
Advocacy is guided by the principle that every person should be valued, and ensures that people are not ignored and excluded because of the prejudices they face, that lead to lack of respect from others.Advocacy places the person in the centre of its aims and goals, while holding to the principle that everyone has the right to be respected, listened to and involved in the decision-making process, especially on issues that affect their lives. Because it focuses on helping people be heard and getting what they need, advocacy is closely associated with the principles of social justice, civil and human rights.

In this issue we will talk about what is police brutality and misconduct and how some groups fight it with the help of simple use of mobile camera.

In this newsletter issue we introduce you a very interesting case study, which is not strictly connected to sex work, but very useful in general. Namita from Bangalore has told about her participation experience in the News from Rights Activists of this SWAN News issue. In this Advocacy School section we place a short analysis of why the campaign was a success taken from a posting on Guaravonomics website: Three Lessons Activists and Marketers Can Learn From India’s Valentine’s Day Pink Panty Campaign (February 25th, 2009).
In this Advocacy School section we feature a short analysis of why the Pink Panties campaign in India was such a huge success by Gaurav Mishra (visit his blog here).
Even though the campaign is not directly connected to sex work, the tips and strategy can be useful in planning your own actions and campaigns.
Introduction: The Pink Chaddi Campaign as a case study of online citizen activism in India.
NOTE: the article has been edited and shortened by SWAN. Read full version here.

In the previous issue of the SWAN Advocacy School we talked about things to do in the preparatory phase of media sensitization seminars. In this edition, we are talking about the seminar delivery and follow up.

In this and following issue of the SWAN Advocacy School we will talk about organizing sensitization seminars for the media reporters on sex work issues. More

Excerpts from the Media Survival Guide for Sex Workers by Alexandra Beesley
As a documentary maker and sex worker I have worked with such people as Sky Television, Granada, ABC, BBC, SBS and ITV, and have experienced first hand how easy it is to manipulate, titillate and use footage and sound bites out of context.
The media's power to influence our culture is obvious and mainstream media's tendency to gravitate towards the superficial and sensational means that people who work in the sex industry are generally portrayed under a negative light, enforcing and perpetuating stereotypes.

Many SWAN members participating in the December 2007 Campaign for human rights of sex workers used red umbrella as their symbol. What does red umbrella mean? Here is an article about its symbolism and history, already published in SWAN News last year.


Good media reports about you and your projects are an independent insight into your work. They can improve your organizational reputation and credibility.