Abstract Book Vol. 2 [International Conference on AIDS (14th: 2002: Barcelona, Spain)]

640 Abstracts ThOrG1416-ThOrG1419

XIV International AIDS Conference

1) advocacy addresssing national and provincial politicians and decision-makers
2) identification of priority actions to promote sexual rights amongst the police,
justice, health, and education sector
3) training of trainers and running of sexual rights workshops in which individuals and groups promote sexual rights at community level (impact evaluation conducted)
4) outreach to the public through print media, radio talk shows and posters
5) bringing together the findings of this process for the development of a sexual
rights charter
6) dissemination of the charter and winning commitment from different sectors to
implement the charter
Lessons learned: An approach that focuses on decision-makers and community
simultaneously that recognises advocacy within the framework of diplomacy is
essential.
Recommendations: Strong leadership on all levels of society is essential. Advocates must play a facilitating role where possible while providing pressure for
action. Advocacy and media partnerships are essential.
Presenting author: Ndivhuwo Masindi, PRO.Box 1038, Johannesburg, 2000,
South Africa, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: ndivhuwom
@ mail.saimr.wits.ac.za
ThOrG 1416 Transgender: Civil rights and HIV/AIDS prevention
E.FP. Estela Fabiana Pardo, L.V.C. Lorenzo Vargas Cornejo. Intilla Asociacidn
Civil, General Mosconi No 2195, General Pacheco, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Intilla Asociacion Civil has been working on community interaction with the transgender population, that due to the poverty the members of this community are
constantly exposed to the violations of their civil rights. What this community experiences is an important risk factor and because of this they are in an extremely
vulnerable situation relating HIV spreading.
In Argentina, the transgender community did not count on any campaign focused
in social constructions such as gender or sexual identity. Although the majority of
the transgender community relay on prostitution as its main way of life, prostitution
is not their principal characteristic.
What distinguish the most this community is the lack of their civil rights, and this
could explain the reason that non of its members have reached any public or
social positions that other sexual diversity communities have.
Goals: 1) to empower the transgender community from civil rights perspective:
2) to promote community health among equals.
Methology: "Tasks on health promotion and HIV/AIDS prevention among equals"
a transgender group with Intillas's technical assistance have worked in the empowerment of their civil rights and of their sexual identity, they also have been
trained in safe sex and in the awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention with other transgender groups. They have been trained for the organization and for the spreading of negotiations strategies with their clients for the use of condoms; colective
strategies to reach and use the health system and to defend their rights.
Results: A prevention of HIV/AIDS campaign and the promotion of their civil
rights, taking into account their identity, this turns more effective the adoption
of safe sex. A group of transgender personas that have created an organization
to gain a greater development in actions such as preventions campaigns and in
the defense of their rights.
Presenting author: Pardo Fabiana, General Mosconi No 2195, General Pacheco,
Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: itupardo
@ infovia.com.ar
ThOrG1 417 Interventions to counter trafficking of children and
their impact on vulnerability of sex workers
T. Tandon. Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS Unit, Mumbai, India
Issue: Trafficking of children for commercial sexual exploitation is a grave concern. Interventions by law enforcement agencies to counter trafficking have affected the lives of women in sex work and vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. While the
protection of minors is a rightful concern, issues of human rights violations against
an already marginalized population need to be addressed.
Description: In India, the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act and provisions under the
Penal Code mandate the police to conduct rescue operations in red light areas.
This entails conducting raids in brothels, apprehending sex workers and detaining them in corrective institutions. Sex workers are known to have experienced
violence and abuse during raids including being subjected to mandatory testing.
While sex work is not illegal, concomitant activities including soliciting and brothel
keeping are penalised. Sex workers operate under constant fear of harassment
from law enforcement agencies. Raids further create panic and fear making it
difficult for sex workers to access information and services. Sex workers apprehended during raids are required to attend lengthy court proceedings for days
together. This affects their livelihood and diminishes ability to negotiate safer practices with clients.

Lessons learned: Experiences from other parts, particularly Sonagachi, in Calcutta, where sex workers have organised themselves, become significant. The
collective empowerment of sex workers has not only reduced risk of HIV transmission substantially but also led to initiatives to check the entry of minors through
self-regulatory mechanisms.
Recommendations: Existing strategies of raids that disempower sex workers
and exacerbate vulnerability must be reassessed. Interventions to counter traf
ficking of children in sex work must include sex workers as active partners, who
are central to the context in question.
Presenting author: Tripti Tandon, 7/10 Botawalla Building, 2nd Floor, Horniman
Circle, Fort, Mumbai 400023, India, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone],
E-mail: [email protected]
I ThOrG1418 Two years of safer sex promotion work in escort
agencies and massage parlours: a review of an
NGO's successes and difficulties
J.B. Gardner. SWEAT (Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce), PO.
Box 373, Woodstock, 7915, Cape Town, South Africa
The current illegal status of sex work is a major factor preventing effective HIV
prevention programmes in the commercial sex industry. Sex work is not seen as
a legitimate form of employment and labour legislation governing other legitimate
industries do not apply. Although supportive and respectful management does
exist within the indoor sex industry, labour practices, which would be considered
illegal under existing legislation, are common.
The provision of effective safer sex services to sex workers is intrinsically linked
to a process of legal reform in South Africa. As long as adult commercial sex
work remains criminalised, sex workers will be subject to a host of occupational
difficulties limiting their ability to practice safer sex, as well as being exposed to
other dangers that maintain an enabling environment for the transmission of HIV.
This paper will examine SWEAT's attempts at organizing the indoor sex industry. It will also cover some of the difficulties and learnings that come with setting
standards for a form of work considered illegal. In doing so, factors which impact
on sex workers' ability to control their work environement, including their ability
to insist on safer sex will also be examined, as well as the ways in which these
factors can be minimised.
Health and human rights are linked. In order to address the HIV pandemic in the
industry, account must be taken of the welfare and legal needs of sex workers.
Safer sex education amongst sex workers must be linked with other interventions
aimed at addressing the myriad of other issues and problems facing them. Restrictive laws and policies limit organization of the industry, the enforcement and
monitoring of industry standards.
Law reform is needed if HIV prevention programmes are to have any significant
impact within the industry. In order for sex workers to have more control over their
work lives, conditions need to change. Sex workers have an intergral role to play.
Presenting author: Jillian Gardner, P.O. Box 373, Woodstock, 7915, Cape Town,
South Africa, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: Jilliansweat
@iafrica.com
ThOrG1419 Anti-lesbian rape, HIV and the human rights of
South African lesbians
K. Murungi1, N.R Mabele2. IIGLHRC c/o Human Rights Watch, IGLHRC c/o
Human Rights Watch, 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor, New York, NY 1011, United
States; 2Positive Women's Network, Pretoria, South Africa
Issues: Sexual violence confirms the vulnerability of already marginalized
groups, and creates new forms of vulnerability and marginalization. The rape crisis in South Africa, and its role in the HIV/AIDS pandemic, cannot be addressed
without understanding how gender and sexual norms-and social punishment for
those who infringe them-function in local communities.
Description: South Africa has the world's highest rate of reported rape. 2.3 million women and 1.8 million men are HIV+. Socio-economic inequality, along with
patriarchal gender and sex roles, subject women to high rates of sexual violence,
magnifying HIV risk. Many women are targeted for rape because of their actual
or presumed sexual orientation. Due to stigma associated with both rape and homosexuality, these cases go largely unreported. Thus HIV/AIDS policy has failed
to recognize the impact of the epidemic upon lesbians. This paper examines the
range of State responsibilities to address sexual violence against lesbians in the
HIV context. It shows how South Africa's constitution promises opportunities for
both prevention and remedy which have not yet been fulfilled.
Lessons learned: Gender roles, unemployment, domestic values (and violence)
which impede women's independence, and the housing and transportation crises
in South Africa all affect lesbians. Approaches to these issues must be weighed
for their impact on health and HIV. Meanwhile, mechanisms must weigh the impact of HIV/AIDS policy on gender- and sexuality-related rights.
Recommendations: - In implementing the Constitution's Equality Clause South
Africa must sensitize criminal justice and health care systems to issues of sexuality and gender.
- A discrimination-based approach, however, offers only partial protection for lesbians. Constitutional protections for economic and social rights must be implemented and unemployment, housing, and transportation crises addressed to ensure respect for women's space and freedom of movement.

Presenting author: Kagendo Murungi, IGLHRC c/o Human Rights Watch, 350
Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10118,, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]