SEX WORKERS IN CAMBODIA In Cambodia more and

SEX WORKERS IN CAMBODIA

In Cambodia, more and more women, that have no assets, no access to resources, no employment, no services are relying on their bodies to sustain themselves and their dependents. Hundreds of sex workers were arrested, forced to find insecure places to work, and faced with police and client violence. The Women’s Network for Unity (WNU) was established in June 2000 by a group of sex workers for sex workers. It provides a foundation for support and builds solidarity and self empowerment among sex workers.

Drug trial in Cambodia In 2003 a team of Medical researchers from USA and Australia discussed a trial of a new drug to protect against HIV infection. The researchers looked for 960 Cambodian sex workers to take the pill once a day for one year in exchange for free medical services, counselling and $3 per month.

Sex worker said that “We were told that we can contribute to saving humanity, why should we do that, what has humanity done for us? ” “…sold us, raped us, discriminated against us, kept us powerless. humanity has denied our humanity, why are we asked to contribute to the wealth of the drug companies. ” There are HUMAN RIGHTS in the USA, how about ours in CAMBODIA?

Why we called Tenofovir trail is unethical? • No insurance of longer-term side effects. • Does this trial respect the dignity of participants? When we asked the recruiters, they said that this drug is good and has no side effects. • The researchers had not taken adequate steps to inform all the potential participants about exact nature of protocol of the proposed trial.

Does this trial respect our human rights? • Don’t we have rights to ask questions and be fully informed about the risks and to demand better medical and financial protection? • We have rights to understand what is happening but the researchers are not able to explain what are happening. • There are not enough document about research in Khmer • We have rights to request care for side affects, but the researchers said no long term insurance. So is it convenient?

Our activities: We (WNU) asked the researchers to come to our office space to present their arguments to the workers and to answer questions. In some meeting of researchers, we tried to join the meeting even they did not invite us to join in order to get all information.

• Two time press conferences in Phnom Penh organized by WNU by inviting the researchers to participate in the press. • Then many support our activities from Hong Kong, Thailand APNSW. • Most of Phnom Penh sex worker refuse to join the trial! • Prime Minister Hun Sen halts controversial HIV drug trial. • Then some AIDS activists who we thought are our friends blame us for stopping research and say we did not think for ourselves- we call this racism!

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clinically n e e b s a h ir v If Tenofo safe why is d n a e r fo e b trialed re us? don't you insu workers Don’t lookdown at sex in Cambodia $3 cannot buy a sex worker Some NGOs persuaded SWs to participate in the drug trial without telling them the name or side effects of the drug. These NGOs normally work with Sex Worker groups and workers believed that they were being fully informed about the trials.

2 nd Press Conference on Tenofovir

We are HUMAN Beings!!! NGOs that work with SWs please do not kill us, .

Because we have a group who is called WNU lead by sex workers, represents our sex workers. That is why WNU tried very hard to protect sex workers and against what exploit our sex workers. We have more members than most unions in Cambodia or the West. So why do people say we don’t represent the sex workers? ? ? ?

Mark Harrington of TAG said that it was “ethical imperialism” “I absolutely disagree with this word!”, a sex worker said. • We do not have to have a degree in science to understand that to test if a drug is effective in preventing HIV transmission or not. • We know that there are ethic standards for research- why shouldn’t they apply to Cambodian sex worker? • Our response to AIDS “activist” who criticize us is…

Sex workers in the poor country will be silent no longer! We think it is imperialism when Activist say we cannot think for ourselves. Many of our member participate in other drug trials. We support research that respect our rights & our long term health

• Poor countries like Cambodia do not have the same mechanisms like medical coverage and legal redress that exist in rich countries. Drug trials should begin there or we should be given the same level of assurances and insurances. • We want healthcare for any longterm side effect. • Many drug declared safe turn out to have side effect later. • All human beings deserve same ethical standardswhether in rich or poor countries. • Must poor sex workers in Cambodia take the risk of taking Tenofovir, withstand the side effects, and sacrifice health and income for $3 month and no longer term guarantees?