Characteristics of effective services

Characteristics of effective services
Services must be available, accessible, acceptable and of high-quality40, in places and at times
that ensure their accessibility to sex workers and their clients. Integrated services increase
the number of entry points and expand coverage for a broader range of health and social
services. Service provision should not only address the needs of female sex workers but
also correspond to the specific needs of male and transgender sex workers, who are often
poorly served by existing providers. Services should provide the best available standardof care, respect client confidentiality; avoid coercive and mandatory approaches (such as
mandatory medical treatment or procedures, forced rehabilitation or programmes implemented
by police or based on detention); and be designed with the full participation of the
affected community.
Health and social services should address the needs of migrant sex workers with or without
papers, refugees, internally displaced persons, asylum seekers and those from ethnic minorities.
Obtaining access to needed services may be especially challenging for people who lack
legal status and may be fearful of authorities. People with undocumented status should not
be refused service by providers or receive inadequate or incomplete treatment. Where sex
workers lack the language skills to request or comply with treatment regimens, cultural
mediators who provide translation and culturally sensitive counselling and support should
be available to help ease these access barriers41.