Wide support for sex workers collectives on their issues:

[Guest guest]

A word of thought after the recent anecdote marking the incident of Nippani at

Sangli:

* Supporting the rights of sex workers normally are misunderstood as supporting

the profession or occupation of sex work itself. The " support " means to most of

us raising the dignity and the quality of life amdist the sex workers and their

families despite the continuation of the profession of which the latter is

purely her/his decision. This also means despite being a sex worker the

collectives of sex workers have the rights to hold joint meetings to have vaild

discussions of issues pertianing most important to them but may not be of a

priority to the others. This freedom of speech and integrity from the

constituion of Inida are mis appropriated and misunderstood amidst the

communities and officials in particular. The situation is further worsened if

NGOs who are already working on HIV/AIDS intervention patterns amidst the sex

workers & their collectives are also of a great support to the most

disadvantaged group of sex workers. The good work of HIV/AIDS prevention and

care are misrupted.

* An additon to the current initiations, this could be addressed by other NGOs

and net works who are in support of sex workers rights which should focus on

bringing in small groups of communities and law enforcers in particular together

and sensitise them on the various issues of sex workers and gain their support.

One such initiation is the national net work that was formed in support of the

sex wokrers rights named FARS which purely works on advocacy. The current

incident was also addressed and taken forward to the notice of NCW, Women &

Child Development and the NHRC. Besides which, the electronic email forums [Eg.

eFORUM & SAATHII] have taken it forward to the notice of the Project

Director NACO and the CM of Karnataka, for which positive feed backs have also

been received.

To take these small steps forward it would be further useful if these net works

are supported monetarily by funders to seek large community and law enforcing

supporters through strong advcoacy that maintains clear outputs, helps

decriminalising the sex workers themselves to seek justice to the freedom of

thought and action for the sex workers which happens to be our basic freedom of

right.

_______________________