There's nothing new about sex work being illegal β a fact that remains the norm in many countries β but now sex workers are being targeted for simply trying to protect their health and the health of their clients by using condoms. Studies presented at a session entitled Criminalizing Condoms and Sex Work , held on Monday at the 19 th International AIDS Conference AIDS , showed that public health efforts are being stymied by draconian police policies, as sex workers around the globe are routinely being targeted and face verbal, physical and sexual abuse for carrying condoms, an action which β while not illegal in and of itself β provides police with so-called "evidence" of prostitution.
According to Sian Maseka of the Sexual Rights Centre in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, who presented at the session, "Condoms have now become just another weapon against sex workers. A study funded by the Open Society Foundation, entitled Criminalizing Condoms , in which seven sex workers' organisations across Kenya, Namibia, Russia, South Africa, the United States, and Zimbabwe collected testimonials from sex workers and 40 outreach workers showed "uniformity [in] the responses we got from sex workers across different locations", according to Acacia Shields, who presented the findings.
Social attitudes that suggest that having a particular illness or being in a particular situation is something to be ashamed of. Stigma can be questioned and challenged.
In everyday language, a general movement upwards or downwards e. When discussing statistics, a trend often describes an apparent difference between results that is not statistically significant. Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use including safer use, managed use and abstinence.
It is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs. Maseka found similar results from interviews with 21 sex workers in Zimbabwe, 17 of whom had been arrested on charges relating to sex work, with condom possession used as justification in some cases.
