Difference between revisions of "Sex Workers"

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[This is a test page and will be populated once a volunteer takes ownership. If you would like to volunteer to contribute information, email justin.lee@nus.edu.sg]<br />
 
[This is a test page and will be populated once a volunteer takes ownership. If you would like to volunteer to contribute information, email justin.lee@nus.edu.sg]<br />
 
==Overview==
 
==Overview==
−
This overview provides a synopsis of the current knowledge base. Having considered all the information, we make sense of it by taking a stab at the following: 1) What are the priority issues that deserve attention, 2) What are opportunity areas that community or voluntary organisations can already take action on, and 3) What knowledge gaps deserve further investigation?
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The commercial sex scene in Singapore can be divided into two broad categories, transgender sex workers and cis-gender sex workers. While the challenges each group faces have some overlaps, owing to the restrictions of 377A, there are some challenges unique to transgender sex workers.
 
===Priority Issues===
 
===Priority Issues===
  
−
*[to insert]
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*Police Abuse
−
*to insert]
+
*Client Abuse
 +
*Brothel Abuse
 +
*Migrant Sex Workers
 +
*Media Portrayals
 +
*Legal Confusion
  
 
===Actionable Opportunity Areas===
 
===Actionable Opportunity Areas===
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==Definitions==
 
==Definitions==
−
===Definition of [insert your target group / issue]===
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===Sex Work===
 +
 
 +
*Sex work is defined as the act of a female offering her body for sexual penetration for hire, whether in money or in kind.
 +
**Also known as commercial sex
 +
*Procurement of sex worker involves the arrangement of a sex worker to engage in a sexual act with a customer
 +
**Also known as pimps
 +
*Procurement of sexual services: Paying someone for their sexual services
  
−
*Identify and define your target group or social issue, and state who is included or excluded to provide a sense of the scope of the issue. (For example, will the page on Animal Welfare include livestock? Or just focused on pets, community animals and wildlife?)
+
(Singapore Legal Advice, 2021)  
−
*It is usually easier to start with national guidelines, laws or reports from apex organisations.
 
−
*Include a comparison with how other countries define the issue if possible (e.g. Local definition of Disability does not include mental health conditions)
 
  
 
==Key Statistics & Figures==
 
==Key Statistics & Figures==
  
−
*Size of target population / prevalence rate: Ideally, it would be the total number of people in your target group, identified by national censuses, surveys or research. When data isn't available, try using the best available proxy, e.g., number of people receiving key services.
+
*Approximately 4200 sex workers in Singapore (Singapore Legal Advice, 2021)
−
*If the issue you are interested has many sub-segments and sub-pages, then only include the key figures that affect all or most stakeholders in the sector here and leave the other relevant figures at the specific segment or page. This reduces cognitive load for the reader & contributor.
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*To engage in sexual services legally, sex workers must be (Ja'affar, Ho, Lee, Sherqueshaa, 2019):
 +
**Aged between 21 and 35
 +
**From China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia or Singapore
 +
**Legally recognized as female
 +
*Work areas include Geylang, Little India, Changi Village, Woodland Gardens and Orchard Towers
 +
*Above statistics do not include pre or non-op transgender sex workers as they are not legally allowed by the state to engage in sex work (Project X, The Allard K. Lowstein International Human Rights Clinic, 2015)
  
 
==Map of Key Needs & Issues==
 
==Map of Key Needs & Issues==
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==Areas of Needs / Desired Outcomes==
 
==Areas of Needs / Desired Outcomes==
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===[Insert Description of an Area of Need]===
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===Need to prevent police abuse===
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First, describe the area of need (e.g. employer willingness to hire, work readiness etc) in your sub-heading. It is tempting to define needs in terms a specific solution—eg youths needing mentoring, dying seniors needing hospice care. But these are not needs, they are actually specific solutions to address those needs. Needs should be defined in more perennial terms because the solutions can change while the needs generally remain largely stable. E.g. I don’t need a CD player or MP3 player, which are specific solutions to address my more perennial need, which is the need for portable music. Current solutions include streaming services like Spotify.
+
This applies to both cis and transgender sex workers. Police abuse towards sex workers can be in the form of physical, verbal and/or emotional abuse. They may also adopt unfair arrest practices such as by denying sex workers access to counsel or translators. Police often use intimidation techniques, threating to use their guns and tasers as well as grabbing women by their hair (Ja'affar, Ho, Lee, Sherqueshaa, 2019). Specifically for transgender sex workers, police may harass them and challenge the gender on her identity card. Police have also detained transgender women through profiling, even though they were not engaging in any sexual activity. Police would also take photos of transgender women without telling them the purpose  for these photos. (Project X, The Allard K. Lowstein International Human Rights Clinic, 2015).  
  
 
*'''Desired outcomes''': A ''need'' area necessarily implies that there is a ''desired outcome'' that has yet to be met. It is important to articulate what the ideal or desired outcomes for this particular need area should be, otherwise it would be unclear what the gaps will be. The trick is to use adjectives to articulate a statement about what is the desired state of affairs. People with disabilities need 'viable jobs' (that pays a living wage), or 'desirable careers' (with progression and career development)? In terms of the example above: If the desire outcome is no longer portable music (because most solutions now are portable), then a different quality like 'searchable' or 'discoverable' music would set a new criteria for what is desired.
 
*'''Desired outcomes''': A ''need'' area necessarily implies that there is a ''desired outcome'' that has yet to be met. It is important to articulate what the ideal or desired outcomes for this particular need area should be, otherwise it would be unclear what the gaps will be. The trick is to use adjectives to articulate a statement about what is the desired state of affairs. People with disabilities need 'viable jobs' (that pays a living wage), or 'desirable careers' (with progression and career development)? In terms of the example above: If the desire outcome is no longer portable music (because most solutions now are portable), then a different quality like 'searchable' or 'discoverable' music would set a new criteria for what is desired.
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==Resource Directory==
 
==Resource Directory==
  
−
===== The T Project =====
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=====The T Project=====
 
https://www.thetprojectsg.org/
 
https://www.thetprojectsg.org/
 
<br />
 
<br />
  
−
===== Project X =====
+
=====Project X=====
 
https://theprojectx.org/
 
https://theprojectx.org/
 
<br />
 
<br />
 
==References==
 
==References==
 +
Ja’affar, L., Ho, V., Lee, M., & Sherqueshaa, S. (2019). ''Stakeholder report by sex workers in Singapore''. <nowiki>https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CEDAW/Shared%20Documents/SGP/INT_CEDAW_NGO_SGP_29070_E.pdf</nowiki>
 +
 +
Project X & The Allard K. Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic. (2015). ''They only do this to transgender girls''. <nowiki>https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/area/center/schell/they-only-do-this-to-transgender-girls-singapore-report-final.pdf</nowiki>
 +
 +
Singapore Legal Advice. (2021, June 25). ''Laws on Procuring Sex Workers & Sexual Services in Singapore''. SingaporeLegalAdvice.Com. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from <nowiki>https://singaporelegaladvice.com/law-articles/laws-procuring-sex-workers-sexual-services-singapore/</nowiki>

Latest revision as of 07:04, 28 October 2021

[This is a test page and will be populated once a volunteer takes ownership. If you would like to volunteer to contribute information, email justin.lee@nus.edu.sg]

Overview

The commercial sex scene in Singapore can be divided into two broad categories, transgender sex workers and cis-gender sex workers. While the challenges each group faces have some overlaps, owing to the restrictions of 377A, there are some challenges unique to transgender sex workers.

Priority Issues

  • Police Abuse
  • Client Abuse
  • Brothel Abuse
  • Migrant Sex Workers
  • Media Portrayals
  • Legal Confusion

Actionable Opportunity Areas

  • [to insert]
  • [to insert]

Knowledge Gaps

  • [to insert]
  • [to insert]

Definitions

Sex Work

  • Sex work is defined as the act of a female offering her body for sexual penetration for hire, whether in money or in kind.
    • Also known as commercial sex
  • Procurement of sex worker involves the arrangement of a sex worker to engage in a sexual act with a customer
    • Also known as pimps
  • Procurement of sexual services: Paying someone for their sexual services

(Singapore Legal Advice, 2021)

Key Statistics & Figures

  • Approximately 4200 sex workers in Singapore (Singapore Legal Advice, 2021)
  • To engage in sexual services legally, sex workers must be (Ja'affar, Ho, Lee, Sherqueshaa, 2019):
    • Aged between 21 and 35
    • From China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia or Singapore
    • Legally recognized as female
  • Work areas include Geylang, Little India, Changi Village, Woodland Gardens and Orchard Towers
  • Above statistics do not include pre or non-op transgender sex workers as they are not legally allowed by the state to engage in sex work (Project X, The Allard K. Lowstein International Human Rights Clinic, 2015)

Map of Key Needs & Issues

[This table and arrows acts as a kind of visual map that allows a sense of sequencing; of the broad preconditions necessary for longer term outcomes to be achieved. Hyperlink the categories below to the specific page or sub-header in the page for easy navigation, so that you can click on 'Employment' below for example, and get straight to that page / segment]

Click the links below to go directly to specific areas of interest:

Community Integration ↘
Social Inclusion
Family & Caregiving ↗
Financial Independence
Employment ↗
Education ↗

Sub-pages

  • If there are population segments that have substantial enough information or interest, then create sub-pages for them. e.g. 'Autism' can be a stand alone pages linked to the Disability pages if the autism community is keen to populate more autism specific information. Or, artists with disability can populate a 'Arts & Disability' page.
  • Insert links to these sub-pages.

Areas of Needs / Desired Outcomes

Need to prevent police abuse

This applies to both cis and transgender sex workers. Police abuse towards sex workers can be in the form of physical, verbal and/or emotional abuse. They may also adopt unfair arrest practices such as by denying sex workers access to counsel or translators. Police often use intimidation techniques, threating to use their guns and tasers as well as grabbing women by their hair (Ja'affar, Ho, Lee, Sherqueshaa, 2019). Specifically for transgender sex workers, police may harass them and challenge the gender on her identity card. Police have also detained transgender women through profiling, even though they were not engaging in any sexual activity. Police would also take photos of transgender women without telling them the purpose for these photos. (Project X, The Allard K. Lowstein International Human Rights Clinic, 2015).

  • Desired outcomes: A need area necessarily implies that there is a desired outcome that has yet to be met. It is important to articulate what the ideal or desired outcomes for this particular need area should be, otherwise it would be unclear what the gaps will be. The trick is to use adjectives to articulate a statement about what is the desired state of affairs. People with disabilities need 'viable jobs' (that pays a living wage), or 'desirable careers' (with progression and career development)? In terms of the example above: If the desire outcome is no longer portable music (because most solutions now are portable), then a different quality like 'searchable' or 'discoverable' music would set a new criteria for what is desired.
  • Synopsis: Provide an analytic summary of the table below, of how existing resources (if any) have been meeting the need, and gaps that still exist. The goal is to make sense of a lot of information, so at every segment, the tables and information collated seeks to be comprehensive; here at the start of each segment, we aspire to a good synoptic statement that captures the essential and highlights the pertinent. An example: If the area of need is 'Accessibility & Affordability of childcare', then the synopsis might be: "Even though there are 1,510 childcare centres across Singapore, 80% of low-income single mothers cannot afford them as they earn less than $1,500 a month.
    • Where a single sentence or paragraph is not enough, you can insert sub bullet points like this.
    • Use sub bullet points if necessary
  • Statistics: Insert the specific figures and trends relevant to only this area of need.
    • Use sub bullet points if necessary
    • Use sub bullet points if necessary
Existing Programmes Gaps & Their Causes Possible Solutions
List existing services or programmes (private or public; formal or informal); relevant policies and legislation as long as they are a resource or asset that helps meet the needs stated in this segment.

Group these resources into categories and put them into a specific cell of the table.

Some gaps could be due to 1) capacity of solution to meet size & projected demand, 2) quality of solution (effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, scalability etc.), 3) accessibility (geographical, cost to client)

Also insert reasons why those gaps exist if possible. This will be crucial information. E.g. seniors do not want to make end of life plans because they think it is inauspicious to talk about death

Based on the reasons for those gaps, what might be solutions that can help?

Put links to ideas that have been tried elsewhere that show potential.

Category A: Streaming services
  • [If there are too many specific services to fit properly here, then come up with a category and list all of them in a sub-heading below]
 Insert general gaps for this category, and leave the specific issue with each specific service for the segment below]
  • Annoying ads on free streaming services
  • Incomplete collection
  • Badly curated playlists
Category B: Physical devices
Category C: ?

Category A: Streaming services

  • Spotify
  • Pandora Radio
  • Apple Music

Category B: Physical devices

  • CD player
  • MP3
  • Turntables

Category C: ?

  • insert
  • insert
  • insert

[Insert Need Area / Desired Outcome]

  • Desired Outcome: [To insert]
  • Synopsis: [To insert]
  • Statistics: [To insert]
Existing Programmes Gaps & Their Causes Possible Solutions
Category A
Category B
Category C
Category A Programmes
  • insert
  • insert
Category B Programmes
  • insert
  • insert
Category C Programmes
  • insert
  • insert

[Insert Need Area / Desired Outcome]

  • Desired Outcome: [To insert]
  • Synopsis: [To insert]
  • Statistics: [To insert]
Existing Programmes Gaps & Their Causes Possible Solutions
Category A
Category B
Category C
Category A Programmes
  • insert
  • insert
Category B Programmes
  • insert
  • insert
Category C Programmes
  • insert
  • insert

[Insert Need Area / Desired Outcome]

  • Desired Outcome: [To insert]
  • Synopsis: [To insert]
  • Statistics: [To insert]
Existing Programmes Gaps & Their Causes Possible Solutions
Category A
Category B
Category C
Category A Programmes
  • insert
  • insert
Category B Programmes
  • insert
  • insert
Category C Programmes
  • insert
  • insert

[Insert Need Area / Desired Outcome]

  • Desired Outcome: [To insert]
  • Synopsis: [To insert]
  • Statistics: [To insert]
Existing Programmes Gaps & Their Causes Possible Solutions
Category A
Category B
Category C
Category A Programmes
  • insert
  • insert
Category B Programmes
  • insert
  • insert
Category C Programmes
  • insert
  • insert

[Insert Need Area / Desired Outcome]

  • Desired Outcome: [To insert]
  • Synopsis: [To insert]
  • Statistics: [To insert]
Existing Programmes Gaps & Their Causes Possible Solutions
Category A
Category B
Category C
Category A Programmes
  • insert
  • insert
Category B Programmes
  • insert
  • insert
Category C Programmes
  • insert
  • insert

Resource Directory

The T Project

https://www.thetprojectsg.org/

Project X

https://theprojectx.org/

References

Ja’affar, L., Ho, V., Lee, M., & Sherqueshaa, S. (2019). Stakeholder report by sex workers in Singapore. https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CEDAW/Shared%20Documents/SGP/INT_CEDAW_NGO_SGP_29070_E.pdf

Project X & The Allard K. Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic. (2015). They only do this to transgender girls. https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/area/center/schell/they-only-do-this-to-transgender-girls-singapore-report-final.pdf

Singapore Legal Advice. (2021, June 25). Laws on Procuring Sex Workers & Sexual Services in Singapore. SingaporeLegalAdvice.Com. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://singaporelegaladvice.com/law-articles/laws-procuring-sex-workers-sexual-services-singapore/

Retrieved from ‘http://wiki.socialcollab.sg/index.php?title=Sex_Workers&oldid=371084’