A report by COSWAS

The Taipei Association of Licensed Prostitutes (TALPs) was formed in 1998 when the then Taipei City Mayor and later President of Taiwan, CHEN Shui Bian of the Democratic Progressive Party, banned licensed prostitution within 48 hours. The licensed prostitutes in Taipei organized themselves and protested publicly for the first time in Taiwanese history against the ban. Their demand was to reinstate their livelihood and their right to work as sex workers. Their sudden public appearance as sex workers demanding for their right to work initially shocked the Taiwanese society but these women also quickly gained sympathy and support.

A group of young labour activists, predominantly women, helped to expand their campaign. They were successful in seeking wider support from various social movement organizations and individuals, including the LGBT communities, academics, lawyers, social workers, teachers and nurses etc. Through the joint actions of the licensed prostitutes and the activists; they were able to change the attitude of the mass media. The latter’s initial disdain, prejudices, stereotypes and scepticism about the sex industry and the sex workers has given way to a more objective, balanced, sympathetic and even supportive attitude. One example is the use of the word ‘ sex worker’ instead of ‘prostitutes’ by the media.

TALPs’ campaigns were so successful despite opposition from certain feminist and women groups, as well as religious institutions, politicians and certain government officials that MAH Ying-jeoh of the Kuoming Tang (The Nationalist Party), who subsequently replaced CHEN as Taipei City Mayor, had to postpone the ban for two years.

The Collective for Sex Workers and Supporters (COSWAS) was formed in 1999 to continue the fight for the rights of all sex workers in Taiwan, making it the only sex workers’ rights organization set up by sex workers and for sex workers on the island. In order to expand its influence, COSWAS welcomes supporters and volunteers to work hand-in-hand with ex-licensed prostitutes, street sex workers, as well as women working in tea houses, massage parlours, karaoke bars, brothels and pole-dancing clubs etc.

COSWAS has been campaigning tirelessly against Article 80 of the Public Order Maintenance Act, which criminalizes sex workers. After more than twelve years of organizing, mobilizing  and politicizing the issue, the Taiwanese judiciary has finally declared Article 80 to be unconstitutional because it contravenes the universal rights of all Taiwanese citizens. Therefore, this law that specifically criminalizes sex workers will be annulled by November 2011 at the latest. COSWAS will however, continue to fight for the rights and welfare of all sex workers by resisting the pressure by some women and feminist groups to criminalize clients and third parties whom these abolitionist groups consider to be ‘profiting’ from the ‘sexual exploitation’ of women.

In COSWAS’ understanding of the sex industry and the nature of sex work, borne out of more than a decade of working closely with sex workers, the criminalization of clients and the so-called third parties whom sex workers in reality rely on for support, safety and security will only hurt the sex workers and their business. Based on COSWAS’ policy research and analysis, as well as of our tireless effort in community education, public awareness-raising and lobbying and advocacy at governmental and institutional levels, we have shown that the only effective way in empowering the women and men involved in sex work lies in their decriminalization and the proper management of their work environment by law and not through the abolition of the industry.

Therefore, COSWAS advocates for the decriminalization of sex work and the sex industry, in order to empower the sex workers and thereby, protect them from violence and exploitation including trafficking and sexual slavery. What sex workers need is adequate and appropriate rights-based government policies and management strategies that oversee the sex industry and the welfare and rights of the people working in it. Abolitionist measures will only drive the sex industry underground and thus, making the sex workers more vulnerable to exploitation and violence.

COSWAS believes that a positive, rights-based approach to prostitution that recognises all forms of sex work as work is the only way to stem out exploitation, violence, slavery, trafficking and oppression within the industry. Moreover, COSWAS believes that the best people who know and can decide on the policies and measures to empower and protect sex workers against violence and exploitation is the sex workers themselves because ultimately, it is in their interests to work in a safe, fair and secure working environment.

Apart from campaigning, lobbying and advocacy, COSWAS spends most of its energy and resources in organizing and empowering its members through various other activities such as:

• open street protests articulating the demands of sex workers to politicians, law-makers, political parties, government ministries, etc.
• participation in various public rallies including the Labour Day and International Migrant Day rallies in alliance with workers
• converting a former licensed-prostitute brothel into a museum site to educate the Taiwanese public about the realities of the sex industry through photo exhibitions, exhibitions of life stories of sex workers and their clients. The museum also provides alternative health and wellness services for members of the public such as, aroma-therapy, body massage, foot reflexology and psychological therapy etc.
• a sex-counselling hotline by sex workers for members of the public to call in
• a blog on COSWAS website for sex-counselling and political commentaries by sex workers
• a self-help collective to generate income through the sale of indigenous herbal tonic that has become rather popular among members of the public
• regular and consistent outreach work to street sex workers through emergency aid, case work, distribution of condoms, relationship building through advice and counselling
• provision of legal advice and help in times of need. For instance, when sex workers are arrested or threatened with imprisonment or fine, COSWAS is their first point of call for help. COSWAS staff and volunteers will travel beyond Taipei city to wherever the sex workers are to help them.
• alliance building; COSWAS has been consistently building its alliance with LGBT communities, organizations for the rights of the physically and mentally challenged, general trade unions, unemployed workers’ association, migrant rights’ organizations, grassroots and activists’ groups,  teachers’ unions, nurses, lawyers, professionals and academics.
• Community organizing and awareness-raising: young COSWAS volunteers have set up street theatre groups to perform in public spaces, as part of awareness-raising and education. The dialogue and debate that ensue after the plays are often fruitful in bridging public’s perception of and prejudices against sex workers and the latter’s reality.
• COSWAS has produced and performed songs that are written and sang jointly by sex workers and its volunteers to popularize our cause
• COSWAS has produced several award-winning documentary films on sex work and sex workers in Taiwan
• COSWAS published several books over the past decade about sex work and sex workers to reach out to the Chinese-speaking audience
• policy research and analysis; through the dedication of COSWAS volunteers, supporters and staff, COSWAS has been tirelessly researching and analyzing various aspects of the sex industry; as well as government policies on sex work and the impact on sex workers. Its professional research and analysis has made COSWAS a credible voice in the eyes of the public, as well as the mass media. As a result, the Taiwanese government can no longer ignore COSWAS’ intervention. It has to include COSWAS in all its consultation with the civil society when formulating policies on the sex industry.
• international campaigns; as a grassroots group with very little resources, COSWAS has tried within its limitation to maintain its international solidarity and alliance work with other sex workers’ groups all over the world. Over the past twelve years of its existence, COSWAS has organized no less than five international conferences to educate the Taiwanese public and government on the progress already achieved by sex workers’ rights organizations in other countries.

For more information, please look up: http://coswas.org/ (the website is in Chinese)

Contact Chang Jung Che email: jcchang13@gmail.com