What Works For Sex Workers: Developing Informed Policies in VAW Agencies

On March 25, 2011 Maggie’s: Toronto Sex workers Action Project is holding the second in our series "What Works for Sex Workers: Developing Informed Policy in VAW Agencies".  Last year's event "What Works for Sex Workers: Providing Effective and Appropriate Services for Women, Men and Trans People Working in the Sex Trades" was a huge success. We had 300 registrants (for 50 seats) from multiple service sectors! Evaluations indicated that more information and policy discussion would be beneficial for women who are sex workers who use VAW services, and for VAW workers.  

We intend this year's forum to be a smaller and more intimate event directed to women who are Executive Directors, Board members and management who influence and design policy in their VAW agencies.

It is well known that various positions on prostitution in some feminist perspectives continue to present obstacles in developing and designing best practices and informed policies for women who are sex workers and who use VAW services including shelters and rape crisis centres.  Please join us in a day long forum designed to share information about:
*The conceptualization of prostitution as violence against women
*Trafficking discourses in relation to sex work
*Legislation and regulatory models which contribute to violence against women working in the sex trades
*Designing policies in VAW agencies that support sex working women.

The day is designed to encourage values clarification, analyses and dialogue in a manner which integrates gender, colonialism, race and class to support women’s human and labour rights.  Registration is limited.

Click here to download the Forum Invitation

Click here to download the Forum Registration

Click here to download the Forum Agenda

Forum Materials:

What Works for Sex Workers Part 2 forum participants might find these articles and links interesting to read before the 25th and/or to share with colleagues and staff.  If you have suggestions for others to include please send them to: [email protected]

Decriminalization of Sex Work and Indigenous Youth and Communities– a response from the Native Youth Sexual Health Network on the recent Ontario Superior Court Decision on the recent Ontario Superior Court Decision 
"...we need to consider decriminalization in the context of also stopping racism. That being said, decriminalization is still one of the many steps that the courts and lawmakers must take to respect the self-determination of Indigenous sex workers."

Perspectives on Rape in the Canadian Sex Industry--Navigating the terrain between Sex Work As Labour and Sex Work as Violence Paradigms
"...some feminist academics and activists support the perspective that all sex work is violence and that it perpetuates sexual assault against women...I shift the terms of the debate by looking more closely at the relationship between economic production and violence in order to empphasize the connection between conditions of labour for sex workers and those for other women workers, particularly where the experience of being a worker interacts with gender and raical hierarchies." 

Sex Work, Migration and Anti-Trafficking-- Interviews with Nandita Sharma and Jessica Yee
Sex work, migration, and a critical analysis of the recent push for anti-trafficking legislation. "The government and the media are using the ideas of the left – ideas of human rights and labour rights – to advance right-wing projects."

Indigenous Perspectives on International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
"The criminal legal system in the United States and Canada disproportionately targets Indigenous communities. Sex work is no different. Indigenous sex workers are vastly more likely to be subjected to repeated arrests, police and prison violence including sexual assault, incarceration, longer sentences, to have their children removed and lack of access to culturally relevant services within or outside of prisons. These realities are not only limited to Canada or the United States, but are reflective of Indigenous experiences the world over."

Violence Against Indigenous Canadian Sex Workers
"(In light of) the long and ongoing history of colonialism and genocide of Indigenous peoples... violence-reduction and sex work positive strategies, and outreach programmes that are culturally specific, lead by and for Indigenous people are particularly important."

Migrants in the Mistress’s House: Other Voices in the “Trafficking” Debate

"I argue that migrant women’s exploitation would be better understood and confronted if European supporters could leave their own debate behind, listen to migrants’ own voices, and include migrant women as equal partners in any efforts to improve their situation."

Global Sex Work Organizing

While sex work has always existed in various forms in different contexts and cultures, people who provide sexual services for compensation began organizing under the umbrella of 'sex work' or 'prostitution' in the 1960's and 70's. Since then, an international movement of sex workers has developed alongside other movements for social justice in both the global south and north. Below are some organizations by and for sex workers.  

Montreal: Stella

Halifax: Stepping Stone

USA: SWOP-USA

New Orleans: Women With A Vision

International: Network of Sex Work Projects

Brazil: Davida

Thailand: Empower

India: DMSC

Australia: Scarlet Alliance

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