Presentation for "Intersections between Feminism & Technology" panel at University of San Francisco\'s 10th Annual Global Women\'s Rights Forum. Case Study: Sex Worker Rights Activism in Kenya.

2. FemTech2.0“Intersections between Feminist Activism & Technology” 10th Global Women’s Rights Forum USF March 9th, 2011 Panel Presentation By Zawadi Nyong’o @zawadin

3. Outline Background & Milestones – SW rights organizing in EA SW rights organizing in Kenya SW rights & tech – opportunities & challenges Case Study – Dec17Kenya & Technology Recent events

4. SW Rights Organizing in East Africa Milestones: 2000-2005 – Informal groups start organizing (TZ later) 2008 – 1st African SW rights Conference (SA) 2009 - ASWA created June ‘09 – AMwA AWLI Nov ‘09 – Feb ‘10 – EA SW Mapping Initiative Feb & March ‘10 – Launch of “When I Dare to be Powerful” in Addis & Nairobi (IWD) March ‘10 – OSF Grantees Workshop, Nairobi Nov ‘10 – C.E.O. Baraza, Nairobi Dec 17, 2010 – Int’l Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, Nairobi

6. Vision for East African Sex Worker Rights Movement OSF Grantee Workshop – March 2010: Repeal discriminatory laws against MARPs Build stronger SW & LGBTI rights orgs Promote IGA initiatives Reduce STIs, HIV and AIDS Demand SW rights Form umbrella orgs w. country reps Celebrate SW rights day in EA Decriminalize SW in EA

7. Vision for East African Sex Worker Rights Movement … cont. C.E.O (Create, Engage & Own) Baraza – Nov 2010: Regional support for sex workers led orgs Coalition building through information sharing Development of sisterhood networks Mentorship and outreach programs to smaller organization Exchange programs across East Africa Establish regional protocols for sex workers; Harmonize regional national and regional strategic plans on HIV/AIDS with sex workers as MARPS Discuss legalization vs decriminalization of sex work Document human rights violations in East Africa through mechanisms such as the use of cellphone and internet technology Find ways to actively and productively involve media

8. Sex Worker Rights Organizing in Kenya Most organizing health, rather than rights based Most orgs 2-5 years old, except BHESP (10years) Stigma, Violence, Discrimination and Criminalization – greatest barriers to organizing Double/tripple stigma experienced by MSWs and HIV +ve SWs More partnership needed between SW groups SW groups using multiple & innovative strategies, including using ICT’s. Few mainstream women’s & feminist organizations supporting/engaging SW groups, except CREAW, UAF-Africa, UHAI:EASHRI Many great success stories & best practices that should be scaled up More technical & financial resources needed to support SW led groups (direct & core funding) Challenges many, but there is hope & a vibrant emerging SW rights movement

10. Thika Murder Case Sex workers in Thika, Kenya moments they appeared in court to face charges of "submitting false information". BHESP partnered with CREA to ensure the women had proper legal representation.

11. Sex Worker Rights & Technology Opportunities: SMS – risk management Frontline SMS & Crowdsourcing – (BHESP, Infonet, Fahamu) – Rapid response & info-sharing Xtranormal.com – type to make videos AFRIWiT listserv Challenges: Access (grassroots/global, urban/rural) Class Language Security – hate speech, VAW, infiltrating movements, threatening activism – e.g. Stop Raila-homophobia

13. Zawadi, “Poop poppers and clit lickers as homos are known to us will also get a demo against them on the same day at the same venue. You cant allow a tabia which breeds out of addiction and adds no value to anybody just to look cool. You demo, we demo to support the Raila's call for the rehab of homos.” – Robert Alai “Yes it is wrong to discriminate against Minorities… but tell me: Do you have a woman to your name whom you have slept with and licked her clitoris? How do you feel "sleeping" with a woman f****king her using a vibrator or what? If you have a daughter or a son today, how would it be like when you hear she or he is "sleeping" with another woman or man? Yourself, are you a product of same sex marriage? of course not! Please desist from misleading innocent souls and if you are practicing it, please keep it in your closet. "Prostitutes will remain thus, however much we elevate them to Commercial Sex Workers". Quote me nowhere!!! “ – JectoneNdunya “Zawadi are u a product of a gay relationship? Go back to the closet and stop channeling and defiling innocent souls to send them to hell. Homosexuality should be criminalized in Kenya. Raila keep it up. This zawadi means gift but she has become 'wang o tek’…” – LinetteOchieng’

14. Dec17Kenya Organizing:FemTech Success

15. Dec17Kenya … cont… How did we do it? Core Organizing committee Grassroots mobilizing Crowdsourcing Engaging new actors Media strategy Safety & Security Social media (facebook, twitter, blogs, twitgoo) Cross-movement organizing Cross-class organizing challenges (Lessons from WNY campaign) Creativity, Guts, & a sense of humor

16. Dec17Kenya Web Presence: Websites: www.swopusa.org/dec17/ www.gaykenya.com www.pambazuka.org www.soros.org www.westfm.co.ke www.sexworkeurope.org www.allvoices.com www.reuters.com www.outfm.org www.northern-indymedia.org Blogs: Joliea.wordpress.com Jmaruru.wordpress.com Harvesttone.com Pricessprojectkenya.com Blog.iwhc.org Rafiki-kenya.blogspot.com

17. March 3rd, Mombasa“Access to Healthcare” Over 300 sex workers marched from Coast General Hospital to Totonoka Hall, to mark Int’l Sex Worker Rights Day.

18. March 3rd, Mombasa Fashion show – male, female & trans sex workers at Int’l Sex Worker Rights Day, Mombasa Simultaneous marches in 6 other African countries: Botswana, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe

19. March 3rd, Cape Town

20. East African Sex Worker Pledge

21. Asante Sana! Zawadi Nyong’o @zawadin www.dec17kenya.org @dec17kenya www.resurj.org @RESURJ End!