EMPOWERMENT OF FEMALE SEX WORKERS' THROUGH A DISTINCT APPROACH OF COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION

Female sex workers are one of the most vulnerable groups who face challenges in their day to day life with the clients, police, pimps and their counterparts. The nature of profession leaves them alone in this world to face the critical health, HIV/AIDS, Psychological & social discrimination at various stages of life.

SAKSHAM GS project of CARE India was initiated in 2009 in Andhra Pradesh under AVAHAN Initiatives to mobilize female sex workers by using community to community learning intervention strategy with an aim to reduce their vulnerabilities through collectivization.

With the efforts 22633 FSWs have become the members of 22 community based organizations. Approximately 1154 Hot Spot leaders are democratically selected to deal with the crisis situations. In a state level get together for FSW a message is given to the society that they are also human being entitle to get human rights. The efforts empower them to form a state level network and provided toll free number for easy accessibility of community members. The empowered community members are not only leading their life with choice but also saving the lives of many girls/women from trafficking.