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Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women

Human Rights
at home, abroad and on the way...

GAATW Logo

Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women

Human Rights
at home, abroad and on the way...

E-Bulletin March 2016 - News from our Member Organisations

New video showcases the work of Brigada Callejera

The National Institute of Social Development has produced a video documenting the work of GAATW member in Mexico Brigada Callejera.

Brigada Callejera de Apoyo a la Mujer, “Elisa Martínez”, A. C., is a non-profit organisation specialised in defending human, civil and labour rights of sex workers and trans* people.

The organisation began its work focusing on the prevention of HIV, AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections. However it realised quickly that it was necessary to work holistically within a framework of respect for human rights in order to better address the needs of its beneficiaries.

Brigada Callejera currently promotes community mobilisation against human trafficking and sexual exploitation, manages a medical centre and supports sex workers and their children to resume or continue their education.

The Hidden Harms of Anti-Trafficking

In October 2015, SWAN Vancouver hosted an evening of critical dialogue and research, with the aim of dismantling the hidden harms of the anti-trafficking industry in Canada (see GAATW e-Bulletin from January 2016). All the talks and presentations of the event are now available on a dedicated webpage. In addition, SWAN Vancouver has issued a call for students, groups and organisations across Canada to host critical anti-trafficking events to bring awareness to troubling trends in anti-trafficking campaigns, fundraising and actions. SWAN hopes that the call will create space for dialogue on the real, on-the-ground impacts of anti-trafficking in an environment where there is little space to do so at both the local and national level.

AFRO encourages women to seek help if harassed at work

AFRO, a GAATW member and a support network for women working in the commercial sex industry in Hong Kong, urges sex workers to contact them or report to police any incidents of harassment and ‘protection fees’ imposed by organised criminal gangs. Such criminal acts can be reported against triad members under Chapter 151 (Societies Ordinances), Section 20 (Membership, etc), while asking for ‘protection fees’ and damaging of the door bells can be charged under Chapter 210 (Theft Ordinance), Section 23 (Blackmail), as well as Chapter 200 (Crimes Ordinance), Section 60 (Destroying or damaging property). The maximum penalty of the above is imprisonment.

Freedom Collaborative launched

Freedom CollaborativeIn February Liberty Asia and Chab Dai launched The Freedom Collaborative – an online service platform to facilitate connectivity, knowledge-sharing and cross-border cooperation among anti-trafficking stakeholders.

Freedom Collaborative provides a tool to share information, urgent news and important updates. It also will give users across the region access to relevant and quality information of people and organisations as potential partners for collaboration. Key features include an effective search for stakeholders who provide services and programmes to match specific needs and requirements, private messaging and a community newsfeed to share information quickly and effectively.

The project aims to make a long-lasting difference in the daily work and efforts of anti-trafficking stakeholders and brings together multiple needs.

GPI Media Academy

Early this year, Girl Power Initiative (GPI), a GAATW member in Nigeria, announced the opening of their GPI Media Academy. The initiative provides free short course certificates for young out-of-school girls in the areas of cinematography, video editing, computer studies, TV presenting and make up artistry.

For more information, see the initiative’s poster.