How new funding restrictions affect sex workers around the world Melissa Ditmore Network of Sex Work...
-
Upload
roger-grant -
Category
Documents
-
view
214 -
download
0
Transcript of How new funding restrictions affect sex workers around the world Melissa Ditmore Network of Sex Work...
![Page 1: How new funding restrictions affect sex workers around the world Melissa Ditmore Network of Sex Work Projects Melissa@nomadcode.com.](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022081009/5697bfc51a28abf838ca68f1/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
How new funding restrictions affect sex workers around the
world
Melissa Ditmore
Network of Sex Work Projects
![Page 2: How new funding restrictions affect sex workers around the world Melissa Ditmore Network of Sex Work Projects Melissa@nomadcode.com.](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022081009/5697bfc51a28abf838ca68f1/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Funding restrictions imposed by the US
• Prevent advocacy for legalization or decriminalization of prostitution
• Forbid empowerment programs for sex workers
• Earmark one-third of some funds for abstinence
• All of this affects EVERYTHING a program does
![Page 3: How new funding restrictions affect sex workers around the world Melissa Ditmore Network of Sex Work Projects Melissa@nomadcode.com.](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022081009/5697bfc51a28abf838ca68f1/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
US funding restrictions are applied idiosyncratically depending on the
organisation and personnel involved.
![Page 4: How new funding restrictions affect sex workers around the world Melissa Ditmore Network of Sex Work Projects Melissa@nomadcode.com.](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022081009/5697bfc51a28abf838ca68f1/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Responses to US restrictions
• Rejecting funds
• Seeking clarification about what is in violation
• Signing and not changing activities
• Preemptive capitulation
• Using US policy to discriminate against sex workers
![Page 5: How new funding restrictions affect sex workers around the world Melissa Ditmore Network of Sex Work Projects Melissa@nomadcode.com.](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022081009/5697bfc51a28abf838ca68f1/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Responses to US restrictions
• Rejecting US funds is not sustainable, although small organisations have been able to recoup all the funds and more. Some have been scapegoated for rejecting funds.
• Seeking clarification is an attempt to force the USG to specify what is contrary to the policy.
• Legal challenge - limited success
![Page 6: How new funding restrictions affect sex workers around the world Melissa Ditmore Network of Sex Work Projects Melissa@nomadcode.com.](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022081009/5697bfc51a28abf838ca68f1/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Responses (2)
• Preemptive capitulation - not working with sex workers - can only lead to higher rates of HIV and lower rates of condom use among sex workers. (Bangladesh)
• The policy has been used to deny medical care to sex workers at a clinic in Thailand and to fire outreach workers who reach out to sex workers in Cambodia.
![Page 7: How new funding restrictions affect sex workers around the world Melissa Ditmore Network of Sex Work Projects Melissa@nomadcode.com.](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022081009/5697bfc51a28abf838ca68f1/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
What works?
• Sex workers must be included in the planning of programmes for sex workers to ensure that they are relevant, useful, and well-implemented. Sex workers are part of the solution!
• Health programmes should be implemented in line with human rights of sex workers and all people of all genders.
![Page 8: How new funding restrictions affect sex workers around the world Melissa Ditmore Network of Sex Work Projects Melissa@nomadcode.com.](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022081009/5697bfc51a28abf838ca68f1/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
What works?
• Peer education and distribution of safe sex materials
• Subsidisation to affordability (not free)• Adequate numbers of condoms• Condom buying cooperatives and selling schemes• Subsidized social marketing of lubricant• These strategies are useful for many people
beyond sex workers.
![Page 9: How new funding restrictions affect sex workers around the world Melissa Ditmore Network of Sex Work Projects Melissa@nomadcode.com.](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022081009/5697bfc51a28abf838ca68f1/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Thank you.