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"Ramy Nasr" [ Profil ] |
| Sujet: |
Hope it can be a lesson learned...
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| Envoyé: |
Jun 4th, 2008 - 22:02:35 |
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Andrew Hunter
Dear FORUM,
Cambodia has recently passed an anti-trafficking law which
equates all sex work with trafficking and has led to
massive closures of brothels and widespread human rights
abuses against sex workers. Sex workers have been forcibly
detained in rehabilitation centres where they have been
raped and robbed by police and guards. Thousands of women
have lost their livelihoods and HIV positive sex workers
have great difficulty in accessing ARV's- both in and
outside the detention centres.
Condoms are being used as evidence of sex work and
carrying condoms leads to arrest or forced
"rehabilitation." Sex workers are scared to carry condoms
and to access STI services. The national HIV prevention
programs for sex workers have completely broken down.
On June 4 Women's Network for Unity, Cambodian
Prostitutes Union and Cambodian Network for Men's and
Women's Development- Cambodia's 3 grass-roots Sex Worker
Networks are coming together with APNSW to have an open
day of Action.
WNU have also written to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen
asking for his intervention to protect sex workers from
the human rights abuses encouraged by this law, and those
abuses that are a direct result of it's enforcement.
The press release is pasted below and the letter to PM Hun
Sen is attached.
APNSW calls on all those organisations who support the
human rights of sex workers to sign onto these demands by
declaring their support for WNU's call for this situation
to be urgently addressed by the government of Cambodia and
for UNAIDS and other UN agencies to openly declare their
support for sex workers human rights and to reject the
anti-trafficking law itself as a violation of sex workers
human rights.
Andrew Hunter
apnsw.org
"OPEN DAY OF ACTION!"
TO STOP SEX WORKER RAIDS AND CALL FOR THE REPEAL OF THE
TRAFFICKING LAW THAT THE CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT PASSED TO
MEET STANDARDS IMPOSED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S
TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT
'Sex Work Is Work
Defend the Right to Livelihood'
June 04th 2008: The Women's Network for Unity (WNU), a
group of sex workers who work to empower vulnerable women
and who are involved in the reduction of the spread of
HIV/AIDS, closely collaborating with the Cambodian
Prostitutes Union (CPU) and Cambodian Men, Women Network
for Development (CMNWD), will organise an "Open Day of
Action" to stop sex worker raids and call for the repeal
of the "Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual
Exploitation" that the Cambodian Government passed
recently, under pressure to comply with the United States
policy on human trafficking. The Open Day of Action also
has strong support from the Asia Pacific Network for Sex
Workers (APNSW).
The law was introduced to eliminate trafficking by
stamping out the sex industry. Since then brothels, bars,
street areas, and karaoke clubs across the country have
been closed or gone underground. Hundreds of women have
been arrested and imprisoned, or have had to move. Dozens
have been raped and beaten by police and prison guards.
HIV prevention and care programs have collapsed. This law
makes us easier prey for traffickers, and makes it
impossible for us to use condoms.
The negative impact of the law will be shown by sex
workers through role play, speech and video evidence of
the brutality and misery this new law is causing. There
also will be two sex workers from India who will speak
about sex workers fight against trafficking, a model of
anti-trafficking that respects human rights, is effective
and not in conflict with HIV prevention programs. There
will be a video about the activities of sex workers in
Sonagachi, India, to fight trafficking. The Messenger Band
will sing a song on sex workers defending the right to
livelihood.
We strongly call for repeal of the law on Suppression of
Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation and for an end
to raids on sex workers.
Don't be fooled by talk of rescuing 'sex slaves' until you
have heard our testimonials and seen video evidence of the
brutality and misery this new law is causing.
view our video testimonies and video evidence of massive
human rights violations at
www.sexworkerspresent.blip.tv
Posted on behalf of WNU by Andrew Hunter- APNSW
"Andrew Hunter"
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