With support from Alliance Madagascar, sex workers network launches education and advocacy materials
16 January 2006
In December 2005 FIMIZORE, the national network of sex worker associations in Madagascar, held a press conference in the capital Antananarivo to mark the launch of educational and advocacy support materials that had been developed by and for sex workers during a workshop organised by Alliance Madagascar. FIMIZORE’s principle objective since it was set up in 2005 has been to reduce the vulnerability of sex workers to HIV and sexually transmitted infections and violence.
The press launch strongly emphasised the strengths and importance of the participatory approach methodology that has been used by the Alliance and its partners in Asia and Eastern Europe over the past few years. The participatory approach used at the workshop saw the involvement of sex workers at every step of the design and production process in order to ensure the education and advocacy materials were adapted to the real context and needs of the target populations and those working with them, such as health services and local authorities.
The workshop organised by Alliance Madagascar aimed to engage sex workers in developing educational and motivational materials to improve their well-being and reduce their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. It was attended by sex workers representing partner organisations from nine different towns. Having looked at the main needs and priorities previously identified during participatory assessments conducted by sex workers, workshop participants decided that the key issues to be addressed would be stigmatisation, violence, human rights, and health promotion.
Participants spent time examining a range of existing materials from Madagascar and other countries, in order to get a better understanding of how they could target messages to different audiences. Resource professionals were on hand to facilitate the process. Some of the materials produced included: posters, advice cards (including information aimed at clients warning against seeking out adolescent sex workers), health booklets, calendars, leaflets (with messages for doctors, local authorities, sex workers), condom packets and a film highlighting issues such as police violence and how to provide quality health services to sex workers.
The educational and advocacy materials produced by sex workers at the workshop were aimed at sex worker organisations undertaking health promotion and education, and strengthening self-help and group support. The materials also aimed to support sex worker organisations to take action to reduce stigma and discrimination to improve access to services, both locally and nationally.
At the press launch, members of FIMIZORE’s executive committee presented highlights of the workshop to a receptive audience that included representatives of other non-governmental organisations working in Madagascar, donors and representatives of government bodies such as the national AIDS commission. The presentation generated discussion on the importance of the validation, ownership and likely effectiveness of the tools developed by and for sex workers. The creative process used to develop the education and advocacy materials, the participatory methodology used and the subsequent ownership of the materials by the sex workers were highlighted as being as valuable as the finished materials. It was recommended that each association should use the same methodology with its own members, and that other organisations working with particularly marginalised groups would find the methodology beneficial. The role and impact of the materials produced at the workshop in supporting local interventions will be examined during project evaluations.
