Saha N, Jana S, Saha A, Dutta MK; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).
Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. D11345.
Institution, Kolkata, India
Issues: As part of Sonagachi projects' stated policy the ownership and management of the intervention Project was transferred to autonomous organisations formed exclusively by the sex workers and their children by the year 1999. Description: Sonagachi Project from its inception in 1992 incorporated a policy to shift ownership to the community over a period of time. The operationalization of the policy lead to institutional transformation and sustainable changes in program implementation, including democratizations of organizational functioning of the sex workers. Lessons learned: Empowerment of sex workers both at individual and community level was the corner stone of the programme. The Project from the very beginning was responding positively towards the needs and demands of the sex workers incorporating literacy programme for the sex workers and their children, building cultural forum of the sex workers, and introducing small-savings schemes for sex workers. Recommendation: Development of strong organisation of sex workers helped to large-scale up scaling of the Project in West Bengal. Increased visibility of the sex workers has led to increase in collective bargaining for safer sex practices. Ownership of the Project by the community has increased sex workers' efforts to make the Project sustainable and to continue with STI and HIV prevention among both male and female sex workers throughout West Bengal.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Child
- Community Health Aides
- Female
- Humans
- Learning
- Male
- Organizations
- Ownership
- Prostitution
- Public Policy
- Research
- Safe Sex
- education
Other ID:
UI: 102277979
From Meeting Abstracts