Discussion Meet on Police Violence - Report

[Guest guest]

Dear Folks

The fifth discussion meet by the Forum For The Advocacy And Rights Of The Sex

Workers (FARS - National Sex Workers Support Group - India ) violence against

sex workers and their families by the police was geared to be held at Chennai on

the 13th and 14th of April 2002 supported financially and enabled by UNAIDS -

INDIA. The core members of the group from 8 states met for a two day discussion

on the recent incidents of police violence on the sex workers and their

families. There were attempts of documentations on the incidents by a few

organizations and verbal rebel by the others. The incidents were discussed in

detail and a few are mentioned below:

1.. Arrests and police harassment/torture/extortion

2.. Constant arrests hinders the work on HIV prevention

3.. Violence by police and goons

4.. Male condoms are not provided free of cost

5.. Non-availability of water based lubes for free of cost

6.. Stopping of drop-in-centers

7.. AIDS prevention projects targeting only sex-workers, sexuality minorities

etc.. as 'high-risk' groups, which in turn increases the existing stigma

8.. The HIV/AIDS projects talk of 'enabling environment'; in face of constant

arrests it remains a lip service

9.. Sex-workers are the ones who actually work to prevent the spread of AIDS

but least paid in their service

10.. HIV/AIDS prevention projects are made without consulting sex-workers, so

it remains ineffective

v National level networking of sex-workers collectives and groups working on

HIV/AIDS/human rights issues among sex workers

v 4 regional public hearings (east, west, north, south) on sex-workers

issues will be held in Calcutta, Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore in October/November

2002. Sex Workers will speak about their issues publicly in these hearings.

v Organizing protest demonstrations in all 4 South Indian States on June 28,

2002 for sex-workers rights.

v Writing a position paper on the GB Road Issue.

v Holding a major dissemination protest on the violence demanding

snsitisation of the Law Enforcers at Delhi with a media representation - August

2002.

v Bringing together the NGOS working on Anti Trafficking and HIV/AIDS

Interventions for a dialogue to work out a common plan towards rescue and

rehabilitation with a proper follow up to be followed by all in common.

Regards

shyamala Ashok

SFDRT - Pondicherry

E-mail: <aabinand@...>

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