Beyond victims and criminals is the byline of the Sexworker Open University initiative by Empower! The event will be organized in April 2009 in London.

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Empower! is a sex-worker-organized project that will offer an opportunity for sex workers and allies to come together for 4 days, to explore the richness, diversity and contradictions of our profession and to fight against the criminalization of our industry.

We will offer different workshops such as skill sharing ( massage and erotic massage, pole dancing, strip tease, legal aspects of sexwork, HIV / Aids prevention etc ...), discussions ( feminism and sexwork , representation of sexworkers in the media and popular culture...), academic presentations ( historical perspective on sexwork ...), activism ( presentation of different sexworkers projects ) etc...

As implied in the name we want this open-university to be a tool of empowerment for sexworkers. You are invited to participate in the organization, propose a workshop, come for a debate or socialize.

The organization is in its early stages so don’t hesitate to bring your ideas and get involved!

You can also join our yahoo groups: swopenuniversity@ yahoogroups. com

Next meetings are the first Monday of every month at LARC, 62 Fieldgate street, White Chapel E1 1ES. Tube: Aldgate East/White Chapel.