Understanding Power and Creating Spaces: Sex Workers' Voices in HIV Prevention

From the Eldis website
This paper, from the SAKSHAM project of CARE India, explores different dimensions of power in the sex work industry and considers these issues in relation to HIV prevention with sex workers. The authors highlight how current HIV prevention programmes focus on sex-worker vulnerability to HIV as a behaviour issue and an individual problem, rather than recognising it as an occupational and livelihood issue. These approaches, they argue, oversimplify the issues and ignore social, structural and environmental power relations.

The paper outlines how the sex workers' access to HIV/AIDS information is severely limited due to their low social position and status. This vulnerable position is related to stigma attached to the sex work community, low socio-economic and caste background, and an inability to interact with mainstream society with respect and dignity. Moreover, the illegality of sex work in many countries means sex workers are excluded from decision making processes. The SAKSHAM project identifies the need for structural change, which would enable sex workers full design and participation in prevention programmes that specifically addressed their needs. This participation can only be ensure by provided spaces that are used, created or claimed by the community both within and outside the sex trade. [adapted from author]