Warning and Photo on:

http://www.saafe.info/main/index.php?to … g63735#new

Please read and pass on.

Thanks.

Penny x

http://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/thu-15th-dec-2011-candle-vigil-walk-to-end-violence-against-sex-workers-w1j-9hs.284460/

At the occasion of the international day to end violence against sex workers, a candle vigil walk through Soho is organised to remember sex workers who were murdered or victims of violence. The walk will start from Piccadilly circus and end in Congress House. There will be free drinks offered with speeches from sex worker activists and trade unions people as well as a presentation about sex workers’ unionisation.   The theme of the event is “unionisation as a mean to stop violence’

Start Date: Thu 15th Dec 2011 06:00 PM
End Date: Thu 15th Dec 2011 09:00 PM
Time zone: Europe/London +00:00 GMT

Location:
Soho
Piccadilly Circus
W1J  9HS

Copied from International Union of Sex Workers : http://www.iusw.org/

The International Union of Sex Workers warmly welcomes the publication of “Migrant Workers in the UK Sex Industry” by Dr Nick Mai.

This is the largest ever qualitative research into the experience of migrants selling sexual services in London, and key findings are:
• The large majority of interviewed migrant workers in the UK sex industry are not forced nor trafficked.

• Immigration status is by far the single most important factor restricting their ability to exercise their rights in their professional and private lives.

• Working in the sex industry is often a way for migrants to avoid the unrewarding and sometimes exploitative conditions they meet in non-sexual jobs.

• By working in the sex industry, many interviewees are able to maintain dignified living standards in the UK while dramatically improving the living conditions of their families in the country of origin.

• The stigmatisation of sex work is the main problem interviewees experienced while working in the sex industry and this impacted negatively on both their private and professional lives.

• The combination of the stigmatisation of sex work and lack of legal immigration documentation makes interviewees more vulnerable to violence and crime.

• Interviewees generally describe relations with their employers and clients as characterised by mutual consent and respect, although some reported problematic clients and employers, who were disrespectful, aggressive or abusive.

• The impossibility of guaranteeing indefinite leave to remain to victims of trafficking undermines the efforts of the police and other authorities against criminal organizations.

• Most interviewees feel that the criminalisation of clients will not stop the sex industry and that it would be pushed underground, making it more difficult for migrants working in the UK sex industry to assert their rights in relation to both clients and employers.

Catherine Stephens of the IUSW says, “We will only successfully target trafficking within the sex industry when we make policy based on evidence and in reality. There is currently a climate of fear amongst London sex workers due to police activity, that is driven by hype and misinformation promoted by NGOs with a financial vested interest in the anti-trafficking industry, who are ideologically opposed to commercial sex. It is time to set aside their ideology and emotion, and give people in the sex industry – whether from the UK or migrant – the same human rights and protection of the law as others.”

Rosie Campbell, Board member of the UK Network of Sex Work Projects, says, “UKNSWP member projects in London see thousands of sex workers a year and these findings reflect what they see.  We welcome this research and hope that local and national government will use it to inform policy. For some time we have been expressing concern about the under-reporting of violent and other crimes committed against sex workers in London. Clearly there is a need for the police to work pro-actively to increase trust and confidence in them amongst sex workers and to ensure they are fulfilling their duty to provide protection to sex workers.”

Both Catherine and Rosie were members of Dr Mai’s Advisory Board.

For further information contact:

Catherine Stephens
activist, International Union of Sex Workers
catherine@iusw.org
07772 638748 / 020 7697 1057
IUSW c/o MSH Suite C Maples Business Centre 144 Liverpool Road London N1 1LA

Lorraine Galatowicz
Chair, UK Network of Sex Work Projects
chair@uknswp.org.uk
07811 442479
UKNSWP 114 Cariocca Business Park Sawley Road Manchester M40 8BB

Details of the research launch event:
In whose name? Migration, sex work and trafficking
Monday, 31 October 2011 3pm-6pm
London Metropolitan University
Liebeskind Building166-220 Holloway Road London N7 8DB
http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/research-units/iset/projects/esrc-migrant-workers.cfm

and the full document can be downloaded from
http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/research-units/iset/projects/esrc-migrant-workers.cfm

For up to date information on the latest Warnings please go to the Saafe site here:

http://www.saafe.info/main/index.php?board=3.0

Please do post your warnings here too.

Penny x

http://blueblindfold.co.uk/

Came across this really informative site on how to spot the signs of human trafficking and how to deal with it.  Not just in our industry.  Open our eyes and spot the signs.

Well worth a read.

Penny x

Last Wednesday I went up to Arcola Theatre in E8 to run a workshop on The Buddy System, my volunteer networking and support scheme for new and experienced escorts.  I was invited and was more than happy to take part.  This is the second year that the London Sex Workers Open University (link on site) have run a series of workshops on all kinds of different subjects to do with the sex industry.  Everything from media training, to self defence.  The SWOU guidelines are: 1)recognise sex work as work, 2)oppose the criminalisation of sex work and 3)support the self-organising and self-determination of sex workers.  Its a volunteer organisation that is run by sex workers and their allies for sex workers.

Some clients might not want to really think about the rights of sex workers, they may just want to enjoy their time with them.  Fair enough.  I’m not what you would called an out right feminist, or a woman’s libber.  I don’t burn my bras, I need their support too much for my ample babies!   But I am very pro active in helping women working in the industry stay safe and encourage networking within the industry.  It is mostly women that contact me, but I do have a few men from time to time.  I don’t know much about the male side of the sex industry apart from if your a straight man there isn’t very much work for you.  I met some great people on Wednesday , a few of which are male sex workers who I can  now tap into when I have guys contact me as male buddys.

On my train journey up to E8 I was a tad nervous that no one would turn up or find what I had to say of any interest.  However, to my relief I had a good turn out and I explained who I was, what the Escort Buddy scheme was all abut and my vision for its future.  What ensued was a great discussion from all angles of the industry about how networking can help to keep us safe.  Which has given me all kinds of things to think about and plan.

I am looking forward to being involved with the SWOU and looking for new ways to help and support anyone working in the industry.  My motto is that if we as sex workers are safe then our valued clients are too.

Stay safe.

Hugs

Penny x x x

‘M’ is new Escort who decided to go Independent after working for an agency for a shot time.  Thank you so much for your kind words x

Million thanks to Penny for her all  support!

She has been friendly, understanding and  patient, never left any questions without reply.

She shared with me the absolutely fantastic  guide “where to advertise” – which suggests all possible options for the WG,  where to advertise the services.

Also thanks to her I have been put in touch with one of the web designers – to create my website.

Thank you very much Dear Penny.

http://www.sexworkeropenuniversity.com/

This is a volunteer orangisation who support sex workers.  They are running a series of workshops in London in October, for sex workers and those interested in working in the industry.

Have a look, might be something you will be interested in.

Hugs

Penny x x x

I had been thinking about becoming a part time escort for a while but was quite nervous in finding out how to go about advertising, finding someone to build a website and 100′s of other questions going through my head that a friend mentioned Penny at Escort Buddies.

They had known Penny for a long time and knew that she set up a site to help newbies.  I gave her a call and we arranged to meet up and I am so glad that I did

She was very easy to talk to, she asked me lots of questions as to how I would feel about myself and how I might react in certain situations.  She was brilliant, and once she was certain that I felt ready to take the plunge she gave me lots of information as to how to approach advertising, little tips on what had worked for her and what hadn’t.  I learnt all about the fun side to being self employed as an escort and also about the pittfalls and how best to avoid some of them.

I’m so glad that my friend pointed me in the direction of Escort Buddies, and I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to recomend  EB to anyone who was thinking of joining this line of work.