Practice

Sex workers globally have faced disproportionate health and social inequities primarily caused by high levels of criminalization, policing, stigma and limited investment in community-based sex work support services.

Evidence-Based Recommendations for Service Providers, Researchers and Policy Makers

Conversion therapy is not a single and clearly defined practice. Overt conversion therapy is a collection of practices that are, in fact, only the “tip of the iceberg.”

Conversion therapy practices continue to occur throughout Canada; eliminating it requires knowing where it is taking place.

Sex workers who use drugs face significant barriers to harm reduction resources as both sex work and drug use are criminalized. This AESHA Project Infographic summarizes the harms of policing and criminalization for sex workers who use drugs.

A SHAWNA infographic showing the demographics of SHAWNA participants, who are women (cisgender and transgender) living with HIV who reside in or travel to Metro Vancouver to access HIV care services. Demographics shown are age, sexual orientation, gender identity, family status, ethnicity, experience with stigma, supports needed to take anti-retroviral medications, and place of residence.

A SHAWNA infographic showing how criminalization, incarceration, and social and structural vulnerabilities are closely linked; the need to redress the overcriminalization of women living with HIV; and the need for interventions and release plans to be women-centred, include housing and substance use supports, and address the cyclical nature of violence and incarceration.

A SHAWNA infographic showing how and why trauma-informed care is essential for HIV health. Concludes with implications: Trauma-informed care is needed to support antiretroviral adherence; there is a requirement for responses to structural vulnerabilities that expose women to trauma such as incarceration and unstable housing; and chronic underfunding of HIV responses for women should be addressed.

A SHAWNA infographic showing percentages of SHAWNA participants who have experienced violence due to their HIV+ status and who have had their HIV+ status disclosed without their consent. Discusses non-consensual disclosure, HIV-related violence, physical or sexual violence, and difficulties taking antiretroviral medications. Includes implications that initiatives are needed to reduce HIV-related stigma and gender-based violence; rights to privacy and confidentiality must be ensured; and trauma-informed care is required for women living with HIV.

CGSHE researchers collaborated on a paper titled "Global epidemiology of HIV among female sex workers: influence of structural determinants" which was featured in the Lancet series on HIV and sex work. Information from the research is featured in this infographic.