Shedding “Red-Light” On The Lives Of Sex Workers – A Guest Article by Ethel Oh and Nathanael Khoo
“All I wanted to be was a normal girl, with a normal job, and graduate from school, just like a normal Singaporean dream,” shares Ashley, a sex worker in Singapore. How would you react if one of your friends were to tell you that he or she is doing sex work? How much do you […]
Sherry Travels to Nepal for Advocacy. Journey of CEDAW Advocacy for Sex Workers’ Rights.
It’s me, Sherry Sherqueshaa, a researcher and writer for Project X Singapore. I am also the Global Network of Sex Worker Projects (NSWP) Regional Representative for the Asia Pacific. Currently, I am advocating for access to justice and the positive media portrayal of sex workers. It is no surprise that many sex workers from neighbouring […]
In Defense of Orchard Towers
Ever since the gruesome and cruel murder of Mr Satheesh Noel Gobidass at Orchard Towers on 2nd July 2019, a barrage of articles attempting to shed light on the reality of the building has flooded media channels. It is understandable that many people are curious as to how such a sensational murder could have taken […]
Wany’s one-week affair in Kathmandu, Nepal!
I recently got selected to attend an informal “seminar-cation,” which was made possible by Tajassodat, a collaborative initiative launched by Qorras and the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR). The meeting was about advancing Trans Rights And Justice In Muslim Societies. I was super elated when I first learned about it […]
A Human Library of Sex Workers
A “human library” is much like a normal library, except instead of books, you borrow people. In a human library, you come to know the story of another human being through open and frank conversation. On Saturday, 15 June, about 80 people crowded into the cosy, wood-panelled second floor of The Moon – a beautiful […]
Statement of Clarification and Apology
We refer to the article “More sex workers abused by customers but fear reporting crimes” (The New Paper, 10th June 2019). We deeply regret providing a quote about an incident that allegedly happened two years ago. Those allegations were brought to the Internal Affairs Office of the Singapore Police Force, and we understand that a […]
Volunteer Spotlight: Mandarin Linguist – Yingshu
I am Yingshu, a Mandarin teacher at a university in Singapore. I have been volunteering for Project X for over six months. Last year, I decided that since my work and life are relatively stable, it is finally time to step up and help others. I initially considered working with children, but then, came across […]
$15,000 Agent Fees to Work Illegally as a Sex Worker in Singapore
Vietnamese women, Linda and Tania used to do sex work in the same area together in Singapore. One day, Linda told Tania that there’s an opportunity to work for longer periods of time in Singapore as a sex worker, as opposed to just working for one month at a time on the social visit pass. […]
Engagement with the United Nations’ (UN) Human Rights Mechanism
From the 13th to 14th of November 2018, training regarding the Engagement with the United Nations’ (UN) Human Rights Mechanism was organised and held in Bangkok, Thailand. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the training organised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for South-East Asia, […]
Elise’s Story: Cheated, Cuffed, Detained
At Project X, we rarely see happy endings. Many cases brought to our attention feature injustice and abuse against the sex workers who approach us, with little institutional recourse available. However, we happily closed 2018 with a successful case! Elise is transgender woman who was engaged in private escort work to provide for her family […]