Author Archive

Violence and its impact on the right to health

January 19th, 2022 · · Reports No comments

By Janet Duran

At the United Nations, experts are assigned to review priority areas in the field of human rights and report back. These independent experts are called “special rapporteurs.” This month Tlaleng Mofokeng, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, requested information from organizations globally on the issue of violence and its impact on the right to health. Tlaleng Mofokeng will also focus on the “impact of the criminalization of sex work, same sex relations, transgender persons, abortion, drug use etc. on the enjoyment of the right to health.” Desiree Alliance and BPPP filled in the Special Rapporteur’s questionnaire.


Download Our Contribution

BPPP contributed in the opening question that arresting sex workers (and people profiled as sex workers) is in and of itself violence. The United Nations must understand that it is not just that some policing and arrest of of sex workers that rises to the level of violating rights, but that every act of policing and/or arrest is a rights violation. Desiree Alliance contributed, among many other elements, information about the extensive collateral consequences of this policing, arrest, incarceration and criminalization on the right to health. Desiree Alliance also analyzed the global impact of US HIV/AIDS policy and the “Nordic Model” on sex workers’ right to health.

Both of our organizations would also like to thank New Jersey Red Umbrella Alliance, The Outlaw Project, the Black Sex Worker Collective and many other advocates who contributed to our thinking on these issues via the recent Universal Periodic Review process (2019 – 2021). We will share other groups’ contributions to this process as we receive them.

Uganda Update

January 15th, 2022 · · Articles Comments Off on Uganda Update

by B. Karungi

In January 2021 Uganda shut down of almost all online communication in the country.  These types of communications shut downs affect email, Zoom video calling, and social media. They were justified in the name of “national security.” The 2021 communication limitations occurred two days before a national election. This came on top of physical lock downs restricting people to their homes and/or their home districts during the pandemic. 

The third blow for Ugandans came with the passing of the Sexual Offences Bill of 2021 in May 2021. This legislation had been many years in the making and was supposed to “modernize” Uganda’s laws on sexual assault. Instead the Sexual Offences Bill harshly attacks sex workers, criminalizing  brothels, engaging in prostitution and engaging in a sexual act with a  sex worker. The legislation also criminalizes  ‘carnal knowledge against  the order of nature” fueling anti-LGBTQ discrimination and  heteronormative policing of sexuality. This is not only a significant blow to our human rights but affects all our work on HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care.

BPPP and friends organized a public action on the symbolic day of June 2, 2021 in NYC in front of the Ugandan Embassy to show solidarity with Ugandan sex worker led groups. If you would like to read more about legislation please Download a statement from Ugandan Sex Workers and download a statement from the BSWC.

The lock downs extended for another 6 months into this month, January 2022. Looking forward to AIDS2022 in another six months, only time will tell if local advocates will be able to attend and what we will be able to share about the impact of these lock downs on our organizing, our rights and our health. I am excited to report on the conference and its outcomes.

Navigating AID2022 (first steps)

January 12th, 2022 · · Articles, Capacity Building, Conferences No comments - Tags: ,

By B.Karungi

Breaking down barriers to attend International AIDS Conferences is a central element of BPPP’s work. Attending the conferences allows sex worker, drug user, indigenous and trans rights representatives, who have been marginalized repeatedly in the HIV/AIDS discourse, to forge global connections, protest, educate and be heard. The next International AIDS Conference will be held in Montreal July 29 to August 1, 2022 and will include both in person and online forums. The risks posed by COVID-19 continue but some degree of participation may be good for communities that have been isolated for so long. We will post updates.

APPLY TO SPEAK OR PERFORM BY 27 Jan 2022 at 5:59pm ET / 2:59pm PT / 23:59CET: People from our communities can apply to present in all aspects of AIDS2022. The deadline for Abstracts to present in the main conference, Workshops in the main conference and Global Village presentations (this includes panels, performances, booths and film showings) is 27 January 2022 at 5:59pm ET / 2:59pm PT / 23:59 CET.

APPLY FOR SCIENTIFIC ABSTRACT MENTORING BY 14 Jan 2022: Historically very few community representatives have been permitted to present in the main conference where all the academics and scientists tend to present. While it is not aimed at the community, the conference now offers abstract mentoring (deadline to apply for mentoring is January 14, 2022). The mentoring includes an online course which we tested out on some BPPPers who reported that it was helpful but hard to access via the online system. In order to access the online course, set up a profile, click the Abstract mentoring tab and then apply to submit an abstract to review even if you don’t have one ready. You will find an option to access the online training in this process.

Apply for a scholarship by January 31, 2022 (11:59pm CET / 5:59pm EST / 2:59pm PST). In order to apply you will need a letter of recommendation from someone you work with or from a community group. Please reach out to us at hivaidsbppp@gmail.com if you need any help applying for AIDS2022 and check out our webinar recording from 2018 about how to apply.

Donate to our mutual aid

January 3rd, 2022 · · Uncategorized Comments Off on Donate to our mutual aid - Tags:

Did you know that BPPP offers mutual aid? We have always done this, but as a result of the pandemic and because we are now financially independent, this part of our work has grown.

UNFORTUNATELY: As of January 3, 2022 the BPPP support fund is depleted and we are fundraising to renew funds. If you would like to donate directly to the fund, you may do so online via this link. If you shop on Amazon, use AmazonSmile to get Bezos’ donations sent to our mutual aid fund. You can also send a check the old fashioned way. Donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

How will your donation be used? 85% of the net donation we receive for mutual aid will be used to support food, housing, and childcare costs for community members. We also provide court support and we support any need that our community members have to stay healthy and safe. The remaining 15% will pay BPPP’s community program coordinator. She is an outstanding leader bringing experience of organizing with and providing services to Black trans people and sex workers in the District of Columbia.