More then 30 sex workers, clients, mediators and one social worker from HOPS, SWAN member from Macedonia, detained in a massive raid; involuntary STI tests performed; civil society says human rights seriously violated

Coalition for Protection and Promotion of Sexual and Health Rights of Marginalized Communities (HOPS, HERA, MASSO, MHRN, STAR, IZBOR) excoriates the last “coordinated action for suppression of street prostitution” of the Office of Interior (SVR), Skopje, Macedonia, and finds serious indications of severe procedural mistakes, misuse of official activity and flagrant violence of the basic human and health rights of the persons (sex workers) detained, as well as their direct discrimination on the ground of their work as sex workers on open scene. More

SWAN members have sent letters of protest to Macedonian government. But your support is also needed. Please download the letter of support here, put your logo, sign, and fax or email to the listed officials. Thank you! More

Sex workers in Skopje, capital of Macedonia, issued this winter first two numbers of a community newsletter entitled “From us to us”. More

In the latest issue of the SWAN News we wrote about the seminar on sex work organized in September for media reporters in Slovakia. In the meantime, similar seminars were organized in November in Macedonia and Serbia. More

By Arielle Reid, SWAN

December 17, the International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers is round the corner and all SWAN members are planning some sort of action. Some of us are preparing massive public campaigns, some are planning distribution of Declaration of right of sex workers, in some places there will be parties for sex workers, or red umbrella marches. Here are some simple campaigning ideas that do not cost much and can have strong echo in the society. More

International Women's Rights Action Watch (IWRAW) Asia Pacific facilitates the participation of women in the CEDAW review process through the programme “From Global to Local”. They assist women’s organisations in preparing shadow/alternative reports and facilitate the presence and effective intervention by NGOs at the CEDAW sessions. Here is how you can take part in the process. More

International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE) and TAMPEP (European Network for HIV/STI Prevention and Health Promotion among Migrant Sex Workers) have posted online resources by and for sex workers and sex worker rights advocates. More

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. More

Hi everyone!

I created a group on Facebook for the 17th of December. More

December 1, 2008, OSI

Recent years have seen the creation, particularly in parts of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, of HIV-specific laws that criminalize HIV transmission and exposure. At the same time, particularly in Europe and North America, existing criminal laws are increasingly being used to prosecute people for transmitting HIV or exposing others to HIV infection. More