remember and again Randall Tobias. First Canadian Feminist Martin Dufresne stated “Jill, You can go on re-posting […]

Randall Tobias: Of Pledges and Prostitutes

from remarks introducing Taking the Pledge at the UC Berkeley Labor Center, May 3rd, 2007 As a sex worker rights activist, based primarily in the US, one of my biggest frustrations is that the rhetoric of anti-prostitution activists mobilizing against trafficking attempts to draw a connection between the sex industry in the US and what […]