Law letter
Neglected health services for sex workers
Sex workers have been identified as one of the most vulnerable groups for spread of HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh. Therefore, sex workers among other targeted groups such as Injecting Drug Users (IDU), Men Sex with Men (MSM), Transgender etc. are targeted for intervention for prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Sex Workers are identified by different names based on their nature of work. Though activities for street or brothel based sex workers started long ago, the term 'Hotel & Residence Based Sex Workers' is relatively new to us. For the last few years some NGOs have been working for hotel and residence based sex workers. At present the services for hotel and residence based sex workers are limited to only HIV and AIDS prevention though experience of some NGOs in this area reveal that these sex workers need other supports especially finance support because different studies show that most of the sex workers come to this profession only on financial consideration. Due to continuous price hike of essentials it has been very difficult for people to cope with the financial crisis. Studies also show that a large number of housewives are involved in sex work (professionally). Different studies bring the fact to surface that these women are mostly from the middle class families. It is also to be mentioned here that a large number of women from upper class families are also involved in sex work but they are not easily reachable by NGOs. As members of well-off families these women are not in need of support from NGOs or other support agencies. Therefore, NGOs are working mainly for women of middle and lower class families.
A total of more than 12000 hotel and residence based sex workers are receiving supports from NGOs for the prevention of HIV and AIDS. But these women need other services also. Reviewing their need, some NGOs have come forward to provide other services. But these NGOs have been facing problem in implementing their activities because of attitudinal problem of the people in our society. Support to this group is opposed by different quarters such as community leaders, religious people and in many cases by the people in the local administration though the activities are being implemented with due approval of the relevant government agencies. In an attempt to overcome this problem involving community people in project implementation and monitoring has been evolved as a strategy. In furtherance of that initiatives have been taken to ensure involvement of community people and local administration. Committees headed by the Civil Surgeons and others at every place have been formed though availability of their cooperation at all levels is not beyond question.
The main problem of implementation of these initiatives, for hotel and residence based sex workers, is their reluctance to be identified as sex workers. From this perspective, activities for hotel and residence based sex workers is more difficult than working with other types of sex workers. It is needless to say that in prevention of HIV and AIDS it is essential to work for hotel and residence based sex workers as their widespread yet silent presence in our community is undeniable. Because of continuous raid in hotels and residences by law enforcement agencies, these sex workers deny to accept support from NGOs despite the fact that they have been informed more than ever about HIV and AIDS through activities of NGOs. Of course we don't encourage women to take sex work as a profession but we have to keep them alive. Preventing them from receiving HIV and AIDS prevention services provided by NGOs without arrangement for alternative source of living is simply nothing but putting their lives in jeopardy.
A comprehensive service in the context of HIV and AIDS prevention includes services for education, treatment and prevention methods. Lots of initiatives have been taken by NGOs to provide comprehensive services to sex workers. Because of above-mentioned problems, especially non-cooperation from a part of community people, some efforts of NGOs went in vain. We all should remember that preventing hotel and residence based sex workers from receiving services would increase our vulnerability to AIDS. We should give it a serious thought.
Syed Taposh
Technical Coordinator
HATI, CDS Consortium
