Issue - meetings

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The Board received a presentation on the findings of the migrant sex workers research project which had been completed by Dr Nick Mai of the institute for the studies of European Transformations from the London Metropolitan University and Rosie Campbell (UK Network of Sex Work Projects). This was a qualitative research project which involved examining the extent of trafficking and exploitation of women in the sex industry in Enfield and Haringey.  The research project had further looked at:  whether drug and alcohol use was an issue, the views of sex workers, how SHOC services were responding to the migrant sex working population needs, and where social intervention practice and policy models could inform future commissioning work in this area.  The project had involved training sex workers to become the mediators and interviewers of the workers. There had been 30 interviews undertaken with sex workers who were from the Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and the Czech Republic (EU A8/A2 countries). These were the countries which had been granted membership of the EU and of which its residents were able to travel to EU countries but not allowed to work. The proportion of the workers interviewed, loosely represented the populations from these EU countries residing in Enfield and Haringey.

 When investigating the issue of human trafficking, the UN definition was adhered to.  The Board learned that, of the 30 women interviewed, the majority did not perceive themselves to be trafficked or exploited at the time of the interviews.  However, this perception was dependent on the status of the relationship with their boyfriend, pimp, working conditions, experiences of violence and if they had not been paid.  Fears were expressed by the workers on the anti human trafficking lobby which they felt would have detrimental affect on their working conditions by driving the sex industry underground and making them more prone to exploitation.  Deportation was the key concern of most of the workers interviewed and fear of this often deterred them from reporting abuses. Financial responsibilities for children and families back home was another key factor for their involvement in the industry.

Going forward, the research proposed that there should be targeted outreach, socialisation initiatives and more trained bilingual workers at SHOC (Sexual Health on Call) provided to migrant sex workers.  These actions would assist by making the women feel safer and therefore more aware of the limitations they have as a result of their livelihood. They would be able to access counselling and gain more information about alternative livelihoods. A key concern noted was the likely cut in funding to SHOC and the impact this will have on the current engagement levels with migrant sex workers.

The Board thanked Dr Nick Mai for this key presentation and was assured that the research findings would be referred to in the planning of appropriate services.

RESOLVED

That the presentation be noted.