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SEX WORK AND THE LAW - HIV/AIDS Data Hub

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Violence from police (e.g., Republic of Korea: given sex work is illegal, police will<br />

physically/verbally abuse sex workers, even take pictures of their naked bodies, all in<br />

the name of collecting evidence of their ‘crime’).<br />

Violence from customers. In Republic of Korea, cases of customers blackmailing<br />

sex workers, threatening to report them to police, as customers now know that sex<br />

workers cannot report violence as this identifies them as sex workers. This paradox<br />

allows the law to undermine justice by allowing an increase in violence against sex<br />

workers).<br />

(Nepal) Lack of safe venues for transgender sex workers to work.<br />

Arrests/harassment of all transgender persons because it is assumed that they are sex<br />

workers.<br />

(Indonesia) Stigma and discrimination leads to a permissiveness among sex workers<br />

of the violence they experience, because of a feeling that they deserve it.<br />

Theme: Access to Means of Protection (e.g., condoms, information)<br />

Helpful<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

(Fiji) On paper it is now unlawful to deny any person, without reasonable excuse,<br />

access to means of protection from <strong>HIV</strong> (e.g., condoms) ...BUT there are questions on<br />

how this law is being transitioned into practice.<br />

(Fiji) Police cannot use condoms as evidence to charge sex workers.<br />

(Fiji) It is an offence to inflict violence ...BUT sex workers need to be empowered to<br />

exercise their right to protection by reporting violence.<br />

Harmful<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

The use of condoms to threaten or arrest.<br />

(Republic of Korea) comparatively low percentage of condom use in sex work, so<br />

greater risk of <strong>HIV</strong> and STI transmission however there are no helpful regulations or<br />

policies in Korea to promote increased condom usage.<br />

Possession of condoms is used by police as evidence of soliciting/illegal practice.<br />

(Malaysia) 100% CUP style of programming is undermining effective access to<br />

protection.<br />

(Myanmar) Carriage of ARVs used by police as evidence that they are committing an<br />

offence by transmitting <strong>HIV</strong>.<br />

Theme: Community Mobilization and Participation<br />

Helpful<br />

<br />

There are some examples of meaningful participation, e.g., the role of OPSI (Indonesian<br />

national sex workers organization) as member of National <strong>AIDS</strong> Commission’s<br />

Implementing Unit alongside government ministries/departments.<br />

206

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