rights-based approach to HIV and sex wor

Member States should implement policies and programmes that support a comprehensive,
rights-based approach to HIV and sex work. Progress should be monitored by national
programmes, with support from UNAIDS.
Bilateral development organizations, international funding programmes, and the United
Nations system should support comprehensive, rights-based approaches consistent with the
Three Pillars.
Consistent with the UNAIDS recommendation that all countries should “know their
epidemic”, situational analyses and mapping exercises should be undertaken to inform the
design and subsequent monitoring and evaluating of programmes to address HIV and sex
work.
At subregional and national levels, representatives of government, sex workers, civil society,
private sector and the United Nations should be mobilized to ensure incorporation of
strategies and actions on HIV and sex work into National AIDS Plans.
Advocacy should be undertaken to increase the levels of sustainable funding for, evidenceinformed
and rights-based HIV prevention, treatment, care and support programmes that
incorporate sex workers’ involvement in their development, implementation, monitoring
and evaluation.
Efforts should be made to document and disseminate specific programme models, interventions
and good practices relating to HIV and sex work.
Partnerships should be established and strengthened between governments, sex workers
and community organizations working with sex workers, and the UN at global, regional,
national and local levels.
In-reach training of UNAIDS programme staff will be developed and undertaken to
increase understanding of evidence-informed and rights-based programming on HIV and
key populations at higher risk, including sex workers.
Programmes to reduce and eliminate stigma and discrimination and gender-based violence
towards key populations at higher risk, including sex workers, should be developed and
implemented for health care providers, uniformed services, and the judiciary.
Carefully tailored initiatives should be implemented to promote sound, evidence-informed
programmes and policies that address the needs of migrants, transgendered people, men
and ethnic minorities. Work also needs to be undertaken with specific groups such as
clients, displaced persons, the police and the military.
Efforts should be made to expand opportunities for sex workers who desire to leave sex
work. Meaningful employment alternatives should be promoted through ready access to
education, training, microcredit, and health services.
Comprehensive responses should address structural issues that contribute to HIV vulnerability
in the context of sex work. Structural interventions should aim to reduce poverty,
address gender inequality by empowering women and girls, redefine gender norms, create
and expand employment opportunities, and ensure education for all.
UNAIDS and nongeovernmental organization partners should advocate for increased
involvement of sex worker organizations and networks on Country Coordinating
Mechanisms of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and on National
AIDS Committees, and provide capacity building support to facilitate their involvement.