Sex workers self-organizing and empowerment : the experience of Women’s Network for Unity (WNU) in Cambodia : article produced as part of the KIC Project
Document type: article
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Abstract:
Many organizations that are working with sex workers have learned that it is ineffective to provide HIV and other health services to them if they do not consider – and address – sex workers’ work environments, where many cases of human rights violations can be found. Thus, they gradually move into rights-based activities. By reframing sex workers’ health as a rights issue, the focus of HIV prevention work with sex workers shifts from individual-level behaviour change communication to comprehensive development work aimed at sex workers’ empowerment, participation and self-organizing. It also opens the way to hold governments and non-governmental organizations accountable for denying rights to sex workers. This issue of Exchange magazine focuses on the relationship between HIV and sex workers’ rights. Most of the articles in this issue have been produced in the framework of the Oxfam Novib KIC Project. This article focuses on The Women’s Network for Unity (WNU), the first independently registered sex workers’ collective in Cambodia. It has over 5000 members including sexual minorities such as gay, lesbian and transgender people, who also engage in sex work. The network strives to create safe, health-conscious, women-centred spaces in which sex workers can work in solidarity for their mutual protection and empowerment to fight HIV and AIDS, violence and discrimination.
Authors:
Womyn's Agenda for Change
,
Women’s Network for Unity
Country:
Cambodia
Category:
Practice
End Page:
10
Serial number:
1
ISSN:
[1871-7551]
Journal:
Exchange on HIV/AIDS, sexuality and gender
Keywords:
HIV and AIDS
,
disease prevention and control
,
empowerment
Language:
eng
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
Year:
2007
Region:
Southeast Asia
Right:
© 2007 KIT
Subject:
Health and Nutrition
Start Page:
8
Title:
Sex workers self-organizing and empowerment : the experience of Women’s Network for Unity (WNU) in Cambodia : article produced as part of the KIC Project