In October 2006, C.A. Odyseus, SWAN member from Slovakia, organized its second educational workshop on sex work issues for the police representatives. The topic was Human Rights for Sex Workers. Although representatives of ten different magisterial precincts for state and metropolitan police in the city of Bratislava were invited, there were only two participants from the departments of prevention.
Says Mgr. Ľubica Tornóczyová: “Our first seminar organized in 2005, entitled Introduction to the Sex-Business and Sexuality of Roma People, had much more participants. In order to bust attendance in the following years, we might have to make arrangements with the Ministry of Interior and get their endorsement. We might make the seminar titles different so that they better fit the police agenda - understanding sex work, prevention of crime, avoiding illegal action against sex workers or similar, while human rights can be included in that broader frame. We might decide to exchange speakers with other SWAN members – people like seminars in which foreign experts are participating.”
All the participants received a personal copy of the Declaration of the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe. Seminars proved to be effective not only in developing understanding of sex work issues, but also in developing better cooperation and personal contacts within the police departments.

Contact Person: Mgr. Ľubica Tornóczyová, Odyseus, Bratislava
Email: lubica.tornoczyova@centrum.cz  
About Odyseus
Website: www.ozodyseus.sk