Human Trafficking, HIV/AIDS and the Sex Sector

Human Trafficking, HIV/AIDS and the Sex Sector
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
09:00 AM - 02:30 PM

Human trafficking and forced labor are global human rights abuses. Over the past eight years, the United States has supported some excellent programs but it has also adopted an ideologically-driven approach to the sex sector that has harms women and their families, increases the vulnerability of people in the sex sector to violence and trafficking, prevents health care workers from accessing sex workers and does nothing to prevent trafficking. Sex workers who do not want to be 'saved' are being subjected to violent raids and rescues and some of them are being arrested, abused and deprived of their livelihood. Anyone receiving U.S. funding must sign a pledge never to discuss the benefits of working non-judgmentally and collaboratively with sex workers to stop trafficking, child prostitution and violence. This conference will bring together international and U.S. experts to share experiences and discuss the ways in which the Obama Administration can create a new U.S. policy on human trafficking that is consistent with international human rights standards and grounded in reality.

Presented by the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
Students, Alumni, Faculty, Staff & General Public – no charge
(registration is required)

9:00 – 9:15 Welcome
Ann Jordan, Director, Program on Human Trafficking and Forced Labor, Center for Human
Rights and Humanitarian Law
Serra Sippel, Executive Director, Center for Gender Health and Equity


9:15 – 10:30 Anti‐Prostitution Policies and Human Rights
• Human Rights Framework: Serra Sippel
• Legal framework and U.S. policy: Ann Jordan
• Legal challenges to U.S. anti‐prostitution policy: Zoe Hudson, Open Society Institute
Moderator: Martina Vandenberg, Jenner and Block


10:30 – 10:45 Coffee break
• Video: Cambodiaʹs new anti‐trafficking law: Sex Workers speak out


10:45 – 11:30 The Impact of Anti‐Trafficking and Anti‐Prostitution Campaigns on Sex Workers in
Cambodia
• Sara Bradford, Asia Pacific Network of Sex Work Projects
Moderator: Christina Arnold, Executive Director, Prevent Human Trafficking

11:30 – 12:15 Sanghamitra: A Journey Towards Social and Economic Empowerment
• Dr. Shilpa Merchant, Population Services International and the Sanghamitra Project
Moderator: Sneha Barot, Senior Public Policy Associate, Guttmacher Institute


12:15 – 1:00 Lunch
• Video: Taking the Pledge
• Video: Compelled To Act: The Theatre of Sex Workers in Mali


1:00 – 1:45 Danaya So: Bringing Hope to Women and their Families
• Sylvia Mollet, DANAYA SO
Moderator: Pauline Muchina, Ph.D., Senior Partnership Advisor, UNAIDS


1:45 – 2:30 The Government of Brazil and Sex Workers Collaborate to Address HIV/AIDs
• Gabriela Leite, President, Davida
Moderator: TBA

General Registration – no charge, but required.
To register, please go to www.wcl.american.edu/secle/registration
For further information about registration, please contact:
Office of Special Events & Continuing Legal Education,
American University Washington College of Law
202.274.4075 or secle@wcl.american.edu

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Cheers,
Christina Arnold
http://preventhumantrafficking.org