New sex workers programs in different areas

Hong Kong

As a sex workers support organization, we strive to better the status and living environment for sex workers in different ways. On of our main goals is to organize sex workers to set up their own groups to fight for their rights. In November 2006, we finally helped several sex workers to form their own sex worker group. Its name is ‘JJJ Association’, which comes from the initials of Jeijeijai, a friendlier term for female sex workers. Also, as it will be easier for other sex workers to remember a simple name, the group is named in this way.

JJJ Association is still an infant in providing information and supports for sex workers, but Zi Teng is enthusiastic to provide different opportunities to train the organizing and coordinating abilities of the JJJ Association committees. For instance, JJJ committees are now taking turns to provide advice and assistances with us to other sex workers, they join us to plan for the social activities and training classes for sex workers, also outreached with us to sex workers. Through these activities, the committees from JJJ Association can then enhance their organizing and planning skills, have greater capacities and wider scope to run their own organization in future for better sex workers’ rights.

Hong Kong and Shenzhen

In the summer of 2005, we set up the male sex workers program, providing information and supports for male sex workers. Around the end of 2006, the male sex workers program was finally mature enough to run on its own. It is now registered as an independent organization called ‘Midnight Blue’, still providing information and supports for male sex workers in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. It is significant in the sense that it is the first organization in Hong Kong formed for male sex workers.

Macau

We set up a support center in Macau in 2005. Today, the center is independently registered as the ‘Chi Tang Women’s Association’. The staff at Macau center mainly provides legal and health information for sex workers. As there is only one staff at the center, we will regularly communicate with her to further provide her with information, advice and supports. In December 2006, Chi Tang Women’s Association hosted a meeting with different groups in Macau, to explore the possibilities of further collaborations. During the meeting, Chi Tang Women’s Association announced the findings of the survey about the working situation of sex workers in Macau. Zi Teng was also invited to share our work experiences with others. Through this meeting, Chi Tan Women’ Association established contacts with some individuals and groups in Macau. We believe that there will be more and better service for sex workers in Macau soon.

Beijing, Shandong and Guangzhou

We set up a woman’s network and training center in Beijing in May in 2006. We aimed to provide the latest information for female sex workers in Mainland China. At the same time, our staff at Beijing center has developed different service and support for Mainland female sex workers. For instance, they set up counseling service, retraining courses for sex workers to leave the industry, occupational health and safety classes, and self-confidence enhancement programs for sex workers. Besides, we trained social work students in Beijing, so that they can be more prepared to develop programs and service for sex workers. Moreover, the training of social work students has expanded to Shandong and Quangzhou. The social workers are ready to develop sex workers programs in the region. While the center for sex workers in Shandong is now running, the one in Guangzhou will be ready in March in 2007.

Qingdao

We set up a health center in Qingdao 3 years ago, with a doctor providing outreach clinic service for sex workers in the region. This health center is now independently registered as the ‘Jiaozhou Love and Health Consultation Center’, continue to provide supports and medical advice for sex workers.

International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

December 17 2006 was the 4th International Day to End Violence Against Sex Worker. Sex worker organizations from different parts of the world will hold activity to commemorate those sex workers who have been bullied or killed and demand the respect of sex workers’ human rights. Zi Teng hosted an activity to mourn for the murdered sex workers and raise the general public’s concern for the safety of sex worker and stop any violence against sex workers. We marched to the Police Headquarters and voiced our demands to the Police. We also announced the 7 common police abuse against sex workers. They are the results from more than 350 sex workers and Hong Kong citizens, who voted for the most unacceptable police abuse against sex workers on the Human Rights Day Carnival.

Zi Teng statement on the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

¹  International Day to End Violence Against Sex Worker
Background: This day originated from the day when Green River serial killer Gary Ridway, who has raped and killed more than 48 sex workers, was convicted. In order to stop violence against sex workers, sex worker organization SWOP has called upon sex workers throughout the world to organize activity to raise concern for those victimized sex workers, voice against violence and advocating to protect them through legislation.

International AIDS Day 2006

Sex workers are often blamed for accelerating the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and HIV/AIDS. In fact, they are the one who understand the most how to prevent STDs and HIV/AIDS. They are highly conscious of self-protection so as to secure their means of subsistence. Nonetheless, due to the low social status of sex workers and the discriminative attitudes towards sex workers in the society, sex workers cannot always protect themselves as they wish. They often have little bargaining power over price and use of condoms, increasing their vulnerability to the epidemic of STDs and HIV/AIDS. Most of all, as condom is often used as evidence by the court and police to sue sex workers, sex workers, particularly migrant Chinese sex workers who work illegally in Hong Kong, are reluctant to carry condoms. This further exposes them to the diseases. We thus performed a drama on the International AIDS Day to tell the public how sex workers are ‘stopped’ by the police to protect themselves from STDs and HIV/AIDS with condoms. What encourages us the most is that our performance drew much attention from the public, and this appears to us that our message is successfully sent to the public.

Zi Teng statement on International AIDS Day 2006

Human Rights Day Carnival

It was really a busy month to Zi Teng in December. Apart from the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers and the International AIDS Day, we also participated in the Human Rights Day Carnival. We joined with other local organizations to express our concerns on different human rights issues. We set up a booth on this day and shared with the public how sex workers’ dignity and basic rights are violated in the society. Moreover, we joined the Anti-Racial Discrimination Protest on the same day to urge the government to pass the anti-racial discrimination law as soon as possible. In fact, the anti-racial discrimination ordinance excludes immigrants from Mainland China, who experience much discrimination in Hong Kong, for an ethnic reason. We believe that this is not appropriate at all. We believe that people of all ethnicity, class, gender, job, age, are entitled to basic human rights and dignity. Mainland immigrants should also be protected by the anti-racial discrimination law.

World Social Forum in Nairobi, Kenya

During Jan 20-25 2007, Zi Teng staff and one female sex worker joined the World Social Forum held in Nairobi. On one hand, we aimed to network with other organizations and groups. On the other hand, we would like to promote sex workers’ human rights to other forum attendants. However, we were often criticized for ‘assisting’ sex workers. Some even said that it was a shame for us to work with sex workers. In fact, many African people still believe that sex workers are immoral and bad women, that it is reasonable and logical to discriminate against them. At the same time, we are very concerned with the gender inequality in Africa. Many African women believe that they are ‘naturally’ subordinate to men. Some even believe that men do have ‘inborn rights’ to beat and have sex with women.

The gap between Kenyan gender culture and ours did surprise us, but it also reinforced our belief to work more to increase sex workers’ gender awareness and rights consciousness. The female sex worker is greatly influenced by this ‘cultural difference’, that she becomes more active and enthusiastic to participate in our activities. She also desires more for equality and sex workers’ rights.

In addition, we are glad that we met a Korean sex workers support group at the forum. We not only can exchange information later, the group is also helping us to update the information about sex work laws and situation in Korea, so as to provide the most recent information to sex workers.

Jeijeijai Secrets

“I am Ling. I worked in a small-scale foot massage parlor. I worked together with another girl. She had to work with me because of her newborn baby and she does not have any income. She often worked bringing along with her 2-month-old baby. I was entrapped by the police during the undercover operation. I was charged with keeping a vice establishment. The undercover had sex with me when he first came to me, whereas he received hand job service at his second visit. When the undercover revealed his identity, a team of police came and arrested me. When they asked me to sign on the statement, one of them slapped me saying I was not cooperative. He even insulted me with foul language. He then threatened me, telling that they would detain me for 2 days if I did not cooperate with them. I felt losing my consciousness after he slapped me, and I felt scared, so I followed them. When I was doing the statement, the police officers forced me to sign on the false statement. Later, one officer sat beside me, assaulted me physically and verbally. He asked if I was sexually satisfied after having sex with his friend (the undercover). He even verbally assaulted me with words like ‘you look pretty good’ and ‘you have nice breasts’. Afterwards, he touched my breasts. I felt gross humiliation. I really wanted to kill myself at that moment.

I am a new immigrant. I have no idea what my rights are. Yet, I strongly felt I was unfairly treated. I contacted Zi Teng later, asking them to help me to file a complaint. Since I was afraid of police harassment and revenge, I refused to give my personal contact and address to the Complaint Against Police Office (CAPO). I also demanded the police to contact me through Zi Teng. Nonetheless, CAPO got my phone number. They repeatedly called me for different reasons. I worried much they would leak the case to my family. Many times they asked me to go to the police station to provide evidence and so on, but when I had time to go to the police station, they suddenly cancelled all procedures without explaining why. I felt that they were just trying to cause me troubles. CAPO never stopped harassing me, but I really did not feel that they were seriously investigating my complaint. I even did not take part in any identification parades. I am not yet informed of the investigation result, but I felt that my complaint would be turned down after seeing the above.

I am not bad, nor triad member. I just want to earn a living, but I am jailed for 2 months for this reason. I know that many Hong Kong people find Hong Kong policemen nice, but I also want to let you know that many police look down on sex workers. They even think that we can always be harassed and humiliated. Why can’t sex workers be respected and have dignity?”

Sex Workers in China

In the beginning of 2007, the Television program ‘Seasons in Life’ on Phoenix Satellite Television interviewed several ‘xiaojie’(sex workers) in Mainland China. They showed their real face in the program, frankly sharing their stories with the Chinese communities in different parts of the world. At the same time, the host of another program ‘An Appointment with Lu Yu’ interviewed Chen Jing, who documented migrant Chinese sex workers working in Australia. In the program, Chen Lu Yu asked Chen Jing about the life of sex workers. She even scorned sex workers by asking Chen Jing, ‘Did you ever think that you will get something infected if you visit those places? ’She later also recommended Chen Jing to put on long trousers and long-sleeved shirts, while Chen Jing scornfully said that she washed all the clothes she lent to the interviewee right after the interview. What they said in the program clearly showed us their disrespect to the interviewees, that they look down on sex workers.

In fact, the making of a story or program about sex workers’ experiences does help the audience to understand sex workers more. Nevertheless, the producers and staff making ‘Seasons in Life’ and ‘An Appointment with Lu Yu’ recklessly put their prejudicial ideas and viewpoints in the program. Not only they misled the public, also caused great impact and hurt to the interviewed sex workers.

While sex workers can make use of mass media to increase their voice in the society, we strongly appeal to all journalists and program producers to remain objective and neutral in their work about sex workers.

Joint Statement by Zi Teng and Beijing Women’s Network and Training Center

Understanding Decriminalization of Sex Work (2)

We shared with you last time the positive outcomes of decriminalizing sex work from the New South Wales experience. This time we are going to share with you the decriminalizing experiences in New Zealand. New Zealand Prostitutes’ Collective (NZPC) worked much in the passing of the law. You can understand more from the New Zealand experience how decriminalization of sex work changes the relationship between sex workers and government departments, that sex workers can obtain protection and assistance from different government departments. What is amazing about the passing of the decriminalization at the New Zealand Parliament was that the support side of the law was merely 1 vote over the against side.
(You are more than welcome to contact us if you would like to understand, discuss, or participate in the decriminalizing sex work movement)

Introduction of the Prostitution Reform Act (original text from “The Ins and Outs of Sex Work and the Law” conference book)

The purpose of this Act is to decriminalize prostitution (while not endorsing or morally sanctioning prostitution or its use) and to create a framework that-

1. safeguards the human rights of sex workers and protects them from exploitation:
2. promotes the welfare and occupational health and safety of sex workers:
3. is conducive to public health:
4. prohibits the use in prostitution of persons under 18 years of age:
5. implements certain other related reforms.

Besides, some old laws are overturned and repealed including:

1. Brothel keeping- 1 person or more constituted a brothel (5 years imprisonment).
2. Living on the earnings of prostitution (5 years imprisonment).
3. Procuring anyone for the purpose of prostitution (5 years imprisonment).
4. Soliciting- offering one’s body for the purposes of prostitution in a public place ($200 fine- conviction for ever).
5. Massage Parlor Act 1978, which prohibited all acts of prostitution occurring at these venues.

How have things changed for sex workers?

Prior to the law change, the Police loomed large in the life of sex workers in New Zealand. Working in a criminalized sex industry meant that the police are never going to be on your side. When the law changed, the dynamic between the police and sex workers shifted somewhat.

Sex workers were relieved of the fear that the police could arrest them at any time. This was no small change. The fact that you are doing something illegal makes you vulnerable to a wide range of pressures- from the police, from clients, from bosses, from anyone who doesn’t have your best interests at heart. Being on the wrong side of the law locks you out of reach from support if things go wrong.

The change of law in New Zealand has delivered some striking examples in respect to empowerment. Street based sex workers, who previously experienced a lot of harassment from the police, will now reach for their mobile phones to call the police for help if they see dangerous things occurring, or if they feel endangered themselves. Sex workers say that knowing that they can contact the police gives them a stronger position in dealing with bad clients. It enables them to avoid and/or report violence with the expectation that they are entitled to a positive response from the police.

Months ago, two sex workers were murdered in separate instances while working from the streets. While community outcry from some sectors blamed decriminalization for allowing street based sex work, the police and sex workers acknowledged that in the new legal environment, they were able to co-operate more readily to find the killers.

Another example of change is that young sex workers were also pursued and prosecuted under the old laws. Now the focus is shifted to that of protecting those sex workers under the age of 18.

However, to claim that this is an all round happy relationship would be wrong. There is some resentment within the police coupled with a belief that they have relinquished their power to control the “bad” elements in the sex industry.

Certain police are upset that the new law does not enable them to officially build a database of sex workers names and photographs, claiming this as an instrument to “protect” sex workers. Prior to the law change the Police assumed powers they didn’t have. The potential for police corruption lay in the previously criminalized environment with its system of licensing and registering of sex workers names. Sex workers say they felt intimidated and at the mercy of the police as to whether they could continue to work. Many sex workers depend on their income from sex work. The police are no longer able to assume power over the lives of sex workers. Sex workers knew the database and register of their names that existed before the law changed was only ever about monitoring them as criminals with supposed connections to “organized crime” and never about protecting them.

Of course, the police in some parts of the country continue to coerce sex workers to hand over their names and other personal information. However, sex workers feel more able to stand up to the police in protecting their privacy, and expect to be treated like every other law-abiding citizen. Why should the police monitor sex workers as criminals? That very attitude creates a distance between sex workers and the police that can enable crime.

Under the old laws, clients would take advantage and sometimes pose as police officers to intimidate sex workers into providing sex for free. But months ago, we had a high profile case where a police officer was working in her off duty hours as a sex worker. People concluded that this was a sign that attitudes had become more tolerant of sex workers. Perhaps, not surprisingly, she was harshly criticized by her police colleagues who thought it was incompatible with police work.

Reassuringly, the question was raised about the double standard as to why her male colleagues were allowed to pay for sexual services in their off-duty time, but she was not allowed to provide commercial sex services.

Other Government agencies have become more significant, and are developing new relationships with sex workers, which were previously impossible. These relationships are designed to enhance the occupational safety and health of sex workers. There has been some progress. The Ministry of Health published posters that promote the use of condoms to prevent the transmission of STIs. Brothels are required to display safer sex information. Previously, this would have been used as evidence of illegal brothel keeping. The Department of Labor published Occupational Safety and Health Guidelines, which have been developed in consultation with sex workers. There are requests from upset sex workers seeking information on how to lodge complaints about bullying bosses. In a criminalized environment, there were few options, if any, for sex workers to lodge complaints without being compromised themselves by the law. Now, they may take a bullying boss to task through the Employment Court or the Disputes Tribunal, or report them to occupational safety and health or labor inspectors or to their union.

There are still issues to do with maintaining a low profile, and not wishing to be ‘outed’ as a sex worker in a complaints arena. Realistically, some sex workers prefer to find somewhere more benign to work if the conditions are bad and may not lodge complaints. Effectively, sex workers can quit working in one brothel and start in another the same day, or they can work by themselves with other sex workers.

The Prostitution Reform Act enables small owner operated brothels to occur, and does not require formal certification. Four sex workers can work together as equals, without requiring a brothel operator’s certificate. However, if one person wishes to manage just one sex worker, they are required to apply to the court for a brothel operator’s certificate. The information on these applications is held securely. Only the court officials have access to that information- no other person, including the police, can access it. Sex workers now have options to manage their own sex work. This prevents brothels from becoming dominant players and able to dictate working conditions to the majority of sex workers.

List of Donors (November/2006 – February/2007)

2007

We apologize for any omissions!!