Movimiento El Pozo is a non governmental organization dedicated to the empowerment of women who are involved in Prostitution and for the defense of their personal rights.
 | Enable women who are engaged in prostitution to experience the support and friendship they need for self affirmation and to strengthen their personal self esteem. |
| Promote awareness within the community regarding the problem of exploitation of women, particularly in Prostitution, and promote changes in values and behavior patterns related to the sexual roles of men and women. |
| Facilitate access to information and educational material related to the issues of prostitution and Trafficking in Women. |
| Participate with other organizations and feminist groups who are identified with women’s issues specifically related to health, HIV/AIDS, violence against women, sex education, trafficking in women and human rights. |
| Participate in the formulation of public policy related to Prostitution and Trafficking in women. |
| Social and psychological orientation for women involved in prostitution and for their families. |
| Scholarships to train in new skills as alternative ways to generate income. |
| Edition and distribution of educational materials on the issues of prostitution and gender roles. |
| Sponsor workshops for teachers and other professionals on the issues of prostitution and gender roles. |
| Facilitate discussions and public debate on themes relating to sexual exploitation, prostitution and trafficking. |
We recognize the importance of an analysis of Prostitution and Trafficking in women within the social, economic, political and cultural context of the globalized society. Both problems are characterized by economic, racial, ethnic and sexist structures of our patriarchal and neoliberal societies. It is important to insist on the relationaship between prostitution, Trafficking and the acute economic crisis that has affected third world countries and especially the lives of women.
Movimiento El Pozo considers that prostitution is fundamentally a relationship of power that subordinates women. We consider that the persistence and the expansion of the commercialized sex industry and Traffic in Women bear a direct relationship with the predominant male sexual culture and the gender roles attributed to men and women. In patriarchal societies, male identity is synonymous with virility and male conquest. Women have been categorized as sex objects or domestic servants. Even with the advances of the women’s liberation movement, the sexual subordination of women has not been erradicated.
Trafficking in women and prostitution should also be seen in the context of traditional gender roles – women as sex objects, men as purchasers of sex. Trafficking in women must be understood as part of the gendered labor market and the world wide feminization of migration. Trafficking in women is made possible by the sexist and racist structures of the patriarchal society and by the exploitive systems of world economy.
We are aware that prostitution and sex work are means of subsistence for millons of women. In the current debate about recognizing prostitution as a viable work option, we ask what validity there is in considering that there are "choices" when the social and economic structures of society offer such limited work opportunities for so many women and men. What possibility does one have to choose an occupation or a profession when most work options are determined by sexual stereotypes and market demands? Rather than focus on whether prostitution is chosen voluntarily or not by women who are involved in it, we need to examine why prostitution, is such an important activitity for men and why their sexuality requires a relationship of domination over women`s bodies.
We are aware that there is a movement in favor of the rights of persons involved in prostitution. We do consider that the organization of women is a valid expression for the defense of human rights and as a means of resisting violence and protecting their health. However, we believe that the "defense of sex workers rights" is merely a short term goal since it does not in itself change or modify the power relationship of domination and subordination between clients and the persons who provide sexual services. The defense of the rigths of women involved in prostitution does not erradicate the fact that men purchase the use of women’s bodies.
If we believe that every women has the rigth to express her sexuality in an atmosphere that fosters mutuality, respect and justice, prostitution and trafficking should not be accepted. We believe that our sexual rigths are an intrinsic part of human rigths and all manifestations of sexual exploitation and domination should be erradicated.
We believe that prostitution is a negation of the sexual rigths of men and women and these rigths are enhanced by relationships based on equity, mutual pleasure, and responsability.
Lima, Perú
2001
Send E-mails with questions or comments about this Web site to: creapozo@terra.com.pe
Last update: 22-feb-2008
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