Nooraru Saaviraru: stories of women in sex work

Nooraru Saviraru presents stories around the vulnerabilities of women in sex work to HIV and AIDS, aggravated further by the obstacles they face in gaining access to healthcare and rights.

The compendium recounts stories of the lives that the women lead, their heart-wrenching struggles and their courage, tenacity and determination.

The intent of this compendium is not to generalize the issues, achievements or challenges captured in the stories; instead, it is an attempt to put these into perspective. It does not dwell on the details of processes and struggles related to each case; instead, it provides a broad view of how a community and a project can make a difference.  Download the PDF here .

Understanding the effect of the tsunami and its aftermath on vulnerability to HIV in coastal India

The effects of the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 have been many – loss of lives, livelihoods, displacement, damage to assets to name a few. There are many anecdotal evidences that the Tsunami has heightened the vulnerabilities of the communities to acquiring STI and HIV. However, there has been no field based data to establish the connect and the extent of risk.

OXFAM and its partners, commissioned an extensive field research to understand and assess these vulnerabilities across Tsunami-hit areas of India. Swasti was commissioned to undertake this study, conducted in select locations covering Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman Islands during year 2006.

This study provides an assessment of level of vulnerability of disaster affected populations to HIV and AIDS, reviews the casual chain of factors that lead to these vulnerabilities, and analyses how these vary across different profi les of locations and subpopulations. Download the full report or the summary report in PDF.

Sexual health in humaniatrian emergencies: a guide

In the recent decades, natural and man-made disasters as well as complex humanitarian emergencies created by conflict, war, insurgency and militancy have worsened the risk and vulnerability of the disaster-affected communities in several countries across the world. This worsening of risk and vulnerability has been increasingly felt in economic, social, political and physical spheres.

This publication, in the form of a Guide, titled ‘Sexual Health in
Humanitarian Emergencies’ by Swasti and Oxfam International, published by Catalyst Management Services, addresses the need for guidance to development practitioners, voluntary activists, policy formulators and implementers on facilitating affirmative action to identify, assess and proactively respond to reduce the sexual health-related risk and vulnerability of disaster-affected communities. Download the PDF here .

Annual Report for 2007-2008

2007-2008 was a busy year at Swasti, with the team taking on a variety of different work in India and overseas.

Learn more about our work through our annual report. Download the PDF here .

Empowerment and Beyond

Pragati, an empowerment initiative among women in sex work

Swathi Mahila Sangha, a community based organisation, Swasti, a health resource centre and the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust and technical and funding agency together launched Pragati, an empowerment initiative for women in sex work in 2005.

Empowerment and Beyond explores the ideology behind an empowerment approach, as against an HIV prevention approach. It showcases different initiatives developed within the project to address the different needs of women. It shows how an initiative designed for, with and by the community is a self-propelling effort, leading to greater ownership, commitment and sustainability.

DVD duration 31 mins 26 secs

Nyaya Sanjeevini

a community response to crisis

Swathi Nyaya Sanjeevini (SNS) was established within Pragati, an empowerment initiative among women in sex work, with the vision of ensuring right to a dignified life, to negotiate with the client, to negotiate with the partner for safe sex, and a right to and control over hard earned money.

A crisis response mechanism, SNS addresses a need prioritised by women during design of the project – to help them address the violence and harassment that they regularly face on multiple fronts, from their clients, the police, partners, pimps and madams, rowdies on the streets, their family and neighbours. “Nyaya Sanjeevani” or “justice lifeline” is a film that gives an insight into the tumultuous life of women in sex work and how the crisis response mechanism has helped them address their difficulties and given them the confidence that they too can fight for their rights.

DVD Duration: 16 minutes

A future secured

Swathi Jyothi, a micro-finance initiative of women in sex work

Finance is the life blood of commerce. Financial institutions are being established to cater to different needs of the different sectors. The increasing reach and growth of the micro-finance institutions ensures that poor and vulnerable communities get access to financial services. However the one group - poor, vulnerable, and needy of financial services - that the micro-finance sector has omitted to cover are women in sex work. Recognising the need of women in sex work for financial services, the limitations of the mainstream financial institutions to address that need, and the strong link between financial security and HIV prevention, Pragati, an empowerment initiative of women in sex work, enabled the women set up their own micro-finance institution – Swathi Jyothi.

A Future Secured explores the processes in establishing Swathi Jyothi and the achievements, experiences and challenges through this journey.

DVD Duration: 20 minutes 29 secs