Cambodian Sex Workers March for their Rights

http://apnswdollhouse.wordpress.com, Cambodia
March 2010 – Recent pronouncements by the Prime Minister in Cambodia that sex work is an affront to traditional Cambodian culture and to the dignity of Cambodian women have led to more raids on bars and arrests of sex workers.

Sex Workers are meant to learn "dignified" professions such as sewing to work in garment factories – but garment factory workers are rebelling against their conditions. Therefore Women's Network for Unity in Cambodia, along with their sisters in the garment industry, and the parents and children of sex workers held a Buddhist ceremony known as Bon Pkar – which is a solidarity ceremony where a group of people come together to raise funds for a temple and for a righteous cause.

The sex workers raised money for a temple restoration. They also raised money for school books for children of sex workers and poor students living at the temple. In this video you can see the sex workers ceremony and their procession through the capital city showing that they are not outcasts from Cambodian Buddhist Culture – but that by feeding their families, supporting students and the religion, they claim their rightful place as women, men and transgenders doing the best they can to build up their country and to reject an unjust law that undermines their livelihood. See the video with the procession and the speech by the temple Abbot, where he calls for recognition of the righteous actions of Cambodian Sex Workers to be recognized by society.
To see the video, go to http://blip.tv/file/3397992

Quotes of the Month

Seeing the police members at the welcoming event together with sex workers activists and supporters, hearing the fact that 90% of reported cases between 2005 -2009 are solved and perpetrators are convicted, and that rape rate over the last year was 40%, was a real inspiration and hope that in a period of time, trough a committed work we can get there too..
--- Marija Tosheva (HOPS, Macedonia) about IHRA-2010, Liverpool.

Picture of the Month

STAR team at their office opening, Macedonia, 2011

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