Context

1. PERU: Female and transgender commercial sex workers (CSW) playing a critical role in the promotion and protection of their human rights Carmen Murguía HIV and AIDS National Advisor UNFPA Peru

2. Context This project has begun in 2008 under the leadership of a Consortium integrated by the Instituto de Estudios en Salud, Sexualidad y DesarrolloHumano (IESSDEH), Red Trans and Asociación de TrabajadorasSexuales Miluska Vida y Dignidad and is technically and financially supported by UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund

3. Background • Rio de Janeiro 2006 - Global Technical Consultation on HIV and Sex Work. • Lima 2007 - LAC Regional Consultation on HIV and AIDS organized by GCTH, RedTraSex and RedLacTrans. • Lima 2007 - Peruvian National Consultation on Sex Work, Human Rights and HIV and AIDS organized by Redtrans, AsociaciónMiluska and Ministry of Health. • 2008 - Local Consultation in 4 regions, in Peru: Piura-Lambayeque, Ucayali, Junín y Arequipa.

4. National Consultation on HIV, Sex Work and Human Rights • To favor a broader debate about stigma, discrimination, violence and vulnerabilities associated with sexual work and its relation with HIV/AIDS and human rights violation • Involving female and transgender CSW organizations as key actors

5. Main results obtained from the National Consultation • The consultation brought key information on the main barriers to address CSW needs in the context of the AIDS pandemic and the fulfillment of their human rights

6. Violence in sex work settings • One of the main highlighted barriers was the stigma and discrimination among other expressions of violence suffered by Peruvian female and transgender population at sex work settings: • CSW are victim of persecutory measures (“prostitutes hunt”) • They are arrested under suspicious of “crime” and treated as criminals

7. Violence in sex work settings (cont) • Many times they are victim of sexual abuse exerted by police or security agents • These restrictive measures drive sex industry underground

8. Understandingsomeroots of barriersidentified Police: • There is a misinterpretation among the definitions of sexual work, traffic of persons and sexual exploitation, which causes implications in the attitudes and behavior towards the sex workers, particularly street sex workers • Violence is a structural part of the training provided by the Army

9. Sexual diversity and the complexity ways of sexuality expression are far away of the training provided by the Army, thus homophobic attitudes and behaviours toward transgender people are intensified • Therefore there is a need to re-educate the police and the security agents based on the deconstruction of the traditional “macho” model where violence is an expression of power abuse CSW:

10. Understandingsomeroots of barriersidentified(cont) CSW: • Most of the times, the CSW don’t know about their rights, are not sufficiently empowered or are not aware of the mechanisms/procedures to report maltreatments and other forms of violence exerted by the police

11. Specific proposed actions • To advocate for changes in laws, norms and regulations to protect CSW’s human rights. • To ensure that police and security agents (“serenazgos”) at local, regional and national levels are sensitized, well prepared and informed on sexual diversity, as well as on the complexity of the sex work dynamic and as a key factor to stop violence.

12. Specific proposed actions (cont.) 3. To promote changes in social norms by sensitizing local, regional and national authorities about CSW’s human rights 4. To strengthens capacities of CSW to have a critical role in the promotion and protection of their human rights - including sexual and reproductive rights

13. A Comprehensive Intervention Empowering CSW to protect their human rights Female and transgender CSW as actors of change

14. Some results • Sex work spots have been mapped in the main cities of the 4 selected regions • 100 female and transgender CSW leaders have strengthened their organizational and individual capacities to advocate for their human rights. • 25 female and transgender CSW have developed abilities to sensitize and educate regional authorities as well as a policemen

15. Some results (cont.) • An educational module to sensitize and educate policemen and security agents in human rigths, sexual diversity, sex work and HIV and AIDS was produced and tested • The training program conducted by female and transgender CSW leaders has reached 40 regional and municipal government officers, policemen and security agents

16. Some results (cont.) • A virtual module - based on the one field tested- has been produced to be posted on the website of local and regional governments (“Policemen that leave violence behind”) • A law proposal to protect CSW ´s human rigths has been elaborated through a participatory process under the leadership of female and trasgender CSW and is ready to be debate in Parliament

17. Sharing good practices • Female and transgender CSW leaders has a critical role along the process to sensitize authorities, police and community as a whole in issues related to sex work, human rights and HIV and AIDS • The joint work between female CSW and transgender CSW based on common concerns has created interesting synergies to move forward with the agenda

18. Sharing good practices (cont.) • The partnership among an academic organization, grassroots’ organizations and international agencies (UNFPA and UNAIDS) has resulted toincreasepoliticalcommintment at national and local level • Multisectoral response at local and regional levels, involving decision makers, has became crucial in terms of sustainability

19. Next steps • To ensure the consolidation, recognition and exercise of female and transgender CSW human rights • To continue strengthening their advocacy capacities while fostering their participation in policies at local, regional and national levels • To achieve that the proposed law, presented to the Parliament, is approved. • To scale up the intervention at national level based on evidences

20. Thanks! www.unfpa.org.pe