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‘It’s critical that we are able to talk about sex
as much as we talk about drugs,’
said Cyndee
Clay, executive director of the sex workers’
support organisation HIPS, based in Washington,
which offered non-judgemental support.
‘For some, sex work is a really hard thing they
have to do, for others it’s the best option at the
time, and for others it’s what they like to do,’ she
said. ‘That’s the parallel with people who use
drugs – there are varied experiences. We need to
open our minds to this reality.’
Programmes at HIPS were ‘client directed’ and
‘goal centred’, with participants choosing what
they were interested in, for instance reducing
violence or making more money. The common
thread was to help those engaged in sex work to
be able to live healthy, self-determined, self-
sufficient lives, free from stigma, violence,
criminalisation and oppression, she explained. A
major part of the team’s work involved challenging
structural barriers to health, safety and prosperity.
Harm reduction was used as a philosophy –
‘what’s going to make you happier today?’ – and
the 100 volunteers and staff were trained to help
look out for and reduce isolation. For some, the
service was the only support they had with the
biggest aspect of their life.
The important thing to think about in providing
services was the need to increase choice, reduce
coercion and address circumstance, she said.
‘This unpacks some of the ideas of whether sex
work is good or bad… we need to be more
comfortable talking about sex and not make
assumptions.’
Anita Schoepp, of the Canadian sex workers’
organisation Stella, said it was important to ask
people what they needed from their outreach
service, in the context in which they were living.
Issues to consider included cultural barriers, family
values and complex circumstances around
relationships, such as intimate violence.
Working closely with psychiatrists, Stella
explored different models of support, including
motivational interviewing, and tried to make sure
their clients were offered choices. ‘Harm reduction
should be a philosophy to apply to different types
of social work,’ she said. ‘We need to help people
make choices in the global context of their health.’
‘Open your minds to
the reality of sex work’
HIGHLIGHTS
Wednesday 12 June
MAJOR SESSIONS
Alfa Room
9.00–10.30
Recent developments in
drug policy reform and why
they matter
11.00–12.30
Conference debate: ‘This
house believes that drug policy
reform advocacy and harm
reduction advocacy are in sync
as we approach the 2016
UNGASS review’
14.00–15.30
Beyond opioids: stimulants and
other drugs
16.00–17.30
Closing ceremony of Harm
Reduction 2013
Dialogue Space
11.00–12.00
: Harm reduction,
history and outsiders
12.00–13.00
: Coffee shops
and compromise
13.00–14.00
: Harm reduction
café
14.00–15.00
: New drug trends:
Unifying peer and professional
expertise in the face of rapidly
changing drug trends and risk
behaviour
15.00–16.00
: MENA regional
dialogue
DAILY UPDATE
Wednesday 12 June 2013