“Sex Work, Human Rights and TIP Task Force” was
the focus of APC’s first Lunch Talk, a
forum for informal exchange across a broad section of civil society
organisations (CSO). The exchange was ignited by an exciting mix of players —CSOs
working in the fields of HIV, Sexual Rights and Human Rights joined by Donna Charles of the Guyana Women
Miners Organization, Joel Simpson of SASOD, Attorneys Emily Dodson and Dela
Britton and activist Iman Khan— who steered a lively discussion. The discussion was made even more
volatile by the recent sting operations carried out by the Ministry of Social
Protection’s Trafficking in Persons Task Force.
The exchange opened with education on the national
laws and international conventions governing human trafficking and sex
work. Trafficking and
prostitution are often approached if they were the same but doing so ignores
the human rights of sex workers, endangers those engaged in it and focuses TIP
too narrowly on sex trafficking. Many expressed concern over the violation of women’s and sex workers’
rights in sting operations being carried out.
Executive Director of GSWC asserted that many sex workers who get caught on TIP sting operations will say they are there against their will as a way to escape the clutches of the law, but the Task Force operations are always conducted with the media. The sensational stories, identification of sex workers by name with pictures broadcast in print and electronic media is a violation of their rights. Pointing out Executive Director of GSWC asserted that many sex workers who get caught on TIP sting operations will say they are there against their will as a way to escape the clutches of the law, but the Task Force operations are always conducted with the press. The sensational stories, identification of sex workers by name with pictures broadcasted in print and electronic media is violation of their human rights.
CSOs wanted to know, what to do if they were
caught in a sting operation. Attorney Britton advised them to go through the
legal process “you cannot challenge the police officers on site, anyone caught
in a sting operation need to allow the police to arrest them if they attempt to
do so. In the court you can plead not guilty and prove that it was a case of false
arrest”
Discussions got heated as passions flared at
several points in the exchange. APC’s Chief
of Party Folami Harris brought the discussion to a close requesting for
volunteers for a smaller work group to identify a strategy for working to end TIP
while protecting the human rights of sex workers and public health.
Look out
for your Lunch Talk invitation, comment and make suggestions on the next topic in
the comments below.
