Nothing about us without us Conducting community-led research Liana Andriyani Chair National Management Board of Sex Worker Organisations, Indonesia (OPSI)

Sample by site and gender

All 123 interviews with sex worker participants were conducted by peer interviewers

Peer interviewers and community engagement in-country Snowball sampling within networks. Reach marginalized groups. Participants became more open during the interviews. (e.g. in the Indonesian studies, seven participants opened up about their HIV status) Test questionnaires and validate findings.

Advantages of full engagement of the sex worker community 1.The design of the study is based on the NEEDS of the community 2.Participants became more open during the interviews. (e.g. in the Indonesian studies, seven participants opened up about their HIV status) 3.Findings and results from this study can be used as foundation to responds to those needs,

Advantages of full engagement of the sex worker community 4.Communities can be actively stimulated to think about the solution that is right for them 5.The engagement of many stakeholders (Government, International Agencies such as the UN here, and communities) is very strategic in producing implementable recommendations – in each country

Julia Cabassi Regional HIV Advisor UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Office

Key findings – Sexual violence 122 of 123 participants had experienced violence. Sexual violence included rape, gang rape and sexual extortion. Violence increased HIV risk, directly and indirectly. Male, female and transgender sex workers experience and respond to violence differently.

Police and clients were the most commonly reported perpetrators of violence. Client violence was more common where police violence was more common. Exposure to police increased exposure to violence.

Police violence and criminalization fuelled impunity and increased vulnerability to violence.

Criminalization (direct/indirect) Exposure to policePolice violenceReluctance to report Impunity for all perpetrators Continuing violence Reinforces that reporting doesn’t work Criminalization, police violence and impunity

Factors that increase and decrease sex workers’ risk of violence and HIV Decriminalization of sex work

Decriminalization Decriminalize sex work including same-sex sexual acts and sex and remove penalties for activities associated with sex work. Practical interventions: – Orders to end confiscation of condoms as evidence of sex work. – Ensure access to ID cards and proper use.

Factors that increase and decrease sex workers’ risk of violence and HIV Decriminalization of consensual sex between adults End impunity Partnering with police

End impunity Implement a monitoring system for all alleged violence against sex workers. Train police personnel to recognize and uphold sex workers’ rights: Eg SWING and PCPI. Expand gender-based violence programming to explicitly include sex workers and ensure domestic violence legislation covers people of all sexualities and gender identities.

Factors that increase and decrease sex workers’ risk of violence and HIV Decriminalization of consensual sex between adults End impunity Partnering with police Workplace health and safety

Participants working in establishments with supportive managers reported less violence – procedures for violent clients; protection from police raids (sometimes due to bribes); choice - over clients, location, working hours and price. ILO recommendations for workplace health and safety including measures to address HIV risk, even where sex work is illegal.

Factors that increase and decrease sex workers’ risk of violence and HIV Decriminalization of consensual sex between adults End impunity Partnering with police Workplace health and safety Collectivization and knowledge

Collectivization and rights education Formal and informal networks were an important source of support. Knowledge of rights and laws in-country was low. Male and transgender participants had strong connections to sex worker-led, empowerment- based organizations.

Human rights mean the right to live, to work, to produce something, to build the future. In my opinion, sex workers have those rights…. It’s my right to fight for them. Male participant, Jakarta “

Irawati Atmosukarto Senior Research and International Partnership Coordinator National AIDS Commission Secretariat, Indonesia

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