An important part of Project Respect’s work involves working with the community to raise awareness and understanding about the issues facing women in the sex industry. Project Respect offers specialised training to community organisations, such as health centres, legal centres and women’s services as well as government agencies including the police and immigration. The training is aimed at educating community groups in the following areas:

• Trafficking of Women and Girls for prostitution – issues and responses
• Working with women in the sex industry

These training workshops are one day in duration and offered in conjunction with Dr Sallie Yea of Ideals Consulting. Sallie is a lecturer and researcher in International Development with over 10 years experience. She has also carried out ethnographic and in-depth research with trafficking victims in South Korea, Philippines and Australia. Project Respect staff are also actively involved in speaking at community groups as well as Schools and Universities across Victoria to raise awareness of this issue. For more information on the above workshops or if you would like Project Respect staff to speak at your event please contact info@projectrespect.org.au

Advocacy

Complementing our direct outreach services we also take a key role in lobbying the Australian government, advocating for clients to community groups, as well as public education. We are committed to global solutions to the problem of violence against women in the sex industry, and work closely with regional and international organisations addressing sexual exploitation. We applaud the Federal and Victorian Government’s continued commitment to combating trafficking but there is still more to be done to improve the lives of trafficked women and other women in the sex industry. Our advocacy work includes lobbying for:

• Exit programs for women in the sex industry
• Adoption of the Swedish legal model of prostitution laws
• Visas and comprehensive support for all victims of trafficking
• Better access to compensation for victims of trafficking
• Adoption of court procedures which make testifying easier for victims of trafficking, such as those available to victims of sexual assault
• Local government laws requiring brothels to display signs stating that sex slavery is a crime in Australia and letting people know where to get help
• Better services for women in the sex industry

You can support Project Respect’s work by writing to your local MP - to find out more, click here.

PROJECT RESPECT SUBMISSIONS AND REPRESENATIONS

Project Respect makes submissions to government inquiries and on an ad hoc basis to improve responses to trafficking and prostitution, see submissions below.

Draft Exposure Bill, Criminal Code Amendment (Trafficking in Persons), 2004

In October, the Federal Attorney-General's department asked for comments on a draft amendment to the criminal code regarding trafficking in women for sexual servitude. The amendment is laudable as it is a step towards Australia ratifying the United Nations Protocol on Trafficking. Project Respect's submission is available to download. Project Respect's submission

Parliamentary Joint Committee to examine Australian Crime Commission's response to trafficking in women for sexual servitude. September 2003.

The inquiry was held in response to large media coverage of trafficking in women for prostitution, in particular allegations that government agencies were mishandling the cases of trafficked women. A significant issues examined was the deportation of women who were found to be victims of trafficking, in response to their breaches of migration law. The Committee's finding made a number of important recommendations, including that victim impact statements be used in trials for traffickers, that Australia ratify the UN Protocol on Trafficking, and that the visa system for trafficked women be revisited. Project Respect's submission