In this column, SWAN News publishes articles that could help sex workers rights advocates in their daily work: how to challenge the myths surrounding sex work, how to fight abolitionists, how to work with media, communicate, create an effective message and get it across.

Tips on Using the Media for Our Purposes
New approaches can be invaluable in sensitizing a hostile public or achieving a shift in the tone of the media coverage of sex workers. The most important factor in having good media relations and a fair coverage is to nurture good working relations with a group of journalists. But even insensitive journalists can be educated or „tamed”, if we can offer them something in return for their cooperation. More

Current issue: SWAN News, Issue 28, Year 2010 

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SWAN Report Arrest the Violence! is now available
To mark December 17, the International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers, SWAN is releasing its new report, Arrest the Violence: Human Rights Violations Against Sex Workers in 11 Countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The report is based on interviews with more than 200 male, female and transgender sex workers between 2007 and 2009 and chillingly documents widespread violence and discrimination against them, particularly by state actors. To access the report, please go here.

New Issue of STAR Newsletter
STAR Newsletter is celebrating its 1 year of existence! Read issue 9 here. It features, among other articles, confession of a sex worker, quotes from famous people. There is a sex advice column, and information on sexual rights. Those interested can check what the Egyptian horoscope holds for them.
The 10th issue of the STAR newsletter From Us to US is dedicated to December 17 and the issues of human rights. Read Issue 10 here.

STAR 2010 SW Advocacy Calendar from Macedonia
STAR (sex worker rights activist group) of Macedonia designed and launched a calendar for 2010, to mark December 17th and sex workers’ rights. The calendar may be downloaded from SWAN's website here in pdf format, and quality print versions may be requested from the STAR team (write to SWAN coordinator to swan@tasz.hu).

SWAN SW Community newsletter: You Are Not Alone, Together We Are Stronger
It is a unique and exclusive issue of a community newsletter, the result of an international sex workers’ rights advocacy training in Ohrid, Macedonia, 2009. 18 sex workers developed these posters, poems the articles in their own languages.
Read it. Enjoy it. And remember that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

10 Tacticts for Turning Information into Action
SWAN is happy to promote video by Tactical Technology Collective (TTC) on using information technology in advocacy. 10 inspiring stories and practical suggestion for your advocacy. Watch trailer and selected chapters in 11 languages here.
Come to the screening in Hungary: 19.30 on March 8, 2010, at European Youth Center, Zivatar utca, Budapest.

New format of SHARP’s newsletter
SHARP is pleased to present its updated newsletter format. The newsletter will be released quarterly and will focus on SHARP’s activities and grantees. To subscribe to our newsletter, please visit SHARP webpage.

ISHR Simple Guide to the Treaty Bodies - updated edition
ISHR has just re-edited its Simple Guide to the Treaty Bodies. The updated edition can be downloaded here.
The Simple Guide aims to provide human rights defenders and their organisations with a broad overview of the UN human rights treaty body system and its functions in order to support their effective engagement with the treaty bodies in their own work. More

Odyseus, Slovakia 2009