HIV & SEX WORK What’s the link

Ari Reid , Scarlet Alliance

SEX• Lots of it • Lots of different people

HISTORY• Low rates of condom use• High rates of STI’s• ‘Vectors of Disease’• Sex Worker organisations

Japan: 0%

UK: 0%

China: 10.3%

Thailand:4.3%

India: 3.8%

Brazil: 3.7%

Mexico:0.3%

South Africa: 50.1%Australia: 0%

Russian Federation:4%

Source: UNAIDS Interactive Map, 2010

GLOBAL CONTEXT

Sudan: 4.4%

The Prevalence of HIV amongst Sex Workers by country

Bahamas: 44%

In Asia:• IDU + MSM= 20 million people• Sex workers = 10 million •Men who see sex workers= 75 million

Women living with HIV in Asia increased from 19% in 2000 to 24% in 2007, with most of these women infected through sex with husbands or boyfriends who were themselves infected during paid sex or through injecting drugs. Commission on AIDS in Asia (2008) Redefining AIDS in Asia. Crafting an Effective

Response, Oxford UniversityPress, New Delhi 2008

GLOBAL CONTEXT

CONTEXT• Criminalised settings• Stigma and discrimination• Underground industry• Transient workforce

VECTORS OF INFORMATION

• Peer Education• Heterosexual Community• Clients of male and trans workers• International networks

CURRENT ISSUES• Legal status• Condoms as evidence• Mandatory testing• Criminalisation of HIV• Stigma and discrimination• Reinforcing safe sex messages in 2010• Changing Industry/Community• Changing technology• Changing epidemic

FUTURE• Ongoing peer led services for sex workers• Ongoing recognition as priority

populations• Continued advocacy• Partnerships• Long term stable core funding for state

based sex worker organisations and their peak body, Scarlet Alliance.