Information evening on the topic of sex work and prostitution
Invitation to World Whores' Day: 2 June, from 6 pm, Weltecho, Annaberger Straße 24
On Friday, 2 June at 6 pm, the City of Chemnitz's Equal Opportunities Officer, Pia Hamann, and representatives of the Sexual Health Advice Centre at the City of Chemnitz's Office for Health and Prevention are inviting all interested parties to an information event with a panel discussion at Weltecho, Annaberger Straße 24. The occasion is International Sex Workers Day (World Whore Day), which is intended to commemorate the discrimination and exploitation of sex workers.
Representatives of the media are also invited.
The programme includes the documentary "Forced into Prostitution", which will be introduced by its co-author, journalist Carolin Haentjes. This will be followed at around 7.20 pm by a panel discussion with experts from the fields of sexual health and human trafficking as well as politicians. The film "Ich gehöre ihm" (TV drama, WDR, 2017) will be shown from around 9 pm.
The aim of the event is to sensitise the public to the topic and draw attention to the often difficult living conditions of sex workers. There are often false images in people's minds, which are also emotionally charged and therefore not a good basis for political decisions. The event aims to counteract this.
The Prostitutes Protection Act, which came into force on 1 July 2017, is also being criticised.
Hardly any other topic is as controversial as sex for payment: some call for acceptance, others want to ban the purchase of sex and penalise clients. The event aims to shed light on both sides and serve as an opportunity to enter into dialogue and discuss the various approaches, problems and possible solutions.
Background:
Sex work is still stigmatised in today's society. To change this, the International Sex Workers Day was established in 1975. It dates back to 2 June 1975, when more than 100 prostitutes occupied the Saint-Nizier church in Lyon.
In the 1970s, prostitutes came under increasing pressure and were forced to work in secret. The lack of publicity led to an increase in violence and murders. When the government refused to improve conditions, they went on strike and occupied a church, which was evacuated by the police after eight days. (Source: https://www.feiertage-oesterreich.at/festtage/welthurentag)