For the first time in the history of the International AIDS Conference, addressing sex work was linked to human and labor rights of all who exercise this profession. By Elena Reynaga

Different voices denounced the abuse of human rights of female sex workers manifesting against the abuse of confidentiality, difficulty in accessing health services, illegal arrest, impunity in cases of murdered sex workers, detention and violence at the hands of the police are all detrimental to an effective HIV response.

I listened with satisfaction to opinion makers, international organizations —such as the International Labor Organization and United Nations— demanding to governments to amend or revoke laws that criminalize sex work as anti-trafficking laws that far from reducing these problems overwhelm the labor rights of those who exercise sex work by choice.

Certainly the work that social organizations have been doing in primary prevention (sustainable access to condom, voluntary counseling & testing, peer outreach work, focused materials ) is recognized and has been essential, but today we must admit these achievements are not enough to reach a sustained reduction in HIV prevalence. It’s time to go for more.

We know that advocating to changing public policies and the participation of female sex workers in decision-making spaces have contributed to the HIV response and to defending human rights.

With the strength of many men and women who work, like us, to transform injustice, we demand the recognition of sex work as work, so that we may sell our services in safe spaces and dignified conditions.

We demand that we benefit from the same rights as all other workers and that governments be responsible for protecting and respecting these rights. We demand active participation in the development and evaluation of policies, norms and programs that affect us.

This will allow us to continue being agents for social change, ensuring a better quality of life and working conditions for female sex workers.