A new UN survey conducted in Asia and the Pacific says Criminalization of sex work increases vulnerability to HIV by fuelling stigma and discrimination, limits access to sexual health services and condoms.
The report clearly distinguishes between adult consensual sex work and human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
It says that removing legal penalties for sex work allows HIV prevention and treatment programmes to reach sex workers and their clients more effectively.
“Following on the report on the Global Commission on HIV & the Law, this report illustrates the importance of having the right policies and laws in place so that sex workers’ rights are protected, and they are not discriminated against in HIV and health services,” says Rathin Roy, UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre Manager.
The report was issued by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
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