The International AIDS Conference is being held in the United States for the first time in over twenty years. At this historic moment for HIV prevention, treatment and care, U.S.-based sex workers and advocates demand that the U.S. government change its approach to the health and rights of people in the sex trade.

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1. We demand that the U.S. repeal and eliminate restrictions on domestic and global AIDS funds (such as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief’s (PEPFAR’s) Anti-Prostitution Loyalty Oath) and support evidence-based best practices for HIV prevention, treatment and care targeted at sex workers.

2. We demand that the U.S. repeal the prostitution inadmissibility ground for immigration and provide non-judgmental social services and legal support for migrant sex workers, as part of comprehensive immigration reform.

3. We demand that sex workers not be subjected to arrests, court proceedings, detention, mandatory testing or government-mandated “rehabilitation” programs; the government must institute mechanisms that allow sex workers to find redress for human rights violations and implement rigorous training of law enforcement officials on legal and human rights standards.

4. We demand the U.S. reorient anti-trafficking campaigns to be in line with the standards set by the United Nations and engage sex workers in helping stop exploitation in the sex sector.

On the occasion of the 2012 International AIDS Conference, we call on the U.S. to demonstrate its full commitment to public health and human rights by taking action in the areas specified above. Such action will display much needed leadership and is likely to inspire similar movement on the part of other countries. We invite all people committed to ending AIDS to endorse this statement.

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Email your endorsement using the following format to annaforbes@earthlink.net. You can also forward this message with your information to iac2012sexworkers@gmail.com.

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