Community-based organisations of sex-workers are proving an effective forum for empowerment and HIV prevention in North Karnataka, India.

Female sex work (FSW) is an important component of HIV transmission in the concentrated epidemic in India. STRIVE partner, Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, has worked with the Avahan programme to implement and evaluate multifaceted interventions to

• reduce stigma and discrimination against sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender populations,
• mitigate the impacts of violence and harassment,
• provide HIV prevention services, and
• facilitate access to social entitlements.  

Resources

Publications

• Is scale-up of community mobilisation among sex workers really possible in complex urban environments? The case of Mumbai, India
• Community mobilisation and empowerment interventions as part of HIV prevention for female sex workers in Southern India: a cost-effectiveness analysis
• Community mobilisation and empowerment of female sex workers in Karnataka State, south India 
• Community building to reduce HIV/AIDS related stigma among female sex workers in Karnataka, India

Report

• The impact of community mobilisation among female sex workers in India

Presentation

• Community mobilisation and empowerment of female sex workers is significantly associated with reduced HIV/STI risk in Karnataka state, south India

Other resources

• Parinita Bhattacharjee on working with sex worker CBOs - blog