March 3rd, 2011 will mark the tenth annual International Sex Workers Rights Day. This event originally began in India when thousands of sex workers gathered at a sex worker festival. At the time, the members of this group wanted people to realize that sex workers in third world countries are no different from ones in first world nations. Sex workers in this group wanted their voices to be heard and their rights to be respected. Since that event, sex worker groups around the world began to mark that day, naming it the International Sex Workers Rights Day. The Shift program understands the importance of sex workers rights, and utilizes a human rights based approach when working with people in the sex trade. When the Shift program first developed in 2007, Shift has annually observed March 3rd as a way to honour the rights of sex workers everywhere.
In preparation for this year’s International Sex Workers Rights Day, Shift has put together a committee comprised of community members and sex workers. The committee’s intent for this year’s event is to bring awareness to community members about the rights of local sex workers. The committee has hired Antyx, (formerly known as All Nations Theatre) to perform short, interactive scenes that will examine the common stereotypes, misconceptions, and human rights violations that sex workers are constantly faced with. The performance will be used as a means to begin a dialogue amongst community members and provide a platform for deeper discussions about this often misconceived topic. The committee hopes that the interactive theatre will raise community awareness, as well as inspire a shift in perception around stigmas attached to sex work.
The event will be held on Friday March 4th from 7pm-9pm at the Eau Clare Market community space-202, 200 Barclay Parade SW
Calgary, AB T2P 4R5.
If you would like more information contact Shift: (403) 237-8171 or info@shiftcalgary.org
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