Sex Workers at Risk Condoms as Evidence of Prostitution in Four US Cities

Sex Workers at RiskCondoms as Evidence of Prostitution in Four US Cities

Where is this happening?

•New York•Los Angeles•Washington, DC•San Francisco

What is condoms as evidence?

• Stop (NY, LA, DC, SF)• Search (NY, LA, DC, SF)• Arrest (NY, LA, DC)• Editorialize, warn, threaten arrest (NY, LA, DC, SF)• Prosecute (NY, LA, SF)

• “The average citizen is not walking around with condoms.” LAPD

Why is this a problem?

• Fear of arrest• Immigration• Police abuse

• Misinformation• “3 condom rule”• “How many condoms is it legal to carry”

Public Health Consequences

• “How many times have I had unprotected sex because I was afraid of carrying condoms? Many times.”

— Anastasia L., sex worker in Queens, NYC

• “After that arrest, I was always scared…There were times when I didn’t have a condom and needed one, and I used a plastic bag.”

— Carol F., sex worker in Los Angeles

What to do about it?

• Follow lead of sex workers and local advocates• Pass state or local legislation barring use of condoms as evidence of prostitution• NY bill

• Police and District Attorney directives to stop using condoms as evidence of prostitution

• Improve police training on HIV prevention• Engage city leaders to stop undermining public health efforts

Contact information

Megan McLemore, JD, LLMSenior Researcher

Health and Human Rights Division

Human Rights Watch

mclemom@hrw.org

www.hrw.org

“Sex Workers at Risk” is available at:http://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/07/19/sex-workers-risk-0