Pathfinder International

The Pathfinder Advocacy programs are there to protect sex workers from around the world. There are different aspects of the groups goals in whatever region they are in. Their main concern is to educate the workers in HIV/AIDS programs and trying to reduce the numbers of cases. The United States has a program called “anti-prostitution loyalty oath.” Any country receiving any assistance to stop HIV/AIDs needs to go by the U.S.'s program or lose funding to help their country. The country has to pledge they oppose prostiution ans sex trafficking. Any activist who support or promost the legalalization of prostitution have to be arrested. Some countries try to help out their sex workers and give them a better life. For example in Brazil prostitution isn't illegal, but didn't want to follow the anti-porostitution loyalty oath. They turned down $40 million in US Funds because they believed empowering sex workers to advocate for their rights and protect their health. US policy would have required the Brazilian government to alter an approach that has resulted in projected HIV infection rates dropping by half from 1992 to 2002. Organizations that sign the oath are forced to refrain from some of the most effective HIV prevention strategies with sex workers, for fear that the government will view the outreach as “pro-prostitution.” Many experts are concerned that criminalization pushes prostitution further underground, allowing for increased abuse and less opportunity for sex workers to seek legal recourse when their rights are violated.

http://www.pathfind.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Advocacy_Resources_Fact_Sheets_Loyalty_Oath