Sexual Health and Rights: Sex Workers, Transgender People & Men Who Have Sex with Men—Thailand

Sponsored by OSI's Sexual Health and Rights Project, Sexual Health and Rights: Sex Workers, Transgender People & Men Who Have Sex with Men-Thailand aims to provide an understanding of the health and rights of sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender people in Thailand, with a specific focus on HIV concerns. Conducted between January and March 2006 in Thailand, the study gathered information through document review and interviews. This material was collated and analyzed in workshops and interviews with men who have sex with men, transgender people (specifically male-to-female), and sex workers. Their experiences, priorities, and recommendations were collected and written up to form the basis of the document.

Based on this report, a community-based strategic planning meeting, and numerous site visits to leading sex worker, migrant, and LGBT health and rights organizations around Thailand in 2006, SHARP has identified the following priorities for its work in Thailand:

• Support for sex worker and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) organizations (especially those led by sex workers and LGBT persons) to enhance their health and rights-based advocacy efforts.
• Support for sex worker, LGBT, migrant, and Burma rights groups to undertake appropriate advocacy efforts and services targeting the needs of migrant sex workers and LGBT persons and to work together around shared concerns.
• Developing a curricula and conducting human rights trainings for sex workers and their allies to better use human rights tools and strategies to protect themselves.