independent consultant
RuthMorganThomas
It’s our business doing pleasure with you, safely.
Sex work is consensual sex between adults, where sexual services and charges are negotiated between sex workers and clients. Criminalisation of sex work and the stigma and discrimination surrounding sex work, including the portrayal of all sex workers as victims and all sex work as violence against women, has resulted in precarious working conditions for sex workers that impact upon their sexual health and well-being, including vulnerability to STIs and HIV.
While the majority of sex workers are women (both cis and trans); male sex workers (both cis and trans) and other gender diverse individuals are a significant part of the global sex worker communities that cannot be ignored when addressing sexual health within the context of sex work. Male, trans and gender diverse sex workers face multiple layers of criminalisation, stigma and discrimination across their intersecting identities, as do those living with HIV, who use drugs, and from BIPOC and migrant communities.
Undermining bodily autonomy and agency of any individual undermines their ability to protect their sexual health, personal safety and well-being. The criminalisation of sex work, including sex workers, their clients and third parties who facilitate sex work, and the lack of recognition of sex work as work denies sex worker’s labour rights, including health and safety measures, and their fundamental right to social protection creating barriers to effective STI and HIV prevention.
Sex work occurs within a sexual and economic behaviour continuum; defining sex workers as victims and rejecting their right to choose how they financially support themselves and their families and creates greater economic insecurity.
Centring sex positivity alongside human rights in sexual health policy and programmes is essential if we are to address the stigma and discrimination and health inequities experienced by criminalised and marginalised communities.
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SY4.1 - Centering Sex Positivity in STI & HIV prevention
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
14:35 – 14:55 CST