The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘Stigmatisation’ concern at sex workers’ meet

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Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘Stigmatisation’ concern at sex workers’ meet

Staff Reporter

TIRUPATI: Members of the Community Based Organisations (CBOs) involved in redressing the grievances of sex workers have raised a hue and cry on their ‘stigmatisation’ and sought a better deal from the society.

The occasion was the meeting conducted to commemorate the ‘International Sex Workers Rights Day’ at Madanapalle on Monday.

The CBO members gave vent to their woes such as confrontation from the mainstream society and the subsequent harassment meted out to their fraternity.

The meet helped in churning out a wide range of thoughts as external stakeholders such as advocates, doctors, social activists and women’s group leaders took an active role by raising their voice vis-À-vis the problem.

The CBO members appeared to be more mature in their articulation of views on HIV/AIDS and condom usage.

Speaking on behalf of her fellow members, a CBO activist (name withheld) explained that the condom usage was satisfactory among the community and that over 80 p.c. of the sex workers were properly using them.

Another member explained how the CBOs were playing a constructive role in keeping AIDS at bay by insisting their male partners to use condoms.

CBO members K.Rajasekhar and S.N.Babu, RRS Mythri coordinator Prabhakar, a doctor Radhakrishna Reddy and an advocate Janaki Ramaiah were among who spoke.

A similar meet was held at the youth hhostel in Tirupati where Tirupati Urban Circle Inspector P.Venkatanatha Reddy and Tirupati Bar Council secretary V.Chandrasekhar spoke.

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