The above video and supplementary documents are designed to spark discussion and create inspiration for looking at the ways that peer-led groups providing support and services to sex workers in their communities can collaborate with harm reduction agencies. The materials were developed by a group of sex workers and allies during the Speak Up! media training, the second annual workshop by Sex Work Awareness.
We were motivated to produce this project because we know that the sex work and harm reduction communities overlap in many ways, and we see a lot of value in making an effort to work together. Some of the producers of this project also work in harm reduction or have received harm reduction services. Beyond being allied communities, we acknowledge that many sex workers are also injection drug users, including users of controlled substances and transgender women and men who inject hormones.
Throughout the United States, both sex workers and intravenous drug users are targeted with similarly discriminatory laws that create harm in our communities instead of giving us better opportunities to reduce risks and lead more healthful lives. For example, in many states, police can use possession of condoms as evidence of prostitution, similarly possession of syringes are used as evidence of illegal drug possession. Because of these types of commonalities, we have created a short public service announcement video and a packet of materials that we hope will further dialogue among our communities.
Materials
Download the six page PDF (currently available in English only) of materials HERE.
Click the links below to download the individual elements included in the six page document:
- Statement by the International Sex Worker Harm Reduction Caucus: Sex Workers Are Key Players in Promoting Human Rights and Harm Reduction
- Collaboration Story: SWOP Chicago and Chicago Recovery Alliance
- Personal Story: How Harm Reduction Services Supported A Sex Worker
- Transcript: Nothing About Us Without Us: Public Service Announcement Video
Production Process
The video was produced by Sex Work Awareness’ class of 2010 Speak Up! Media Training for the Empowered Sex Worker. During the training, which develops the communication and media skills of sex workers and former sex workers who wish to become or are already spokespeople in their communities, the group of nine created a strategy for the communications output of the project, collaboratively wrote the script to the video, and some members of the group appeared on camera. The written materials were gathered with the guidance and support of the group and our colleagues.
About the Title
The phrase “nothing about us without us” was first used by disability rights activists in South Africa in 1993. We use the phrase in solidarity with groups that fight for non-discriminatory inclusion in society, via inclusive processes. For more on the disability rights movement and the origins of the phrase, check out James I. Charlton’s book Nothing About Us Without Us: Disability Oppression and Empowerment.
Use and Permissions
We hope that you will find these materials useful. This guide is released with a Creative Commons Share Alike license, so you may adapt these materials for your own projects or publications, but you may not sell them. Also, if you do use the materials, remember to indicate that they were developed by Sex Work Awareness or that you have adapted our materials. Lastly, we’d love to hear what you do; please let us know how you use this guide by emailing info@sexworkawarness.org.
