Here he talks to the sex workers and finds some fascinating views and more common ground. However, the situation with sex workers is much less clear. Networks of sex workers include both professionals and sex workers. Pye described her own journey into sex work and also presented the views of other sex workers who she had interviewed see PowerPoint Presentation in file store.
Her survey, in and of itself, challenged the view that it was impossible to capture the views of sex workers, which legitimises professionals speaking on their behalf. I was very struck by the parallel struggles of our two communities. The lack of self-determination among sex workers and the pattern of professionals speaking on their behalf, leaves sex workers feeling alienated from international advocacy processes.
It makes me appreciate the hard fought for progress that we have made with our professional partners in the harm reduction movement. Additionally, struggles for sex workers is to liberate themselves from the imposition of a victim identity. This provides an avenue for professionals to assert that sex workers are really victims after all. In the UK, we are facing problems with Vietnamese gangs bringing in child migrants to work as effective slaves in the houses that are converted into mini-cannabis growing centres.
As an older cannabis smoker, I have the choice to source my cannabis from dealers who buy whole crops so they can control the production qualities. However, this is not a choice open to many cannabis users and we once again face the discomfort of buying drugs that fund organised crime and their inhumane practices.
Interestingly, sex workers also struggle with the sense of community. Many groups fear being viewed as prostitutes who are seen as the lowest class of sex workers. The parallels with the internal discourse between different groups of people who use drugs is clear. Laura has some interesting and challenging views about the process of helping and rescuing. Also with us were Satxa Rossello and Jordi Parramon from Plataforma Drogologica which is a coalition of drug users organisations in Barcelona.
