Projects
Criminalizing Condoms
Last Updated: July 12, 2012   Public Health Program

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Police Practices Put Lives at Risk

When condoms are treated as contraband, sex workers are forced to choose between protecting their health and staying safe from police harassment or arrest.

Access to condoms is crucial for HIV prevention programs worldwide. Yet, in many countries police target sex workers and regularly confiscate or destroy their condoms. The possession of condoms can be used by courts as evidence to convict people on prostitution-related charges. The Open Society Foundations work to protect the health and rights of sex workers.

Criminalizing Condoms

Condoms as Evidence

Open Society Voices

“Why Do They Take Our Condoms, Do They Want Us to Die?”

July 17, 2012 | by Rachel Thomas | 1 comment

Police frequently confiscate sex workers' condoms, increasing the likelihood of unprotected sex with clients. We need better law enforcement policies that do not treat condoms as contraband.

Decriminalizing Sex Work is the Best HIV Response

July 15, 2012 | by David Scamell | 2 comments

Most countries continue to criminalize sex work, leading to widespread human rights abuses against sex workers, especially at the hands of police.

Bad Laws Are Hindering the Global Response to HIV

July 15, 2012 | by David Scamell

A global report released this week has called for the removal of all discriminatory and punitive laws, policies, and state practices that are helping to fuel the global HIV epidemic.