Working together with health care to create a community that is safe and healthy for everyone.

The goal of SAFE in Collingwood is to create a community that is healthier and safer for every community member in relation to the issues of sex work and sexual exploitation.

Sex work Awareness For Everyone

SAFE Values & Guiding Principles:  Embrace diversity and respect all people  Enable participation of all people  Foster positive change through learning and capacity building  Stand against exploitation and social injustice  Create understanding and build community  Be open to listening and understanding different perspectives

WISH Drop-in Centre Society HUSTLE PACE Society Living in Community Seniors Residents Local Schools VCH - Evergreen Community Health Centre Collingwood Business Improvement Ass’n Collingwood Neighbourhood House Vancouver Police Department Collingwood Community Policing Centre Youth

Jean Watson

 Every Canadian citizen has the right to health care  Sex workers experience significant barriers to accessing health care  These include social, structural, and psychological barriers

Martin, L., Clair, J., Davis, P., O’Ryan, D., Hoshi, R. and Curran, H. V. (2006), Enhanced recognition of facial expressions of disgust in opiate users receiving maintenance treatment. Addiction, 101: 1598–1605. doi: /j x  Research has demonstrated that some members of marginalized communities lose their ability to read any human expression except disgust as that is often the only expression they see...

Impacts of stigma: low self-esteem & diminished self-confidence demoralization poor perceived quality of life social withdrawal fear of being judged negatively low expectations & few demands on services Women’s Health Research Network, 2010

 Many women reported experiences with medical professionals that they found to be disrespectful, punishing, dismissive, judgmental, stereotyping, and condescending Be conscious of your own values, prejudices, attitudes and your behaviour. If your values interfere with meeting the individual’s needs refer them to someone else. When providing services to a sex worker, avoid focusing on the work they perform. Educate yourself about the realities of sex work The Primary Health Care Experiences of Women Who Use Drugs in the Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside WHRI 2009

 While some sex workers have addiction issues, others do not  Assumption of drug-seeking behaviour  Failure to disclose drug use  Over-prescribed  Rejection of harm reduction principles The Primary Health Care Experiences of Women Who Use Drugs in the Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside WHRI 2009

 Reception/Security Is everyone greeted with a smile? Have you included security personnel in sensitivity training?  Presence of men Can you offer women-only hours? Are your staff trained to monitor the waiting room and intervene if necessary?  Irregular scheduling Are your doctors on a regular schedule? Do you allow people to make appointments? Can you offer evening hours?

 Some sex workers have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and can react strongly to: sudden loud sounds, sudden movements, physical proximity etc.  Due regard to personal modesty and boundaries is critical  Consider staff training to become “trauma-informed”  An excellent resource: (click on “Toolkit”)

 Culture is defined by many factors, such as race, gender, religion, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexual orientation and life experience. The extent to which particular factors influence a person will vary.  In Vancouver, most sex workers are Caucasian but there are a significant number who are of Aboriginal and Asian descent.  Seek to broaden your understanding of cultural concepts & issues.  An excellent resource: Culturally Sensitive Care (Ontario Nurses Association)

Income & Income Distribution Education Unemployment & Job Security Employment & Working Conditions Early Childhood Development Food Insecurity Housing Social Exclusion Social Safety Network Health Services Aboriginal Status Gender Race Disability

Beyond the social determinants of health, sex workers’ health is impacted by many intersecting oppressions: Ethnicity Sexual orientation Gender identity Class, poverty & gender Criminalization Stigmatization Marginalization POWER: The Toolkit 2011

 When providing services to a sex worker, avoid focusing on the work they perform.  Be conscious of your own values, your prejudices, your attitudes and your behaviour.  Work to make your workplace sex worker friendly.  Create a resource bank in your organization that will address sex workers’ specific needs.  Be cognizant of sex work/worker stereotypes.  Recognize sex workers’ expertise. POWER: The Toolkit 2011

 When doing a sexual history intake, remember to ask questions about personal relationships rather than focusing on work relations.  Validate and focus on the individual’s needs and expectations.  Inform the individual of health care services available, and do so in a nonjudgmental way.  Be especially vigilant in guarding the confidential information provided by sex workers.  Remember that the occupational health and safety needs of sex workers are not restricted to sexual health. POWER: The Toolkit 2011

 To be recognized as full citizens  To be listened to without being judged  To be taken seriously  To be integrated into the community  To have their human rights recognized and respected  To have access to public services without discrimination  To have access to work-related social & judicial services The Toolkit: Ottawa Area Sex Workers Speak Out

Organizationally  Organizational change process  Physical environment  Observation of clients (who comes and who doesn’t) Individually  Examine your personal beliefs  Seek more information  Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions What do you and your organization need to know or understand better in order to provide more accessible services?

Sex work is ILLEGAL In Canada Selling or purchasing sexual services is legal; However, some activities associated with sex work are not.

Sex workers set themselves up for violence No one ever deserves to be assaulted, sexually assaulted, or murdered.

All sex workers were sexually abused as children While it may be true that some sex workers have experienced abuse as children, the same can be said of any occupation.

All sex workers are drug addicts Sex work is as diverse as any other occupation where some workers have addiction issues and some do not.

Sex workers spread HIV and other sexually transmitted infections to the public. Sex workers practice safe sex at much higher rates than the general public. Sex workers are no more responsible to prevent the spread of HIV than any other sexually active person.

All sex workers want to get out of the industry While some sex workers do want to get out, many others do not. Furthermore, for those who do want to get out, there is a lack of services to assist them in doing so.

All sex workers are young women While the majority of sex workers are believed to be female, there are large numbers of male and transgender sex workers as well. Some sex workers continue working right up to retirement age.

All sex workers are forced into the sex industry Individuals enter sex work for a variety of reasons, most often economic. Those who are forced or exploited are very isolated and there is limited knowledge about who they are and how best to support them.

Raids of brothels and massage parlours rescues sex workers and victims of trafficking Empowering sex workers to work with law enforcement to identify and assist those people who have been coerced is an effective way to support sex workers.

Sex work is an easy way to make a lot of money Remuneration for sex work varies with the type and location of work. Income can fluctuate widely from day to day.

All clients of sex workers are men who want to hurt women. Not all sex workers are women. Clients come in all ages and from all walks of life. Much of sex work does not involve violence.

Sex work is degrading Let people name their own experience. We are all the experts in our own lives. This is a value judgment that leads to discrimination and dehumanization.

There are sex work support organizations throughout Canada who are happy to provide information to members of the public. An excellent start: and download their “toolkit”.

Kerry Porth, Sex Trade Educator SAFE Public Education Committee Brette Little, Model