Context
Key principles
Notwithstanding the diversity of sex work settings, a review of current best practice in sex work interventions suggests that observation of the following key principles contributes to effectiveness and sustainability:
- adopting a non-judgemental attitude;
- ensuring that interventions do no harm;
- ensuring that sex workers' rights to privacy, confidentiality and anonymity are respected;
- respecting sex workers' human rights and according them basic dignity;
- respecting sex workers' views, knowledge and life experiences;
- involving sex workers, and, where appropriate, other community members in all stages of the development and implementation of interventions;
- recognizing that sex workers are usually highly motivated to improve their health and well-being, and that sex workers are part of the solution;
- building capacities and leadership among sex workers in order to facilitate effective participation and community ownership;
- recognizing the role played in HIV transmission by clients and third parties, i.e. targeting the whole sex work setting, including clients and third parties, rather than only sex workers;
- recognizing and adapting to the diversity of sex work settings and of the people involved.