Background
APNSW was established by sex workers in 1994 at the International AIDS Conference held in Yokohama, Japan.
Over the years, APNSW has successfully reached out to sex workers in over 23 countries, and supported the establishment of new sex worker groups, fostered solidarity between groups, established partnerships with other networks, and formalized itself into a registered organization.
The network management is sex worker led, and membership consists primarily of sex worker led organisations. Some civil society organisations who provide rights-based services to sex workers and endorse APNSW’s vision, mission, goals and core values are also members.
APNSW plays a key role in identifying and creating opportunities for sex workers, analysing trends, critically assessing new research and policies, and engages in advocacy with relevant decision makers to improve the lives of sex workers in Asia and the Pacific.
As a network, much of the Secretariat’s work goes into liaising with members in the region; providing information and feedback, moral and technical support, networking and solidarity building, individual coaching, and skills building.
Message From Regional Coordinator
Leading APNSW was a dream that transformed into reality. Throughout my life, I witnessed various forms of violence that sex workers face and wanted to take action against what I deemed unfair. However, I was always skeptical that one person would be enough to create a big enough change to capture the hearts and minds of other people. Every day, I came to work with a strong work ethic which allowed my efforts to be recognized, and soon after I was working at APNSW planning and implementing impactful projects on a global scale. Along with my career, I found like-minded people equally passionate about creating a world with equal access to justice and opportunities. With a strong and creative team, we set out making lasting impacts through directly addressing the needs of the sex workers. Our methodologies, interventions, and innovations were all designed based on the needs of sex workers themselves.
APNSW has over 34 members from 23 countries across the Asia-Pacific Region. APNSW protects and advocates for the human rights of sex workers by upholding their voices, empowerment, and meaningful participation at the national, regional, and international levels. APNSW plays a pivotal role in ensuring human rights and improving the quality of lives of sex workers by means of evidence-based advocacy, networking, capacity building, research and policy development, and reforms.
The year 2019 was marked by great achievements for APNSW. Implementing several projects with members, capacity development activities, research, technical support, advocacy with stakeholders changed the lives of sex workers to a great extent and protected their human rights.
We learn new things from every single project and are continuing to evolve together as a community from the lessons learned on multiple levels. From tweaking communication styles to adapting the projects to best suit the needs of those we are addressing, it is always our priority to ensure the message is sent across the most effective way.
APNSW’s longer term goals are agreed on by a Management Committee (MC), which is elected by and from the membership.
The MC agrees on the network’s strategies and policy and programme priorities, and monitors progress. A small Secretariat, based in Bangkok, is responsible for program implementation, coordination, and communication.
Vision
Recognition of sex work as work and that every sex worker attains the right to protection and participation, built on the foundation of self-determination.
The MC agrees on the network’s strategies and policy and programme priorities, and monitors progress. A small Secretariat, based in Bangkok, is responsible for program implementation, coordination, and communication.
Missions
To represent, mobilise and empower communities of female, male and transgender sex workers in Asia and the Pacific region.
To promote and protect the human rights of sex workers in Asia & the Pacific.
To support the full decriminalization of sex work.
Core Values
Uphold ethical conduct by adhering to organisational policies, and at all times conducting ourselves with integrity in ensuring good financial management and transparency, complying with organisational legal obligations and accountability to members.
Maintain a culture of respect, trust and unity within the sex worker community, through advocating for our members.
Practice and uphold a policy of non-discrimination in all our engagements, including provision of support to members, and recruitment.
In partnership with member organisations, work with other community based regional networks, UN and other international agencies, donors, faith based organisations, and the media to build support and ensure adequate resources are mobilised to support our vision.
Build partnerships with organisations who share our values and promote the human rights of sex workers.
Goals
Create solidarity and promote leadership among female, male, and transgender sex workers in Asia and the Pacific.
Advocate for sex workers rights, including access to confidential, quality and non-discriminatory health services, including HIV, STI and reproductive health.
Build regional mechanisms for influencing policy and programs through the exchange of information and experiences.
Challenge human rights abuses, stigma and discrimination, and the negative portrayal of sex workers and their communities.
Advocate for the removal of punitive laws and policies which deeply affect the dignity, livelihood, working conditions and quality of life of sex workers.
Demands
An end to human rights abuses of sex workers.
Inclusion of sex workers in all forums and decisions that affect us.
An end to violence and discrimination against sex workers and their families.
Access to the same quality of health services available to others including universal access to HIV, TB, Malaria treatment and prevention.
Decriminalisation of sex work and other legal and policy reforms that enable sex workers to work safely and to participate fully as citizens.
History
Below is a summary of some key moments in sex worker history in the Asia Pacific. It is a work in progress, and the list is incomplete.
Contributions are welcome! When was your organisation formed? What have been the key moments so far for sex workers’ rights in your country? Get in touch via facebook, or twitter, or send us an email.
If you are interested in the worldwide history of the sex worker rights movement see the Global NSWP timeline.
Sex Worker History in the Asia Pacific
A Selection of Our Recent Achievements
2010
APNSW was the co-organizer with UNFPA and UNAIDS of the landmark Asia Pacific Regional Consultation on HIV and Sex Work (the ‘Pattaya Consultation’). This meeting brought about 50 sex workers around the table with around 90 representatives from UN and governments.
2011
APNSW held in-depth consultations with sex workers from 14 countries in the region as input for a joint regional work plan on Scaling Up Sex Work Interventions in the region.
2012
APNSW partnered on the Sex Worker Freedom Festival held in Kolkata. This was an alternative event to the International AIDS conference being held in Washington, USA, which sex workers from around the world were unable to attend due to the USA’s restrictive laws & policies against their work.
2014
APNSW has been building the capacity of sex workers in the region by conducting workshops on the Global Fund New Funding Model (NFM) and HIV Treatment Literacy & Advocacy training.
Partnerships
Strategy Plan
Current estimates suggest there are around 4.5 million sex workers in Asia and the Pacific, contributing several percentage points of gross domestic product (GDP) in some countries. Although sex work is a major economic contributor in the region, sex workers in Asia and the Pacific face regular human rights violations ranging from lack of access to the justice system, to unsafe work conditions, forced STI/HIV testing, police abuse, and detention.
Sex work or activities related to sex work are criminalised in almost all countries in Asia and Pacific (with the exception of New Zealand and the state of New South Wales in Australia). Criminalisation contributes to stigma and discrimination, which in turn impacts on HIV response, access to justice, access to healthcare and violence against sex workers. Crucial in addressing all of these, is a human rights based approach to sex work.
APNSW supports female, male, and transgender sex workers to stand up for their rights, and builds bridges with other networks and decision makers to raise awareness on sex worker rights.
Partnerships
Below is the APNSW Management Committee that oversees the network
