Sex Workers Rally To Support Aids Seminar

[george]

Sex workers rally to support aids seminar

BANGKOK: -- The Empower Foundation, a sex workers advocacy group, will sell its members' services to raise funds to support their participation in the 12th National Seminar on Aids after financial support was cut for this year's version.

Empower director Chantawipa Apisuk said yesterday that every year the foundation's 18 networks were sponsored by the Public Health Ministry to send 45 members each, or 810 in total, to join the seminar.

However, they were told on May 16 that the event organiser would not sponsor the network participants but only 10 speakers from each network, she said.

The foundation put out a newsletter promoting 45 members nationwide, particularly at foreign customers. The hope to make Bt3,000Bt3,500 each, or Bt135,000 in total.

Chiang Mai Empower coordinator, Pornpit Phakmai, said the sex workers were offering Bt1,000 for short time and Bt2,000 for long time, or overnight, to some 135 customers within the 11 days until the opening of the threeday event at Impact Muang Thong Thani on Wednesday.

Somchai Chakraphan, directorgeneral of the Disease Control Department, said the organiser received a lot less money to host the event this year, about only Bt2 million, which was not sufficient to do like before.

The department had contacted all networks to hear their problems and provide initial assistance, he said.

The event was aimed at reducing new HIV/Aids cases by half within three years until 2011.

The prime minister would preside over the opening ceremony.

-- The Nation 2009-05-25

[hhiser]

I would like to show my support. Just do not tell my wife. Seriously, what a fantastic story, I am glad to hear that the sex workers,

1. have an organization to look out for their welfare.

2. are advocating safe sex practice.

3. are working toward gaining th respect they deserve.

Like it or not they provide an invaluable service to many people. I would like to see a less gender biased sex industry.

[sniffdog]

People get arrested for pimping and they are going to promote prostitution by newsletter?

[BigSnake]

Way to go nothing like a little self help project, These people knows best their needs and concern, just hope those in power will listen and assist when and where possible. Sure many took this lifestyle as a very last choice.

[geriatrickid]

The intent is to embarass the government, not to make money.

I'd say, mission accomplished.

[Shotime]

The intent is to embarass the government, not to make money.

I'd say, mission accomplished.

I'm learning not to argue with you, but are you're saying that they're not really providing services, just trying to embarass the government by offering services?

This is too much. Gotta love the Thai Working Girl or whoever the advocates are.

[Junglejumbo]

The government needs to spend more to teach people to use condoms. I know it may sound obvious to most of the readers here but you'd be amazed how many younger Thai people don't care if u use one or not....

A huge number of Thais now have HIV especially the under 30 age range. In the gay scene, the level is close to 40%. Nobody is safe these days. Many of the male prostitutes have girl friends who work in bars also.

[DaraRai]

It's great to see the workers rallying together to better their conditions. Too many people focus on eradicating prostitution altogether, but the fact is, prostitution will probably never be completely eliminated. Those who call for the elimination of prostitution often claim to do so in the interest of the prostitutes, but if that is so, then they should focus on cleaning up the workers' environment; the main concern should be to make the workers' conditions safer.

[khundon]

I would like to show my support. Just do not tell my wife. Seriously, what a fantastic story, I am glad to hear that the sex workers,

1. have an organization to look out for their welfare.

2. are advocating safe sex practice.

3. are working toward gaining th respect they deserve.

Like it or not they provide an invaluable service to many people. I would like to see a less gender biased sex industry.

hhiser

I agree with points 1 to 3 but don't understand what you mean by "less gender biased sex industry".

There will always be more men shag**g women or do you expect men to sh* more men, to equal things up?

Plus there are only so many people that fancy Lady boys, so how would you achieve a more balanced sex industry?

Have I missed a gender out, I wonder!!

AIDS is a terrible disease and I wish the 12th National Seminar good luck. The Thai government should sponsor this seminar not the girls or boys.

[geriatrickid]

The intent is to embarass the government, not to make money.

I'd say, mission accomplished.

I'm learning not to argue with you, but are you're saying that they're not really providing services, just trying to embarass the government by offering services?

This is too much. Gotta love the Thai Working Girl or whoever the advocates are.

No and yes Issue really isn't the services. The workers will be working whether they are donating or not. If the organizers were that intent on going to the event, they would have quietly asked their supporters for a bit of funding. Instead they used the sex for a "good cause" strategy. It worked because it brought media attention and caused the uptight folks over at the MoH to cringe. Whole thing is silly. In fairness to the MoH, it just doesn't have the funds. The swine flu expense along with the shrinking tax revenues means they have to cut back.

[samgrowth]

Be real. There is no sex worker in Thailand. It is against the law. No one can just show up, claim himself / herself as a criminal and not be put in jail.

There's only uni students. At least that's what they all tell me at Nana. I believe them.

[DaleBlue]

From Bangkok to Berlin, Hard Times Hit the Sex Trade

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8...1901396,00.html

Low season, better help to rally to support aids seminar than waiting for clients?