Publications on Female Sex Workers (FSW)

The report is intended to improve the legal and policy enabling environment for HIV responses.

The delivery of HIV/STI-related services to vulnerable populations is Timor-Leste’s most obvious investment in the well being of its marginal populations. Based on trends from previous studies, HIV and STI infections amongst the target populations are increasing.

The purpose of HIV sentinel survey is to track HIV infection levels through 'watch post' institutions. These sentinel institutions routinely draw blood for other purposes.

This brief specifically focuses on the importance, but also challenges, of HIV/SRHR integration for sex workers. It is based on the experiences of a growing number of groups working with such communities to put integration into practice in a range of setting.

This report is aimed at assisting in building the case for the need for significant improvements across prevention and impact mitigation interventions leading to a “value for money”, cost-effective national response.

This Guidance Note has been developed to provide the UNAIDS Cosponsors and Secretariat with a coordinated human-rights-based approach to promoting universal access2 to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in the context of adult sex work. In a world where the overwhelming majority of HIV infections are sexually transmitted, sex workers and their clients are at heightened risk of HIV, in large measure as a result of a larger number of sex partners. Vulnerability to HIV as a result of sex work extends to women, men, and transgender people.

The first case of HIV in Bangladesh was detected in 1989. since then, the number of HIV cases has grown and by December 2009 and estimated 6,300 [5,200-8,300] adults and children were living with HIV.

This Regional Consultation, which was the result of an extensive and participatory process spanning over a year, brought together some 140 participants from eight countries in the region as well as selected national, regional and global resource persons that have experience or influence in the area of HIV and sex work.

The fourth round of the Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance (IBBS) surveys among female sex workers (FSWs) covered a sample of 938 respondents in Kathmandu Valley – Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts and Pokhara Valley.

This pilot project was the first of its kind in the country. It has brought different stakeholders together and used their strengths to develop a comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS. The capacities built locally will help in scaling up the interventions.