Migrant Sex Work and Trafficking 101 National forum

Migrant Sex Work and Trafficking 101 National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

Why is this issue important to the HIV/AIDS sector The impact of radical feminists on HIV/AIDS policy Current situation in Victoria Current situation in New South Wales National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

RAIDS Current mainly ‘Asian parlours’ result in incarceration and deportation These sex industry businesses are the same workplaces in which Sex Worker Organisations and Projects deliver peer education National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

These raids are part of the Governments initiative to uncover the evidence of women who have been trafficked into Australia and forced to work in the Australian Sex Industry against their will. National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

RAIDS, net NOT women who were not aware they would work in the Sex Industry once entering Australia, but women who have agreed to pay off a contract in order to facilitate their otherwise impossible migration to Australia; as well as students who are working on a student visa. National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

FUNDING In May, 2003, the US government passed the Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003, which outlines the areas and support that the US administration is prepared to endorse in the fight against these diseases. The act includes the limitation that "No funds made available to carry out this Act. . . may be used to provide assistance to any group or organization that does not have a policy explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking. " National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

Anti-trafficking = Anti-sex work “In a nationwide crackdown against prostitution and human trafficking, the South Korean Govt. will shut down all of the estimated 70 red-light districts in the country…. ” April 3 2004 “. . close down red-light districts, moving sex workers to 14 new “self-support” centres designed to retrain them for other trades. ” “This is an awesome positive development in the fight against sexual slavery and exploitation. It looks like a new model for the advancement of human rights and the well being of women and children has just emerged. ” Donna Hughes National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

RADICAL FEMINISM Radical feminists are playing an important role in defining how trafficking is dealt with Internationally and in Australia. Rape and ‘prostitution sex’ are indistinguishable and prostitution is coerced and akin to rape. Prostitution and trafficking are indistinguishable. National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

IMPACT ON HIV POLICY HIV lobby in opposition to anti-trafficking? ? “ (HIV/AIDS) Workers are usually trained to adopt a ‘Harm Reduction’ and ‘Non-Judgmental attitude…prioritises education over ending trafficking…consequently (HIV/AID) workers may overlook evidence of violence and coercion” Hughes, D “Hiding in Plain Sight” Page 9, University of Rhode Island, Oct. 03 National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

Portrayal of Peer Education “Imagine what it’s like: You’re in a hellhole. You’ve been tricked, lied to, threatened… then, one day, someone comes from outside; she says she’s there to help. She hands you some condoms, tells you to use them, and leaves- smiling and thanking the pimp as she goes. ” Hughes, D “Human Sexploitation; The World’s Sex Slaves Need Liberation, Not Condoms” Weekly Standard, News Corporation 2002 National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

IMPACT ON HIV POLICY cont. US Government funding withdrawn from any sex worker services that ‘support’ rather than ‘oppose’ sex work “…tough minded grant administration to assert the political will to end the worldwide enslavement of vulnerable women and children. ” Hughes, D “Humanitarian Sexploitation: The worlds sex slaves need liberation, not condoms” Weekly Standard, News Corporation, 2002 National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

Rh. ED-Victoria NESB/CALD Project analysis of brothel outreach statistics • Total of 147 brothel outreach visits • 39 conducted with the CALD project worker and Thai speaking bilingual worker • Made contact with approximately 401 sex workers • At least 25 % of Victoria’s legal brothel industry comprises of female sex workers from CALDb • 93 % are of Asian backgrounds from regions such as East Asia, Japan, South East Asia and South Asia. National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

A further breakdown of these Asian Sex Workers – China 3. 6 % Indonesia 1. 2 % Japan 1. 2 % Philippines 5. 1 % South Asia 1. 2 % Thailand 23. 4 % Remainder = country of origin not established but strongly believe that Mainland China/Chinese speakers continue to be a highly represented National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

Victoria Of the 85 -90 registered brothels in Victoria, at least a dozen are hard-core NESB/Asian-identified establishments. The Rh. ED Program NESB/CALD Project brothel outreach, however, has not focused solely on these : the sex industry overall is comprised of a highly mobile and transient workforce. Familiarity and current knowledge of the legal industry is crucial, and furthermore, sex workers (SW) from NESB/CALD can be found working throughout the industry and not just within those NESB/Asian-identified establishments. National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

New South Wales • “ I am a mother, daughter, wife, aunty, farmer, friend, sister working woman, but to you all I am is a sex slave. ” Sydney based contract sex worker National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

SWOP NSW CALD/NESB • Bilingual and NESB Peer Outreach • Resources in different languages –Negotiation skills –Safe sex, STI’s and HIV information –Laws • Taxation information and referral • Immigration Clinic • English Classes National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

WHAT DO CONTRACTS PROVIDE? • Airfares • Visa/Passport • Accommodation • Day to Day support and communication • Cultural support; food, language, religion • Workplace • Financial Agreement National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

DIMIA/AFP RESPONSE • No legal advice or support • No or little access to services • No ‘cooling off’ period • No protection if giving evidence • VISA cancellation and deportation • Little opportunity to collect personal possessions or wages/savings National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

Summarise Internationally the strong push for Antitrafficking solutions have resulted in • prohibition of sex industry, • Sex Work Orgs blocked from receiving funding. • Attacks on the value of peer education to sex workers. • Sex Work resources moved to welfare projects. National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au

The high profile anti-trafficking campaigners in Australia are also anti-sex work campaigners. In Australia the anti-trafficking campaigns have: • Contributed to a distorted public image of migrant sex workers and all sex workers. • Resulted in increased surveillance of brothels. • Resulted in increased police contact with sex workers. • Effected funding- which should have gone to sex worker Orgs. • Resulted in an Australian University course (6 units) based on sex work as sexual exploitation including International campaigners. • Received funding for conferences and capacity development work. • Been supported by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. • Publicly undermined our position on this issue and drew questioning about the relationship between sex worker organisations and brothel managers/owners. National forum for Sex Worker Organisations/Projects www. scarletalliance. org. au