Andrew Hunter, the President of NSWP, said, “with the US now leading the fight for Lesbian, Gay and transgender equality we are extremely disappointed that they refuse to revise their restrictions on sex workers and refuse to recognize that we are human beings with basic rights.”
Ruth Morgan Thomas, the Global Coordinator of NSWP said “it is essential that sex workers be able to self organize in order to stop the AIDS epidemic and yet again the US Government prohibits funds being given to sex worker organizations, the most effective HIV prevention strategy, through the anti-prostitution pledge included in all donor contracts.”
Affirming this, M Bhagyalakshmi, president of the All India Network of Sex Workers (AINSW) stated that “the 5-day Global Hub will deliberate on the “Seven Freedoms” –the right to move, work, access to healthcare, participate, organize, be free of violence and discrimination - without which the community of sex workers cannot reduce their vulnerability to HIV.”
“The Sex Workers will strive to release the Kolkata Declaration which will be a platform that enables us to reclaim the rights that are due to us,” she added
Rituu B Nanda
