Ajmera VM, Bhatt KR, Pandya RV; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. D12241.

Vikas Jyot Trust, Baroda, India

Issues: "Shopping with my family can also get me arrested" was one of the response we got from the CSW regarding their experiences with the local police. Police atrocities are highest on their list of woes. Physical abuse, demands of free and unprotected sex and manipulating the law to book these women is quite common. Description: CSW are arrested even when they are not soliciting for clients as their identity is known to the police. Condoms in the purse is taken as proof of their profession. Efforts of the NGO to contact police officials proved futile due to endless bureaucracy. So we started targeting each police station and talked about HIV awareness with the lower cadre of police. Once the ice was broken, informal meetings with the sex workers and the constables was held which proved to be beneficial as they were able to arrive at a common consensus on some issues. The police constables were also sensitized on the problems facing an sex worker and what steps could be taken up to lessen the harassment. In each program we take the PE of that area along with us, so that they recognize her as a part of the program. Now the police constables have started informing the agency as soon as any sex workers have been arrested. Condom depots has been established in some of the police stations. And the PE is responsible for managing these depots. Lessons Learnt: When we stream line our targ et group into the advocacy programs the result is very effective. Starting from the lower level gives better output than from the upper power structure. Friendly interactions has caused the police to open up. As personal relations is improving, their bargaining power with the police has increased. Recommendations: When we address these sensitive issues in a diplomatic way than a threatening mode we are able to get the desired results This saves us from the red tapism and bureaucracy that will otherwise hamper our efforts in this direction. The sex workers feel empowered and they become more confident about their rights as an individual.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Behavior
• Condoms
• Female
• HIV Infections
• Humans
• Police
• Power (Psychology)
• Prostitution
• Research
• Unsafe Sex
• Violence
• organization & administration

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0033986

UI: 102278202

From Meeting Abstracts