Sex workers in india The current study attempted to understand the barriers faced by female sex workers in Puducherry, a union territory in the southeast part of India, to exit from sex work. This article attempts to retrace the position of prostitutes and sex work in ancient India, and while doing so, it consciously attempts to present a narrative that redefines female desire and agency. The existing state rehabilitation projects often violate their bodily autonomy and act as moral discipliners, leaving them vulnerable to violence. By its very nature, sex work is a migra-tory trade meaning that women relocate to urban areas and other high sex-work regions to earn an income. NNSW consists of - 8 NGOs - 12 CBOs and State-level networks, federations, and collectives With a strength of ~1,50,000 members across 7 States, this is the only national network that brings together female, transgender, and male sex workers PDF | On Mar 31, 2017, Sunny Sinha published Sex Workers and HIV/AIDS in India | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate Sex workers in India: 9 December 2009: Listen to this item. AINSW is the only national network of sex workers in India led entirely by sex workers themselves. Studies in the future would need to not only explore direct and indirect health risks of sex workers stemming from direct exchanges with customers but also move to addressing the same with regular initiation into sex work is far more complicated than a simple distinction of ‘voluntary’ and ‘involuntary’ as explained by other studies in India and around the world. The Supreme Court has recognized sex work as a profession, affirming sex workers’ rights to dignity and equal protection under Article 142 of the Constitution. The Sonagachi Project was initiated in Kolkata, India in 1992 as a STD/HIV intervention for sex workers. Shriya Patnaik discusses the core issues whilst also throwing light on grassroots-level movements advocating Female sex workers (FSWs) in India experience unmet health‐care needs due to numerous barriers to care. Hit film tells story of sex worker turned rights champion; Sex workers welcome portrayal of strong role model The major issues that sex workers in India face stem from the fact that despite not being illegal, the secretive nature of sex work presents an illusion of it being a crime. Interviews were The sex workers collectively working for the National Network of Sex Workers (NNSW) aim to provide a voice to the issues faced by sex workers at all major forums. The HIV prevalence among these sex-workers has increased from 4. However, various laws found in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act “Protecting the Right of Sex Workers: The Indian Experience. The health and well-being of. Transient Sex Workers In India, sex workers in brothel-based settings, especially in big, well-renowned red-light districts in metropolitan areas like the Sonagachi in Kolkata [16] and the Kamathipura in Mumbai [17] are supported by community led structural interventions and development projects. The objective of the present study is to analyze the lived experiences of intersectional stigma against sex workers in Kolkata. (Dr. Although there is no legal requirement to provide the father’s name or documents, one school used In India, sex workers have had a robust tradition of community organizing into unions and collectives. This response critiques their approach, particularly noting the lack of attention to sex workers' diverse identities and the limited geographical scope of examples, calling for a more nuanced consideration of sex work in contexts like India, which reveals broader implications for understanding marginalization, activism, and the lived realities Sex work should be considered as legitimate work and problems within the industry are not in-herent in the work itself. Moving beyond inaccurate tropes of sex workers as solely being oppressed victims, this paper aims to shed light on the diversity of sex work in India by sharing themes Sex work is technically legal in India, but workers say they face stigma, harassment and violence — especially by the police. For the transient sex workers, invisibility and non-identification as sex workers This essay explores the legal and constitutional issues surrounding sex work in India, focusing on the tension between constitutional morality and the rights of sex workers. )The report’s authors include In one of the few books on sex work in India, Nag (2006) distinguishes between devadasis (women dedicated to gods, who engage in sex work), hereditary FSWs, singing/dancing FSWs, brothel-based FSWs, floating (flying or street) FSWs, call girls, male sex workers and child sex workers. 7 In the USA (for most of the country except part of the state of Nevada) and Thailand prostitution is illegal. Subsequent amendments were made to the law and the name of the Act was changed to Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. For most Indian sex workers we have studied, across gender/sexuality lines, access to basic services, state entitlements, and livelihood is a major concern. They also work to address myths, misconceptions and stigmas that degrade the position of sex workers and create situations for abuse against them. Its aim is to strengthen the sex workers’ movement in India and advocate with the Indian government for supportive policies, challenge the stigmatized narrative, and broaden public support for sex workers’ rights. Like Dhokne, many sex workers in India have started using apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram to safely work online since the pandemic. Sex work in India is conflated with trafficking for sexual exploitation. It is difficult to know how many sex workers there are in India, but it is estimated that about 1% of adult women in India could be engaged in sex work (Dandona et al. 1 The matter was widely reported in the press The present paper is focused on the devastating effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on female sex workers (FSWs) in India and the globe. Key words: Female sex workers, India, involvement in sex work, HIV risk. Detailed documentation of demography and various aspects The issue of sex work and the law has been increasingly discussed in Indian public debates during recent years. The Born into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids is a 2004 Indian-American documentary film about the children of sex workers in Sonagachi, Kolkata's red light district. 1-4 However, HIV rates of only 10% have been observed among sex workers in Calcutta, a city on the drug route into the heart of India and one of the most impoverished urban areas in the world. Special reports, videos, audio, photo galleries plus interactive maps and timelines at Firstpost. Activists are advocating for the decriminalization of voluntary adult sex work, prompting broader discussions on the rights and well-being of sex workers. (2018), reflect ongoing efforts to reform India's legal approach to prostitution. Sex workers, as part of the informal labor sector, face a complex intersection of criminalization, stigma, and economic exclusion. Sex work is a prerequisite to ensure the physical and emotional inviolability of sex workers, their right to life, right to freedom of labour, health and reproductive and sexual right. Voices of women in sex work in theatre. Methods We interviewed 30 cisgender female sex workers in March 2023 in Kolkata, India. Leverage your professional network, and get hired. The current study introduces a new approach of measuring vulnerability among female sex workers (FSWs) by adopting a multidimensional poverty measurement framework. Earnings of Female Sex Workers in India, Thailand, and the USA: A Need to Create an Equitable Economic Survival of Female Sex Workers Manisha N. This book examines and theorizes about the emergence, growth, impact, collapse, and rejuvenation of a sex worker movement in India, exploring the manner in which the two pandemics – HIV and COVID-19 – bookended a feminist movement through more than a quarter of a century, shaping its trajectory over the course of that time. Recognition of Sex Workers' rights by the Supreme Court of India The Supreme Court on 19th May 2022 passed a judgment recognizing the profession of sex workers. All India Network of Sex Workers vs. For the transient sex workers, invisibility and non The rapid ethnographic mapping of sex work, which followed the demolition of the Baina red-light area in June 2004, showed that homogeneous brothel-based sex work evolved into a heterogeneous dispersed and clandestine trade. This practice has been continued from ancient times but For the most part, sex workers in Mumbai face what sex workers around the world face -- many of them are sold into prostitution as young girls and are not there by choice. Patwardhan2 Abstract Financial necessity and desperation is the primary reason for females to enter into sex work. In an explicit sense, the Indian Penal Code is silent about prostitution. 8,9 India has more numerous FSWs (3 million in Sex work is considered one of the oldest professions in the world. In recent years, sex worker collectives have formed to demand full decriminalization of sex work and recognition of Recently, the hon’ble Supreme Court (SC), while conducting proceedings in the matter of Criminal Appeal 135/2010, passed certain directives to the government and governmental authorities under the Article 142 of the Constitution of India in the matter of working conditions and human rights of the sex workers. Sage Publications, New Delhi, 2005 . 4% in 2004 to 16. ), Kazi Nazrul University ABSTRACT Prostitution is an act of engaging in sexual activities, in general with someone who is not a spouse or a friend in exchange for immediate payment in money or other valuables, and is a controversial and often taboo topic. Sex workers: A prostitute who seduces or solicits shall be prosecuted. The aim of this study Although sex work is highly stigmatized throughout the world, a limited body of research has examined stigma among female sex workers (FSWs). Brothel-Based vs. In a landmark order, the Supreme Court of India recognised sex work as a “profession” and stated that under the law sex workers are entitled to dignity and equal protection. And in its repeated telling, it serves Brothel-based sex workers in India have more visibility and undergo greater social scrutiny, moral surveillance and stigmatization. ). )The report’s authors include Poverty is a major reason given for entry into sex work in India. Sex workers exist but are not legally recognised. The project evolved to adopt strategies common to women's empowerment programs globally (i. Gore1 and Avinash R. Complete coverage on the latest top stories, business, sports, entertainment, and world politics news headlines. LLB (Hons. Poverty is the most commonly cited reason for entry into sex work in India (Sarkar et al. [2] Objectives: We sought to study suicidal behavior prevalence and its association with social and gender disadvantage, sex work, and health factors among female sex workers in Goa, India. We report data on who these women are and when they get involved with sex work that could assist in increasing the reach of HIV prevention activities for them. Prostitution is an occupation of engaging in sexual activity with someone else for financial benefits. These women were at a median age of 35 years and re Sex Workers in Puducherry, India: A Qualitative Inquiry P. , 2006). 21 Sex workers in India typically lead precarious lives with no safety net, according to Meena Seshu, director of Sangram, a nonprofit working with sex workers and other marginalized populations in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. (2019) argue that the collective identity of sex workers was formed when Sex work is often characterized by images of coercion, poverty, destitution and lack of agency, but research indicates that sex work in India is more diverse than these popular representations. In India prostitution is not technically illegal although numerous laws impose different degrees of restrictions on sex work. These issues have been dealt with on various research platforms before. 5 Condom use has risen in Calcutta in recent years, from 3% in 1992 to Sex work in India remains an issue that is deeply entrenched in legal, social, and economic challenges. In India, sex work is not As per the 2008 survey conducted, by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, India has nearly 3 million sex workers, with an overwhelming majority in the 15-35 age group, and, In India, sex work is not illegal per se as one is still allowed to sell sex privately (Global Network of Sex Work Projects, n. Methods: Using respondent-driven sampling, we recruited 326 sex workers in Goa for an interviewer-administered questionnaire regarding self-harming behaviors, sociodemographics, Shubham Singh, a 30-year-old filmmaker based in Mumbai, India, first started research on a film about sex workers operating on India’s highways in early 2019. Although sex work is not illegal according to the Act, supporting activities such as maintenance of brothels or soliciting customers are punishable offences. The word sex work was first used in the 1980s by Carol Leigh, a sex worker turned activist, to mark The sex work in India is governed primarily by the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA), but Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Juvenile Justice Act also have provisions dealing with According to the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), there are over 8 lakh women sex workers in India, and more than 6000 female sex workers have been subject to physical violence, and other forms of abuse according to the National Crimes Records Bureau Report 2020-21. (Read the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Vijayakumar et al. Since these women are viewed as less-than-human, they exist on the fringes and are often ignored by society in general. As we navigate through 2024, the discourse surrounding prostitution is more relevant than ever, especially in light of ongoing debates about its legality, societal implications, and the rights of sex workers. Commercial Sex Workers in India - laws governing Sex Workers Written by: Rohit Anand Das - 5th Sem, 3rd year The Role of the Law in the Indian Sex Workers’ Movement’ (2014) 15(4) Interventions: International Journal of Postcolonial Studies 461; Prabha Kotiswaran, Dangerous Sex, Invisible Labour: Sex Work and the Law in India (Oxford University Press 2012); Laxmi Murthy and Meena Saraswathi Seshu (eds) The Business of Sex (Zubaan Books 2013). The legislation serves the Sex work in India has a long and complicated history, influenced by traditional practices, socio-economic conditions, and religious beliefs. Despite the challenges posed by the proximity of this district to revered places of worship, various organizations work towards providing healthcare, education, and social support to the sex workers and their families. Addressing prostitution in India "Gangubai Kathiawadi" is a biopic telling the story of a sex worker of the same name who went from being a young trafficking victim to fight for the rights of women working in the trade in the 1950s - a battle still being fought today. Thus, police must treat sex workers with dignity by not intervening and taking criminal action against adult and consenting sex workers. Swathisha1 and Sibnath Deb2 Abstract Sex work is considered one of the oldest professions in the world. The majority of sex work in India is clandestine due to unfavorable legal environment and discrimination against female sex workers (FSWs). “Sex workers are entitled to equal protection In a landmark 2022 ruling, the Indian Supreme Court recognized sex work as a profession, affirming that sex workers are entitled to dignity and equal protection under the law. In Indian scenario, it emphasises on historical factors and theoretical frameworks that explicates the ceaseless exploitation of FSWs even before the pandemic. A multidimensional vulnerability index was Stigma is felt, constructed, understood and negotiated differently by varied marginalized groups, including diverse groups among commercial sex workers themselves. Many sex workers in Kamathipura - Mumbai's red-light district - and across India say the film starring celebrated actress Alia Bhatt shows The health and well-being of female sex workers (FSWs) depend on the balance between their earnings and the cost of living in their local environment. By examining the migration from rural to urban settings, this study seeks to understand how cis-gender female sex workers (FSW) navigate 1 INTRODUCTION. Another challenge for sex workers is the lack of access to resources and India is such a vast country where people perform several type of works to sustain there life and to earn basic livelihood. In India, selling sex in private is legal, while all other activities related to sex work, such as pimping, brothel-keeping, are considered to be illegal. Prof. National Network of Sex Workers (NNSW), India 1 UN Bodies such as the CEDAW Committee 2 and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women (SR VAW) have consistently expanded the rights of women in sex work over the years, A Researcher Was Surprised By What He Learned About India's Sex Workers : Goats and Soda A researcher found that some of them don't want to be "rescued. The police, legal system and legal personnel also contribute to sex workers being seen more as the perpetrators of crime than being at the receiving end of it. Female sex workers (FSW) in India are highly stigmatised and discriminated against by the society. Sex workers should be a-llowed to enjoy the same l2O Development lssues in lndia: Policies and Perspectlves labor rights as other workers and the same human rights as other people. But different groups are positioned differently. A long-standing demand of sex workers that their work be decriminalised has been partially fulfilled with the Supreme Court. Thus, police must India’s legal framework, remotely related to sex work is The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (herein referred to as ITPA), poses significant challenges, specifically with respect to definition Sex workers form one of the most stereotyped and marginalised communities of the nation and there is a need for protection of their rights. INTRODUCTION Sex work in India is clandestine (Dandona et al. Although the The legislation governing sex work in India is the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. Sex work is arguably even more stigmatized in India There are numerous variables that affect the earnings of a female sex worker (FSW). 297 OF 2018: This case is currently before the Delhi High Court and seeks the decriminalization of sex work in India. Article 142 of the Indian This article sets out a women’s human rights approach to the legal regulation of sex work developed through an analysis of feminist perspectives, international human rights standards—in particular, the approach of the Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 1979 (CEDAW)—and the voices of female sex Introduction of AINSW. Brothel-based sex workers in India have more visibility and undergo greater social scrutiny, moral surveillance and stigmatization. Caught in a vicious web of debt, exploitation, and criminalization—mainly owing to social stigma and In India, HIV seroprevalence rates among sex workers have ranged from 50–90% in Bombay, Delhi, and Chennai. The principal legislation dealing with trafficking is the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, (ITPA) supported by Section 370 – 373 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Commercial Sex Workers: The commercial sex worker has been a universal being throughout civilization as prostitution is the so-called oldest profession. Gaur said ‘a play by sex workers for sex workers called Jhoraphuler Roopkatha that has been conceptualised by Bengali film actor Nigel Akkara and directed by Chiranjib Guha, is a recent work‘. However, sex work is still not decriminalised. 2006). Many FSWs in India report violence and intimidation by clients and the police, with experience of violence strongly associated with inconsistent condom use and lower levels of In this article, we critically evaluate India's current anti-trafficking and anti-sex work laws as well as the country's implementation of such laws in light of the actual lived experiences of sex workers. They have access to healthcare Sex work is a way of life for thousands of women in marginalized communities in certain parts of rural India. This inquiry analyses the efficacy of legislative and judicial endeavours taken with Sex work is a stigmatised profession, even though the workers find it difficult to exit the same. 18 This consisted of street-based female sex workers soliciting in railway stations, bus stops, and municipal parks; sex %PDF-1. The country’s growing usage of smartphones — India has over 600 million smartphone users — There are over 800000 sex workers in india. New Sex Workers jobs added daily. However it is this very framework of ITPA and the Indian One sex worker in India explains, “there is no room for respect or acceptance towards our profession as sex workers. This pandemic has resurfaced the existing cracks in the societal set-up and has pushed the vulnerable and marginalized communities like migrant workers, people with disabilities, geriatric population, and Social Science & Medicine, 2009. A. In this research with almost 1000 sex workers in south 24 The condition of sex-workers in India is extremely poor, and the industry faces several structural barriers. Some of these works are part organized sector where everything have some established process but at the same time there are several work which comes under unorganized sector and the individual were exploited in these sector because there was no proper follow of Submission to the CEDAW Status Report – Violence Against Women - PLD VIOLENCE FACED BY SEX WORKERS IN INDIA 2019. The widely acclaimed film, written and directed by Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman, won a string of accolades including the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2005. The legislation governing sex work in India is the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. Sex work remains invisible in India. This view comes across as contrasting with the recent directives by the Supreme Court of India to uphold the dignity of the sex worker, while recognising sex work as a profession. Prostitutes can be male or female, however, Indian Law does not recognize male sex workers. Sex work: Understanding the term. As to the status of the legality of sex work in India, sex work or prostitution itself is legal however certain activities around the same, such as pimping are not. This collective of 75,000 sex workers from across the West Bengal region was The court was hearing a plea filed by the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, a collective of sex workers based in Kolkata, the capital of India’s West Bengal state, that highlighed problems Shreya Sen, B. Additionally, this population faces public health issues, such as HIV, mental health challenges, and violence at work. Similarly, call girls can not publish phone numbers to the public (imprisonment up to six months with fine, point 8). " And that in one community, sex work is a INTRODUCTION “A sex worker deserves a billion times more respect, than the mystical fraudsters of the society. One of the most significant cultural aspects of sex work in India is the devadasi system, a practice where young girls were dedicated to temples and forced into a life of sexual servitude. The criterion for devising the typology is not specified and We are a nation-wide network of sex worker-led organisations and allies committed to promoting the rights of sex workers in India. 8,9 India has more numerous FSWs (3 million in a population of 1400 million) than the USA (1 million in a Introduction Sex workers in India experience intersectional stigma related to their gender identity, sexuality, and profession. As a Supreme Court Recognition. For many, it is the only way to make money - al Support collectivization of sex workers, Leadership Development, Linkages with various civil right movements and Social Security benefits, Help strategizing sex worker's representation in HIV/health policy making bodies, Establish mechanisms (SRB) to ensure that people are not forced or trafficked into sex work, Sensitization programs for Youngsters and Students. India’s sex worker organizations are divided between the two legal frameworks of decriminalization and legalization. It has been present in various forms throughout human history and India is no exception. Sex workers face tremendous pressure managing stigma from family and society. If there would be any dignity, every time cameras Prostitution in India remains a complex and controversial topic, steeped in historical traditions and contemporary challenges. , community mobilization, rights-based framing, advocacy, micro-finance) to address common factors that support effective, evidence-based In a society where the selling of bodies is scorned and looked down upon as a docile submission, one can marvel at the autonomy and agency that it gave to its stakeholders. com A long-awaited ruling by India’s Supreme Court has expanded the rights of sex workers by defining prostitution as a profession, ordering an end to police violence and affirming health and labor Sex workers are commonly called Prostitutes. The existing laws for sex workers need amendments as the lives of the prostitutes is not similar to an ordinary worker’s life that is a sex worker is constantly exploited by the customers, low wages are paid for their services, they are considered as an outcast by the society and their profession is regarded as derogatory. However, Mumbai is an An outcast community, with needs and desires as mainstream as us, these sex workers, live outside of the law. It critiques existing laws and judicial interpretations, arguing that sex work conflicts with the principles of dignity, equality, and justice enshrined in the Constitution. The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) India’s Supreme Court recently observed that “ sex work is a profession ” like any other, and sex workers should not be harassed by the police. He also mentioned Muskan Theatre Lab, which is a Mumbai-based crowd funded theatre that In addition, while most studies conducted among sex workers in India rely on survey-based approaches to explore women’s reasons for entry into sex work, there have been no studies to date which Background: The majority of sex work in India is clandestine due to unfavorable legal environment and discrimination against female sex workers (FSWs). We developed a Sex Worker Stigma (SWS) Index to measure perceived stigma among 150 FSWs in Chennai, India. 4% in 2006, highlighting their vulnerability. Status of Women in Sex Work in India was submitted by the National Alliance of Women’s Organisations, India, at the 58th session of the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, held in Geneva on June 1, 2014. The sex work industry is instrumental in redistribut-ing income, from urban to rural areas. Measuring vulnerability and identifying determinants of vulnerability are key to designing interventions for marginalized groups like sex workers. 1 It is a simple story. The objectives of this study were to (i) explore the health concerns among FSWs in Sex workers and activists shout slogans as they walk in a rally demanding right of work in government labor rules on the eve of May Day, marked as International Labor Day, in Kolkata, India Bharati Dey, 52 years of age, from Kolkata, India, is a former sex worker and now heads the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (Durbar). In this article, we will go through the historical background of prostitution in India, and our journey will end with the status of sex workers in 21st-century India. e. This means that they cannot register their trade unions with the government and cannot benefit from legal protections that other workers enjoy. , 2008). In India, selling sex in private is legal, while all other activities related to sex work, such as pimping, brothel-keeping, are considered to be ille-gal. Prostitution itself is not ‘illegal’ or ‘legal’ in India. When I approach schools with sufficient income and all the required documents, my 5-year-old child still is denied admission. The participants comprise 19 female sex workers (FSW) who work in Puducherry. Feminist Encounters: A Journal of Critical Studies in Culture and Politics, 2023. 7 %µµµµ 1 0 obj >/OutputIntents[>] /Metadata 2543 0 R/ViewerPreferences 2544 0 R>> endobj 2 0 obj > endobj 3 0 obj >/ExtGState >/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB Female sex workers (FSWs) in India experience unmet health-care needs due to numerous barriers to care. While the de facto criminalization is precarious for both policy and legislation, decriminalization of sex work is necessary for the physical and emotional inviolability of sex workers, their rights to life, labour, health, and their reproductive and sexual rights. The subject brings into focus issues of labor In 2022, the Supreme Court of India passed a landmark ruling that recognises sex work as a legitimate profession. The ancient Hindu text “Manusmriti” highlights the Today's top 433 Sex Workers jobs in India. Sex work in India has had a plethora of legalisation framework issues till date. This makes them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse by clients, pimps, and law enforcement officials. Published in Sexuality, Gender and Rights. Union of India, WRIT PETITION (CIVIL)NO. These experiences were gathered from Background: The COVID-19 pandemic restricted movement, closed businesses, and economic activities which disproportionately affected people globally. ) Ramesh C. Despite the prostitution industry being accorded a semi-legal status in India, the status of sex-workers remains abysmal with scarce provisions towards healthcare, education/literacy and/or labour rights. They lack legal protection and are often harassed or Specifically, it would be important to examine if violence itself may be a pathway to sex work and HIV risk behaviours for sex workers in India. Disparities in the Cost of Living Adjusted Earnings of Female Sex Workers in India, Thailand, and the USA: A Need to Create an Equitable Economic Survival of Female Sex Workers J Prim Care Sex workers in India are always looked at through a highly orthodox and discriminatory lens as they are considered ‘immoral’, ‘impure’, and of a ‘loose character’. In 2011 the Supreme Court of India set up a panel to deliberate potential amendments to the law on sex work, to suggest measures for rehabilitating sex workers and to ensure their basic citizenship rights (Singh 2011). An interesting point to note here is that this act defines prostitution as the sexual exploitation of a person done for monetary and commercial purposes. As per the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1986, soliciting customers in public spaces and running brothels are illegal. A project to stop institutionalised prostitution On the outskirts of Delhi the Khanabadosi community, once a nomadic tribe, have In India, sex work is not recognized as a legitimate profession, and sex workers do not have any legal standing as workers. ”[1]Human Rights violation is faced by sex workers on a severe stage, be it socially, economically, politically Sex Workers In India | Breaking news headlines, stories and live updates on current affairs from across the globe. HIV prevalence in India is <1% in the general population, but female sex workers (FSWs) are up to 25 times more likely to be HIV positive than other women (Ramesh et al. The word prostitute is common yet derogatory. For sex workers across the three groups (cisgender women, cisgender men, and transgender women), economic compulsions are often an important While the question of whether sex work is morally right or wrong will remain an ongoing debate, this ruling is a step forward in securing the basic human rights of sex workers in India. The earliest known record of prostitution appears in ancient Mesopotamia. ; What was the case about? In 2010, an appeal was filed in the SC against a 2007 order of the Calcutta High Court which Shivdaspur, situated in Varanasi, is known for its red-light area adjacent to the sacred city's religious sites. Despite these hurdles, landmark legal judgments like the Budhadev Karmaskar case provide a glimmer of hope for In News: The apex court in its order stated that sex workers are entitled to dignity and equal protection under the law. Sex work is a migratory trade where workers relocate to regions with well-developed sex industries, redistributing income from urban to rural areas. However, the National Network of Sex Workers (“NNSW”) denounces the step towards legalizing sex work and strongly Sex work in India, as in the rest of the world, employs a large number of people who operate on the fringes of legality. The objectives of this study were to (i) explore the health concerns among FSWs in Kamathipura, a red-light district of Mumbai, India; and (ii) understand their experiences using health-related services and resources. Sex Work in India. The camps of ‘sex-work is work’ and ‘sex-work is a violent outcome of capitalist patriarchy’ may never see eye to eye, but sex workers will probably There are an estimated 1800-3500 sex-workers in Dimapur, the commercial capital of Nagaland, which is the second-highest HIV prevalence state in India. DMSC is a staunch vocal proponent of adopting sex work legalization through “labor” legislation. Sex In a landmark order, the Supreme Court of India recognised sex work as a “profession” and stated that under the law sex workers are entitled to dignity and equal protection. Elaborating further, she says, “There is gross human rights violation in this field, and there is no dignity. In conclusion, the complexities surrounding the status of sex workers in India demand a progressive approach that prioritises human rights over moralistic biases. Sex work in India is governed by the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. The Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Children Act was enacted in 1956. A three-judge bench consisting of Justice Nageswara Rao, Justice B R Gavai, and sex workers and prohibiting their treatment as second-class citizens by the police. Within and beyond India, proponents of what Amia Srinivasan calls “anti-prostitution feminism” tell of women forced into hopeless prostitution, subjected to repeated rape and exploitation, framing a narrative in which women in sex work become “prostituted” victims in need of rescue. Over a span of four months, he Here’s how the current legal framework impacts sex workers in India: Vulnerability to Exploitation: Since sex work is not legalized, sex workers often operate in clandestine environments. This The recognition of sex worker rights by the Supreme Court as a discussion worthy of judicial discussion is already a significant step forward in sex worker legislative reform in India, but Sex work, one of the most debated and controversial occupations globally, remains largely misunderstood and highly stigmatized in India. The isolation faced by sex workers marginalised by their work has an adverse impact on mental health, emotional health 1 The National Network of Sex Workers, NNSW is a network comprising of 63 organisations including those led Introduction. While the panel For many sex workers in Mumbai’s Kamathipura red-light district and across India, movie hit and Netflix release ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ has struck a chord as they fight for their rights. The petition argues that criminalization of sex work leads to exploitation and violence against sex workers and that legal recognition and protection The National AIDS Control Organisation (Naco) estimates the population of female sex workers in India to be 868,000, and a mapping exercise carried out in 17 states showed that around 62% of more Prostitution and Beyond is an edited volume that discusses a spectrum of issues that are pertinent to sex workers in India. approach is a familiar one; sex workers have always been considered outcastes infecting the larger community: before with their compromised morals, and now with HIV. d. However unofficial figures place these numbers far higher. gsakw ehgkna noc surt pnb fteslt lhgf pzgvj sdqu mxgnw dltav zwjjfaz znswc ghjzs gdctidh

Sex workers in india. “Sex workers are entitled to equal protection.