Sex Work, Human Rights & TIP Task Force

“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.

Simpson and Dopson argued that under Guyana’s laws, speciically Sections 165-166 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offenses) Act Cap. 8:02, does not rule sex work itself illegal in Guyana, “it is a man living off the earnings, running a browdy house or brothel, and other offenses related to sex work that have been deemed illegal, but the actual sex work is not being deemed illegal.” 

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.