What Works for Women and Girls

state of West Bengal. Review of Durbar’s work as based on 22 focus group discussionswith sex workers, with 5 to 25 sex workers in each focus group. In depth interviews wereconducted with 10 key sex worker leaders and eight non sex worker staff of Durbar.Feedback was provided by Durbar following a dissemination workshop. A focus groupdiscussion was held with brothel keepers and police and government officials were interviewedas well. Interviews were also held with non-Durbar sex workers. Sex workersand non-sex workers staff were given an equal status within the organization, witheach having different expertise, with sex workers assuming key responsibilities withinDurbar and in representing Durbar. Literacy classes which questioned social normsand used critical thinking were added to health projects, providing skills in discussionand debate. Durbar has assumed direct responsibility for running the health projectsfor sex workers as of 1999.Durbar was formed in 1993 by a group of sex workers whocame together as peer educators through the NGO. Members of Durbar have successfullyorganized against maltreatment from brothels and pimps, against violence by thepolice and others, against forcible AIDS surveillance and against eviction of sex workersfrom brothels and red light areas, achieving greater power for sex workers in the sextrade. Durbar has a savings and credit cooperative. Prior to the formation of Durbar,sex workers reported a lack of control over their own lives and a sense of powerlessness.Durbar claimed prostitution as legitimate work, viewing it as “a legitimate andnecessary occupation within the context of a wider economy, which offers the poor veryfew viable livelihood options,” (p. 256) harming no one. Now that Durbar is a collective,police, government official and politicians “behave civilly with them now and meetwith them…to discuss and solve problems…. “ (p. 257). Durbar has given sex workersa sense of their rights, so that Durbar now claims legal recognition and enforcementof their rights by the Indian government. In addition to establishing health services tomeet sex worker needs for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care, Durbar has setup services for counseling and treatment for the general population, particularly thepoor. Durbar has also intervened on behalf of underage girls and those brought forciblyto the sex trade. Durbar has raised funds for flood victims, presenting themselves as“socially responsible citizens with a conscience and a sense of duty toward the vulnerable“ rather than “weak needing rescue” (p. 265). (Gooptu and Banyopadhyay, 2007).(Gray V) (sex workers, community organizing, violence, peer education, India)SANGRAM in India began in 1992 with peer education and condom distribution, butevolved to create a sense of collective solidarity. SANGRAM has been incorporated intothe policy process of the state of Mahararashtra. Through SANGRAM, a collective ofwomen sex workers was formed—VAMP. VAMP has grown from 150 women in 1995to 5,000 members as of 2008. VAMP by exercising civil rights, ended police raids andhas also gained the right of no cost condoms from the state government. Condom distributionby peer sex workers has increased from 6,000 to 8,000. VAMP member supportmembers who are HIV-positive (Pillai et al., 2008). (Gray V) (sex workers, condoms, peereducation, India)88 CHAPTER 4 PREVENTION FOR KEY AFFECTED POPULATIONS