Sex workers - voices
There is no substitute for hearing from the people in the excluded groups themselves. This voices section contains links to publications and other media, such as videos, that try to capture the lived experience of their situation.
Some files are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.
Health risks and consequences of trafficking women and adolescents (2003) (PDF 534.4KB)
This report by Cathy Zimmerman et al, represents the findings of a two-year multicountry study on women’s health and trafficking to the European Union. Little research has previously been conducted in this area. Interviews were conducted by researchers in Albania, Italy, the Netherlands, Thailand, and the United Kingdom with women who had been trafficked, health care and other service providers, NGOs working against trafficking, law enforcement officials, and policymakers. The report has been made available from the Humantrafficking.org website.
Sex for sale: qualitative study of male sex workers (2006)
This study by Aidan Wilcox and Kris Christmann at the the University of Huddersfield explores the experiences of male sex workers in Kirklees and neighbouring areas. Specifically, it aimed, through interviews with male sex workers, to gain insight into 'their reasons for engaging in sex work, to uncover the risks and dangers they face, the nature of their contact with agencies, and the help and support they required either to leave the profession or to conduct their work as safely as possible'.
UK Network of Sex Work Projects (2009) Street sex workers' experience of accessing health services (Word 212KB)
In September 2008 the Griffins Society conducted a brief scoping exercise to capture the views of street sex workers, on their experience of accessing health services in the community. The findings were to contribute to development plans to extend a prison staff training project on raising awareness of sex worker’s support needs, into the health sector. This report outlines the background to the scoping exercise, the findings and provides recommendations.
UK Network of Sex Work Projects (2009) Sex workers & sexual health: Projects responding to needs (PDF 393KB)
This briefing from the Department of Health provides a summary of good practice provisions and interventions relating to sexual health service provision for sex workers. "There is a need for targeted specialist services because sex workers still face barriers to accessing mainstream services."