Indonesian Transgender Sex Workers Escape From Kidnappers

Two Indonesian transsexuals held against their will by a prostitution syndicate were rescued by authorities in Russia, an embassy official said on Friday.

Aji Surya, a counselor at the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow, said the victims had sought work in Russia as prostitutes, but later found themselves tied up and gagged in an apartment where they were forced to perform sex acts without payment.

He said the embassy had received a tip from a female caller, identified by authorities only as S, at dawn on Monday.

A security guard at the embassy picked up the call and heard a woman whisper that Indonesians were being held.

“They have not been allowed to leave this apartment and have been forced to render services to customers without pay. Please help,” the caller reportedly said.

After being notified, Hamid Awaluddin, the Indonesian ambassador, ordered his staff to contact the police.

A team of counselors were also dispatched on Monday morning to meet with officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which ordered police in Moscow to conduct an investigation.

Aji said Russian police launched a sting operation on Monday evening, with undercover officers posing as clients. This led to a raid on the apartment, where the two Indonesians were found.

A third Indonesian transsexual reportedly trapped by the prostitution ring, however, remained missing, according to Aji.


Antara 

[RAP: Disappointing, sensationalized language in the report that seems to be a very positive story of cooperation between Indonesian officials and Russian authorities, leading to the rescue of two Indonesian sexworkers. This reporting would be much improved without terms like "sex slave" and if the "prostitution syndicate", which is unlikely to be involved only in prostitution, was referred to more accurately as a crime syndicate.]

Pattaya Draft Declaration on Sex Work in Asia and the Pacific 2010

Please have a look at the PLRI link below for the full text of the draft declaration.

Preamble

Recognising that:

Sex workers of all genders are subject to violence, both in their personal lives and at work. This violence is a manifestation of stigma, discrimination and judgemental attitudes.

International and national trafficking law and policy has resulted in increased violence against and oppression of sex workers.

United Nations organisations and specialised agencies have previously agreed that criminal and other laws that lead to dangerous settings for commercial  sex and limit access to services must be repealed.

In many parts of the world, sex workers are amongst the most vulnerable to HIV and STIs.

Twenty years of experience has shown that effective HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for sex workers is possible only with their meaningful and active involvement.

Collective organising and community mobilisationand community led processes are key to ensuring that sex workers benefit from HIV policies and programmes.

Building capacity within sex worker networks and communities must be understood as part of the commitment to the respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of sex workers.

Sex workers who are socially included, have better economic and social status and are less vulnerable to human rights abuses and HIV.

It is necessary to provide and scale up access to rights based HIV programming for sex workers and their clients of all genders, HIV positive or negative.

Successful rights based interventions that have been shown to reduce HIV and STIs among female, male and transgender sex workers and clients must be strengthened and scaled up.

Coercive efforts to control or reduce sex work are contrary to human rights. Mandatory medical treatment or procedures, raids, forced rehabilitation, or programmes implemented by police or based upon detention of sex workers are all examples of coercive programming and in some circumstances may constitute torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

To be effective, HIV programming needs to be devised in true partnership with sex workers, and be dynamic, participatory, non-coercive and must address the diverse realities of human sexuality and sexual expression.

http://plri.wordpress.com/2010/10/15/pattaya-draft-declaration-on-sex-work-in-asia-and-the-pacific-2010/
http://iac.nswp.org/

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) - Including Condom Programming

http://www.plri.org/resource/sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights-srhr-including-condom-programming

Response AP applauds the work of the PLRI in insisting on the human rights and labour rights of sex workers.

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) - Including Condom Programming

This discussion paper was developed for the  for the 1st Asia and the Pacific Regional Consultation on HIV and Sex Work, 12 – 15 October 2010. Among its recommendations are
1. A human rights based approach should be applied to any HIV program targeting sex workers and their clients. The illegality of sex work in most counties in the region creates an environment that facilitates harassment and hinders the delivery of prevention and care. Programs must build the capacity of sex workers to engage in advocacy with policy makers to ensure protection of their fundamental rights to safe work, fair wages, reasonable working hours, quality health and social
security services.
2. The practice of mandatory or coercive STI and HIV testing and lack of confidentiality in programs targeting sex workers in some countries violates human rights. Sex workers in different countries are required to carry a health card, which provides law enforcement officers with additional ‘justification’ to harass and abuse them. Such approaches often make sex workers feel they are being targeted and punished and do not facilitate a sense of empowerment or partnership. The ethical principles of voluntarism and confidentiality should be incorporated into the design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of all sexual and reproductive health and HIV programs.