The Paulo Longo Research Initiative Introductory Powerpoint

The Paulo Longo Research Initiative: New directions in research and policy analysis on sex work linking scholars policy analysts and sex workers

Paulo Henrique Longo was a Brazilian psychologist , gay rights activist and sex worker . In 1990 Paulo established Programma Pegacao to provide services to male sex workers in Rio de Janeiro and advocate on issues that affect them. In 1992 he co-founded the International Network of Sex Work Projects which he later led for three years. Paulo was passionate about research and he was well known in international forums for his eloquent critiques of sex work research and policy .

Collaboration of scholars, policy analysts and sex workers.

Core partners:

Institute of Development Studies, Sussex University, UK

Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine of Monash University Medical School, Australia

Centre for Advocacy on Stigma and Marginalisation (CASAM), India

Global Network of Sex Work Projects, UK

WHO ARE WE?

A DYNAMIC CONSTELLATION OF STELLAR PARTNERSHIPS Other civil society networks of advocates and NGO activists Research institutions and research consortia Organisations and networks of sex workers Core partners ‘ Free radical’ associates

WHY DO WE EXIST?

Very little research into sex work

A great deal of the information that we rely on to understand sex work and create policy is misguided, stigmatising, not methodologically sound and unethical

There are significant imbalances and gaps in the knowledge available on sex work

Lack of methodology and agreed standards about the ethics of collecting information and producing knowledge about sex work. Generally accepted definitions of prostitution, sex work and sex workers do not exist

Knowledge is inaccessible and not translated into policy

WHAT WILL WE DO?

Develop and consolidate ethical, interdisciplinary scholarship on sex work

Contribute to the evidence-based transformation of policy

Improve the knowledge available about various aspects of sex work

Promote and encourage programming that makes commercial sex safer and improves the lives of men, women and transgenders involved in commercial sex

Encourage and resource sex workers involvement in the production and consumption of knowledge

PLANS

Initiating ethical, methodologically innovative and theory-driven collaborative research projects at global and country and local level

Reviewing and consolidating research methodologies and ethical frameworks

Innovative communications including audio-visual and web based publishing as well as more traditional publications such as books and journal publications

Supporting training to increase capacity for community involvement in research and policy analysis

Hosting seminars, conferences and web-based discussion spaces for productive dialogue between scholars, sex workers, policy analysts/makers and advocates

THEMES