Sarah Challands

AIDS 2006: Time to deliver for Montreal's sex workers

The theme of this year's AIDS conference is 'Time to Deliver', and for Montreal's sex workers, it's not a minute too soon.

From a plush velvet-draped bed in the Toronto conference's 'Stiletto Lounge', the women spent the week joining forces with their counterparts from around the world to highlight the challenges and dangers sex workers face, as well as demand their place in society.

"The message is very clear, it's time to deliver basic human rights for sex workers," said Claire Thiboutot, executive director of Stella — a Montreal-based organization devoted to fighting discrimination against those in the sex trade.

A strong message at the 2006 International AIDS Conference in Toronto.

"We're here to tell people that we're safe sex professionals, but we need changes in the law to stop our lives and our work being criminalized… Prostitution is the oldest profession in the world and it will never go away."

Organized by current and former sex workers, Stella advocates the decriminalization of prostitution and is active in trying to make people aware of the realities surrounding sex work.

Their primary goal is protecting the sex workers, motivated by a desire to make their lives safer and more dignified.

"All women face difficulties negotiating safe sex, the problem is sex workers face this problem several times a day," Thiboutot told CTV.ca.

Workshops organized by Stella at the AIDS Conference included one showing sex workers how to use condoms in a fun and 'sexy way' for clients who might otherwise be unwilling to use them.

A booth at the 2006 International AIDS Conference in Toronto.

"Sex work is work. Sex workers are workers," shouted Philal Sri Kumzaw from Thailand, standing amid pillows and sex toys on a bed in the Stilletto Lounge.

To cheers and clapping from a crowd of some 200 delegates, Kumzaw demanded health insurance, paid vacation and job security.

Emilie Laliberte, 24, has been a sex worker in Montreal for the past six years. She wants Canada to recognize her rights so she will be better protected, not only from abusive clients, but also from the police, who she says hunt down and jail sex workers at every opportunity.

"I began working for an agency and they treated me really badly, but because sex work is not a recognized profession, I didn't have any rights," Laliberte told CTV.ca.

"We are in a vulnerable position, we need decriminalization so girls will be better protected against abuse and will therefore be in a stronger position to protect themselves against HIV."

Laliberte set up on her own and now only sees "regular" clients who she knows will not try and refuse using condoms.

"My regulars are good. They are mostly married men with good jobs and they are careful about safe sex," Laliberte continued.

"It's usually the clients who are least willing to pay who are the ones that are also least willing to use a condom."

Aboriginal communities

Sex workers aren't the only ones who feel marginalized when it comes to HIV and AIDS-related issues.

Many aboriginal communities feel shut out and neglected because of obstacles accessing information and health care.

"There's a lot of racism and discrimination towards our communities," said Kane van Dierman, who funded his own trip to the AIDS Conference to represent Australia's aboriginal communities.

"There's a lack of awareness, a lack of preventative material written in our language, no funding and a lack of health care and support resources. It's just not an issue on the government's agenda."

Van Dierman said aboriginal women in Australia accounted for 33 per cent of all new HIV infections — in a country where aboriginals make up just two per cent of the total population.

"It's a tragedy," van Dierman told CTV.ca. "There are no support services or resources for HIV-positive aboriginal women."

Power of cyberspace

For Dr. Bill Stackhouse, the power of the Internet can make a huge difference for marginalized groups when it comes to accessing information about HIV and AIDS.

Stackhouse, director of an HIV-prevention planning unit in New York City, launched the website 'mysexycity.com' in response to what he saw was an immense lack of information for America's young gay men.

"The Internet is proof of what can be done when you're not restricted by government funds," said Stackhouse, who set up the "real-life scenario" website with the help of fundraising and private donations.

The website aims to help young gay men protect themselves when faced with challenging situations.

"Websites are accessible by anyone, anywhere in the world, no matter what age, race or profession. It's also a really efficient way of reaching high-risk people who may not be comfortable going to traditional sources for information.

"Young people in particular may not be getting the information they need at school and the Internet may be their only source of information," Stackhouse told CTV.ca.

"It's a shame that the current governments of Canada and the United States do not see fit to fund this kind of online information. We know from our feedback that it's what people want, they love it."

The 16^th International AIDS Conference, 'Time to Deliver,' ran from Aug. 13-18 in Toronto.

The event attracted more than 24,000 delegates and at least 3,000 journalists.

Keynote speakers included former US president Bill Clinton, philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates, UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS Stephen Lewis and Hollywood actor Richard Gere.