Mardi Gras 27 Feb 2010 Sydney, Australia

In 2010 sex workers and supporters marched with the Transsexual Empire Strikes Back float by A Gender Agenda (ACT). Sex workers from Scarlet Alliance, Vixen and RhED (Victoria), Sex Industry Network (SA), Debby Doesn't Do It For Free, Sex Workers Union, SWOP NSW, Scarlet Alliance Tasmanian Office and international friends from Fiji, Japan, North America, UK, Vienna, Ireland and more...

• Sex workers & supporters marched with the Gender Agenda float in their spoof of the Janice Raymond anti-trans tome "Transsexual Empire."
• Link to Janelle Fawkes response to Janice Raymonds "10 Reasons for Not Legalising Prostitution"
• Link to the Gender Agenda website for more information

DECEMBER 17 2009 - International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers Sex workers protest outside the Local Government and Shires Association, Sydney, at International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers 2007

INTERNATIONAL DAY TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST SEX WORKERS Link to news story and photos from the Sydney event, Cumberland Newspaper Link to video footage and interviews from the Sydney event, Fairfax media Link to Juicy Jessie Abraham working in Australia demanding the end of police registration of escort agencey sex workers in the NT. NT sex workers media release TAS sex workers media release NSW sex workers media release Solidarity Events around Australia LINK TO EVENTS PAGE Supported by Link to slovakian sex workers promoting their events - "highlighting the fact that sex workers are safe sex experts and good role models for Slovak society because they protect themselves by using condoms during sex."

INTERNATIONAL DAY TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST SEX WORKERS

Solidarity Event in association with dozens of other actions across the world! Link to events in the USA

SYDNEY ACTION

Meet at 10.45am next Thursday, Dec 17th, at front of Downing Centre (court), 143-147 Liverpool Street, Sydney, wearing red.

International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, Sydney, 2007

Sex workers and supporters welcome.

THIS EVENT WILL INCLUDE A MINUTES NOISE FOR SEX WORKER RIGHTS

Sex workers face all kinds of violence; sexism, transphobia, racism, and discrimination. In NSW sex work is decriminalised; we celebrate this and join sex worker communities around the world to commemorate Dec 17th, International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.

Violence against sex workers comes from the laws, from persecution for our work, and from a society that sees sex workers as the "natural" victims of violence for these other systemic oppressions. This discrimination has been blatant in a recent court case in NSW, sex workers and supporters will protest this next Thursday. Please come along.

ASSAULT IS AGAINST THE LAW – VIOLENCE AGAINST SEX WORKERS IS ILLEGAL.

We’ll be protesting the discrimination apparent in the recent NSW court case. The accused was charged with assault with intent to have sexual intercourse and assault occasioning actual bodily harm to a sex worker. They admitted to using a "lock down manoeuvre" to pin the sex worker to the bed and putting a hand across the victims mouth, but was still found “not guilty.” This is an injustice and is discriminatory against sex workers – would it be acceptable if this happened to a worker in hospitality, or other industries? This is not justice.

Sex workers protest outside the Local Government and Shires Association Offices on International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers 2007

Protest in 2009 outside the Downing Centre, followed by lunch on Oxford Street, sex workers and supporters welcome, come and support sex worker rights, spread the message and see you on Thursday!

Links

• nothing-about-us-without-us.com
• scarletalliance.org.au
• swopusa.org/dec17/
• ABC News Coverage of Court Case
• SMH News Coverage of Aquittal

DARWIN EVENT

SWOP NT are using this day to highlight in the media the restrictive laws around the legalised nature of the our work and also showing Seranna's film shot in india on the day. There is a gathering to start to lobby for law reform - just because it's legal doesn't mean it's safe!

11am on Thursday the 17th December, on International Day to end violence against sex workers, will be the Australian premier screening of "Comparing Countries Compassion" held at the Art Museum Fannie Bay, Darwin. The 43 min documentary filmed earlier this year in India, self funded by Darwin based peer educator Seranna, is about the power of peer education, HIV prevention and condom accessibility in India.

Before the Documentary speakers will include - Dr ALISON J MURRAY talking about Law reform, Shayne Kilford on stigma and discrimination, Steven on frustrations of Advertising restrictions, and Moe will be talking about registrations privacy breaches also Seranna as well.

These speakers will all be filmed and turned into a lobbying tool D.V.D to educate th community about why licensed sex worker is NOT best practice.

For more info email sshutt@ntahc.org.au Link to SWOP NT


Debby Diamante Dildo Harness Artworks, shows at International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, Little Fish Gallery, Enmore, 2008

Melbourne EVENT

Date: Thursday, 17 December 2009 Time: 11:00 - 3:30 Location: RhED offices & Talbot Reserve St. Kilda

RhED, with the support of the St Kilda Gatehouse would like to invite you to join us on the 17th December to make a stand for

International Day To End Violence Against Sex Workers

You can participate in two ways: one: Show your support and walk with us through the streets of St Kilda. We aim to create a visual presence to remind the community that violence against sex workers does exist and it will not be tolerated. Meet at Rhed (10 Inkerman street, St Kilda) at 11am two: Alternatively join us as we gather at Talbot Reserve for a BBQ at 12:30 pm Guest Speakers: Jelena Popovic, Deputy Chief Magistrate Lisa Hardeman, Inspector, St Kilda Police, Sue White, General Manager, Inner South Community Health Service

Scarlet Alliance NATIONAL FORUM 17th, 18th, 19th November 2009, Canberra Be there in person in 2009 in Canberra, November, link to the events page for more information Link to webcast of 2008 Scarlet Alliance National Symposium, held as part of the National Forum last year Link to related documents, media release, symposium papers by Elena Jeffreys, “Migrant Sex Workers Research in Australia” and Alina Thomas, "Advocating for sex work organisations, Tasmania."

NATIONAL SEX WORKER FORUM 17-19 NOVEMBER, 2009, CANBERRA



The national meeting for sex workers packs in:

• 2.5 day National Forum (sex worker only - free)

Presentations, workshops, discussion, consultation, policy development, trends/changes/legal conditions across each state and territory, trans* sex workers, peer education, unionisation, National Strategies (HIV, STI, HEP C, HEP B), Scarlet Alliance Strategic Plan, sex workers the internet and social networking, drug use and sex work, early history of the organisation.

• Annual General Meeting (AGM) (Scarlet Alliance delegates and membership).

Election of our ofice bearers (executive committee), spokespersons, delegates to represent the organisation, reports from the executive committee, presentation of financial reports, rule changes for the organisation.

• Scarlet Alliance half day National Symposium 18 November, 2009, Old Parliament House, Canberra.

Scarlet Alliance annually hosts a half day sex work policy forum open to sex workers, community and health sectors, government, HIV/AIDS, policy and program advisors etc. Key note speakers address current and emerging trends in sex work policy and panels of speakers compare and address effective and failing sex industry policy approaches.

Link to the webcast of the symposium http://tinyurl.com/natsymp2

• Glitzarama (sex worker only)

A night of sex worker celebration, performances, DJs and presentation of prestigous awards including the WOTYS, and soooo much more.

• Tuesday night sausage sizzle (vego options available)- A chance for those considering joining the executive committee to meet current and former committee members and to know more about the roles and governance of a national organisation.

If you would like to attend any of these events you can contact Heather at the Scarlet Alliance office on Wednesdays and Thursdays on 02 9326 9455.


Link to sex worker statements from ICAAP Conference Bali, August 2009 Pre Conference Statement and Post Conference Statement

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Queensland Sex Workers Consultation Meeting 30 June (Brisbane)

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• Come along and have input into United Sex Workers, the new sex worker organisation in Queensland. Download info kit(4 meg)

If you are a Queensland sex workers (past, present, or retired until next-best-offer) would like to formally invite you to our South Queensland Consultation Day.

As you may know, over the last 2 years since SQWISI (Self-Health for Queensland Workers in the Sex Industry) closed, Crimson Coalition has been allied with United Sex Workers North Queensland (USNQ) in our goal of developing a new state-wide sex workers organisation to deliver information and support services to Queensland sex workers.

The new state-wide organisation will be called UNITED SEX WORKERS.

This day will provide an opportunity for you, as a current or past sex worker, to get information about and give your views on, how United Sex Workers will provide the services that Queensland sex workers need and want.

There is a mountain of documents we must produce before we can legally constitute the organisation and receive ongoing funding from Queensland Health. Before these documents are finalised we want to create an opportunity for more sex workers to have their say about how this organization will function and how we can ensure it continues to be run by and for sex workers all over Queensland regardless of gender, age, location, industry sector, cultural background or language ability.

So if you want to have your say, you have 2 options:

1. Attend the South Queensland Consultation Day in Brisbane on Tuesday 30th June 2009.

Please RSVP by phoning Candi on 0421569232 or emailing crimsoncoalitionqld@gmail.com. If you are travelling some distance we can reimburse your costs for plane, train, or bus – just let us know when you RSVP.

2. Read the material in this info kit and give us your feedback by mail, by email or by phone.

See feedback form which is towards the end of the info kit (4 meg)

We are planning to have the office doors open by the end of the year (or beginning of next year), so if you have an opinion about how this service should be run, VOICE IT NOW!

If you would like to have some involvement in the future or just stay in touch, become a member of Crimson Coalition so we can keep you in the loop! All members of Crimson Coalition will automatically become members of United Sex Workers when it is constituted.