Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012

Making Multi-Collaborative Partnerships Work and Worth it: Experience in Working

with Philippine National Police and Quezon City Police Department to

Address the Use of Condoms as Evidence of Prostitution among Sex Workers

Jeffry P. Acaba

Action for Health Initiatives (ACHIEVE), Inc.

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012

Outline of Presentation

I. Background

II. Towards the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

III. What have we learned?

IV. What’s next?

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012

Background

2010: policy research to review and assess Anti-Vagrancy Act (Art. 202 or Revised Penal Code) and Anti-Trafficking Law (RA 9208) and impact on HIV efforts in Quezon City - with support from Levi Strauss Foundation

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012

Quezon City Est. Population: 2.8M

(2010), constituting 23% of the total population of Metro Manila

Most populated city in the country

Among the highest HIV incidence in National Capital Region

Active Local AIDS Council Has a City Ordinance on

HIV/AIDS (1053) with specific provisions on entertainment establishments

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012

Barriers in HIV programs in Quezon City

Availability of condoms in entertainment establishments is considered by law enforcers as evidence of prostitution, citing RA 9208

RA 9208 is used by law enforcers against entertainment establishments, particularly when the “women” they arrest “claim” they were trafficked

HIV peer educators and outreach workers among freelance sex workers and MSM are vulnerable to arrests, harassment and extortion under Article 202

Broad language of the law could lead to abuse in its enforcement

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012

Forging Partnership for the Prevention of STIs and HIV and

AIDS in Quezon City

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012

Towards the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

Transgender women can file complaints through women’s desk

The meeting urged a drafting of the Memorandum of Agreement as suggested by the Philippine National Police’s Women’s and Children’s Department

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012

Towards the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

MOA meetings: from five institutions to nine in the second meeting, including the Legal Office and Women’s and Children’s Protection Center of the Philippine National Police

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012

Towards the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012

What have we learned?

More police people to talk to, the more they become aware repetition is the mother of learning and of changing mindsets

Bureaucracy target position, not person Civil society not only as catalysts but as conveyors,

assistants, and bridges

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012

What’s next?

ACHIEVE engaged with newly-appointed Quezon City Police Director

QC Police District Women’s Desk Chief sits at the Quezon City AIDS Council

Quezon City Legislative Department Health Council head committed to supporting HIV and human rights orientation seminars among frontline police officers in local police stations

ACHIEVE meets with Human Rights Affairs Office of Philippine National Police

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012

MARAMING SALAMAT!(THANK YOU VERY MUCH!)