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1
SEX INDUSTRY BIZ NEWS
1.1 International Day
to End Violence against Sex Workers
First
celebrated in 2003, the International Day to End
Violence against Sex Workers is conceived as a
memorial and vigil for the victims of violence
against sex workers. On 17 Dec every year, sex
workers in various countries join together and
call for public concern on elimination of the
violence.
In Hong Kong, AFRO and 4 other
sex workers support groups had a rally from
Southern Playground to the Police Headquarters.
The about 40 participants reiterated that sex
work is work and called for public concern on
violence against sex workers and abuse of police
powers. AFRO indicated that violence against sex
workers comes from the legal system, law
enforcers, bandits and ruffians, as well as the
media and the general public. We presented a
self-made Christmas card to the police
representative and wished them prompt
improvement in law enforcement.
Wing, a
sex worker and a participant of the rally, is
happy to see that sex workers and supporters are
in solidarity and devoted to fighting for
elimination of discrimination and stigmatisation
against sex workers and the development of an
equal and violence free working
environment.
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2
WORK REPORT
2.1 AFRO Charity
Bazaar
From the Charity Bazaar
held on 4 Dec 2011, we raised about HK$17,000
(cost included). Probably as a result of the
economic downturn, the amount is a bit less than
last year. Nevertheless, we are very grateful to
the volunteers for their support. We hope that
the event would be more successful in the coming
year.
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2.2 AFRO Annual
General Meeting
AFRO Annual General
Meeting and the election of new members of the
Executive Committee were held on 10 Dec 2011.
The composition of the Executive Committee
(2012-14) is:
Chairperson: Dr. Francois
FONG Yeung
Vice-Chair: Ms. Victoria CHEUK
Chiu Man
Treasurer: Ms. Nancy LEUNG LUI Mo
Ching
Secretary: Ms. Tammy NG AU Tip
Yee
Members: Prof. Susanne CHOI Yuk Ping, Mr.
Steve HO Wai Ming
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2.3 International
Human Rights Day
AFRO joined the
International Human Rights Day Carnival which
was held on 11 Dec 2011. Our booth illustrated
the human rights that sex workers are entitled
to and how these rights are exploited. Sex
workers rights are as well protected by the
human rights laws and they should not be treated
differently simply because of their
occupation.
Some passers-by came to visit
our booth and took time to read through the
news-clippings. We also invited the visitors and
passers-by to co-sign our statement regarding
the International Day to End Violence against
Sex Workers 2011. Some passers-by responded that
our work is “obscene” and they whould not
support.
We understand that some people
do not have much understanding on sex work and
have a very low level of acceptance. We hope
that we can help them enhance their
understanding and facilitate them to have a
deeper thinking on the
issues.
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2.4 December
Gathering – Christmas Party
The Christmas Party 2011
was held on 20 Dec. We are happy that a lot of
fellow sex workers joined us to celebrate the
festival. Our heartfelt thanks go to the Helena
May for bringing us a delicious chocolate cake
and Christmas gifts. We are also grateful to
have friends from The Women’s Foundation to join
us that day.
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2.5 Leadership
Training Workshops for Women organised by the
Women Coalition on Equal
Opportunities
Sponsored by the Women’s
Commission, the Women Coalition on Equal
Opportunities have organised a series of
leadership training workshops (3 sessions),
aiming to facilitate the participants to build
up capacity in expressing opinions and ideas,
and to raise their consciousness on equal
rights.
As a member of the Coalition,
AFRO participated in the first workshop held on
18 Dec 2011. The workshop comprised discussion
and role play sessions and there were about 50
participants.
We believe that every woman
has different potentials and we hope that the
workshops would facilitate the participants to
further develop themselves. If you are
interested to join the future workshops, please
contact us at
27701065.
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2.6 Meeting with the
Crime Prevention Bureau
A meeting between the
sex workers support groups and the Crime
prevention Bureau was held on 19 Dec 2011. The
Police representatives shared a few important
cases with the groups, including posing as a
police officer, blackmailing, theft, obtaining
services by deception etc. In some cases, due to
the cooperation between the police and the sex
workers, the evidence collection and
identification process went smooth and
prosecution was brought against the
offenders.
The police also informed the
groups of the update contact numbers of special
task forces of various districts, so as to
facilitate sex workers to provide crime
information.
AFRO representatives
brought up the issue about police officers in
certain districts taking pictures of sex workers
(by force/authority) and questioned the
rationales behind. The police representatives
promised to respond to the question after
gaining a better
understanding.
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3.1 January Gathering
-- Film Show
In collaboration with
the Hong Kong Association of Business and
Professional Women, we worked on a documentary
film which interviewed 5 sex workers, with an
aim to enhance the understanding of the general
public on sex workers. We will hold a screening
and sharing session and invite the 5
interviewees to join on 10 Jan. Let us know if
you are interested.
Date: 19 Jan 2012
(Thu)
Time: 3:15pm
Venue: AFRO
Centre
Inquiry:
27701002
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3.2 February
Gathering – Chinese New Year Party
Hey, friends! We wish
you all a very happy, healthy and wealthy
Chinese New Year.
Come join us for the
“Poon Choi” Party. Let's celebrate the year of
the Dragon!
Date: 9 Feb 2012
(Thu)
Time: 12:30pm
Venue: AFRO
Centre
Inquiry:
27701002
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4 AFRO NEWS
READING
A sanctuary for sex
workers
The Guardian
5 Jan
2012
"Nun Lynda Dearlove
provides shelter and a sense of family life for
sex workers in central London. And despite a
pre-Olympics cleanup, the problem is steadily
getting worse,
Never wear black
stockings, Lynda Dearlove's grandmother used to
warn her. "She used to say only two sorts of
women wear them … nuns and
prostitutes."
It makes Lynda laugh to
tell the story: because today she's Sister
Lynda, a nun who is dedicating her life to
working with sex workers in one of London's most
notorious red-light districts, King's Cross. And
just like the convent, the "safe house" Lynda
has set up is women-only. "Women operate
differently, and it helps street prostitutes –
just as it helps nuns – to have a space that
they know will only have women in it," she
says..."
AFRO's comments:
Wish we could all learn how to love and
care without judgement. Happy New
Year!
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