UNFPA to intensify efforts against HIV/AIDS

September 14, 2006
3 MIN READ
A
A+
A-

The United Nations Population Fund will be leading the efforts of the UN system in the area of female sex work to intensify the HIV/AIDS response towards this vulnerable group and initiate efforts for the elimination of violence against female sex workers (FSW).

According to press release by UNFPA and UNAIDS office in Kathmandu, issued on Wednesday, the UNFPA will work to empower FSW and meet their sexual reproductive health needs.

“Female sex workers deserve a comprehensive package of services including reproductive health, legal and social services,” said UNFPA Representative Junko Sazaki. “The response toward commercial sex work needs to be comprehensive and scaled up in order to prevent HIV/AIDS as well as to ensure that sexual reproductive health (SRH) needs are met.”

“The reproductive health needs of FSWs are not adequately addressed by the current initiatives,” added UNFPA HIV/AIDS Officer Ms. Manju Karki. “We need to address the overall health promotion of sex workers and not just HIV/AIDS”.

Last week, the UNFPA and UNAIDS had jointly organized an interaction on people in vulnerable occupation and HIV/AIDS. At the interaction, FSW networks representatives shared how women are compelled to practice sex work and condemned the NGOs, government and civil society for denying that discriminatory practices exist as the circumstances that lead them to pick up this profession. They also shared stories of incidents in which women have been physically and sexually abused by clients and also by security personnel.

Present at the event, high level representatives of Nepal Police acknowledged the perpetration of uniformed personnel on female sex workers, but stated that, as a result of a dedicated HIV/AIDS Strategy and Operational Plan of Nepal Police and corresponding activities, the situation was improving.

Sapana Malla Pradhan, advocate, a speaker at the interaction, mentioned that because of Nepal’s institutional structure, social values, beliefs and current legal parameter FSW were facing violence, stigma and discrimination and that a strong provision to criminalize the crimes perpetrators was needed. She also suggested that the revised interim constitutional draft should spell out a clear reference on discrimination and violence against female sex workers. It was highlighted that, because of violence and discrimination, FSW are at risk to HIV transmission and do not receive the needed services for HIV prevention.

Based on what FSW had to say about their needs and the gaps and challenges in regards of reproductive health services, UNFPA in close coordination with UNAIDS will discuss the strategies for action. UNFPA, in addition to coordinating with other UN agencies, organizations and National Center for AIDS and Sexual Transmitted Diseases Control to strengthen the response, also intends to conduct operational research as well as partner with uniformed personnel, network of FSW and service providers to meet the challenges shared by FSWs in accessing HIV prevention and care services.

“Rich, poor, commercial sex workers, wives of migrants, young or old, lives of all women are equally important,” stressed Sazaki. “We should all work together to ensure that the rights of all women, including FSW are respected.”