Innovative Approaches to HIV Prevention in Commercial Sex

Cheryl Overs Senior Programme Officer, Focused Prevention International HIV/AIDS Alliance

Role of Commercial Sex in HIV Epidemics

the right policy and programming can reduce HIV transmission during commercial sex dramatically prevention in commercial sex averts more secondary cases leading to a significant impact on the broader dynamics of the epidemic

Sex Workers:
from rim Reaper to Agent of Change
198 s! 199 s! 2 #! ris" groups a bac"lash ne$ focus

A ne! paradigm

"hree Strategies
individual ' cognitive participation ' empo$erment enabling environment
&

Participation and Empo!erment

Social Ca ital! the ability to secure benefits through membership in net$or"s and other social structures

Social Incl#sion
maintaining contact $ith families access to resources * +primary, health care * documentation * housing * children-s schooling * financial management self*esteem civil rights culture

Creating an Ena$ling Environment

%pport#nities for Solidarit&

$herever $or"ing conditions have been improved solidarity among $or"ers has been a factor. mutual support and efficient use of limited resources advocacy and political action* man& voices are stronger than one

Solidarit& in action

S#ccessf#l Polic& and Programming

/any interventions produce 000. 1increased condom use 1reduced 23Is

2ome have produced 00.. increased literacy increased safe sex practices decreased dependence on sex $or" increased financial autonomy among sex $or"ers reduced child 4 forced prostitution reduced in5ecting'needle sharing reduced HIV transmission

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Controversial Polic& and Programming

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Some Challenges
mobile and migrant sex $or"ers. drug users male and transgender sex $or"ers refreshing the messages informal sex $or" income generation and exiting strategies lin"ing prevention and care safe sex s"ills
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Care "oda& IS Prevention "omorro!

care settings are an opportunity to provide access to condoms and other resources information on rights6 services and support reduced viral load and improved general health leads to reduced transmission 783 by threatening access to care6 stigma and discrimination undermine prevention . 1%

Repackaging Safet& and Pleas#re

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