Treatment as Prevention

Alisha OstbergBlog, position statements

Earlier this month, the HIVCL Board updated our position statement on the use of anti-HIV medication to prevent the forward transmission of HIV. Often referred to as “Treatment as Prevention”, the approach recognizes that by reducing viral load, HIV treatment has a secondary benefit of significantly reducing the potential for HIV transmission.

Pow Wow Snagging

Alisha Ostbergaboriginal, Blog

Every spring and summer the Aboriginal Communities gear up for the Pow wow season. Many travel to other provinces or across the Canada/US border, hitting the road for the whole summer riding the Pow wow …

Cowboys and Condoms!

Alisha OstbergBlog, Gay Men, harm reduction, HEAT, prevention, safer sex

YAH HOO! It is that time of year again. The cow folk are restless, the city is in anticipation with business and corporate sectors prepping the multitudes of pancake breakfasts and other Stampede celebration events …

New Legislation will have Serious Negative Effects on Sex Workers

Alisha OstbergBlog, sex work

Statement by HIV Community Link

Calgary, Alberta June 5th, 2014 – Yesterday Justice Minister Peter MacKay introduced a new bill the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act that will reform Canada’s prostitution laws. The Government of Canada’s comprehensive and “made-in-Canada” approach will criminalize the purchase of sex, communicating for the purpose of selling sex, gaining material benefit from sex work, and advertising sexual services.

“At Shift we are reeling with disappointment following the announcement of the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act,” says Susan Cress, Executive Director of HIV Community Link which houses the Shift program which provides support services to adults currently and formerly working in the sex industry. “This new legislation does not resolve the problems found by the Court in Bedford to be unconstitutional rather it imposes more danger, more criminalization and fewer safe options for sex workers.”

This bill would make it illegal to communicate sexual services in a public place that is or is next to a place where anyone under the age of 18 could “reasonably be expected to be present.” This will displace sex workers into dangerous and isolated parts of the city where they are more likely to work alone in order to avoid police detection. Sex workers will not be able to screen clients and negotiate the terms of the transaction, resulting in a much greater risk of harm that the Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional back in December.

This Canadian approach is an unconstitutional variation that will lead to more violence against sex workers in Canada. At HIV Community Link, we support decriminalization of sex work which has been extremely successful in New Zealand. This model has shown no growth of the sex industry, no increase in the numbers of sex workers and no increase in trafficking. Decriminalization has improved the overall employment conditions and a decrease in violence against sex workers. Improved relationships with police means sex workers are able to report violence and expect and receive police protection.

Money Matters!

Alisha OstbergBlog, support

Money matters a lot and influences all areas of our lives. While there are many people living with HIV (PHAs) who have financial stability, numerous PHAs experience financial insecurity. In an informal survey of PHAs …