Forum XXX 2005

In honour of Stella’s 10th anniversary, Stella, l’amie de Maimie, an organization by and for sex workers, is proud to invite you to our Forum XXX : Celebrating a Decade of Action, Designing our Future. Associated with the DMSC and Cabiria, two organizations who are also celebrating a decade of action and activism, we are seeking to get together, exchange our experiences and celebrate 10 years of action and solidarity in the struggle for sex workers’ rights.

The Forum XXX will take place at the Université du Québec à Montréal (Québec, Canada) from May 18-22nd, 2005. The Forum has been made possible by a grant from the Public Health Agency of Canada. It will allow for the transfer of expertise and knowledge (national and international) between groups of sex workers and their allies, and develop our capacities around the HIV epidemic in Canada and around the world. We have space for 250 men, women, travestite, transexual, and transgendered sex workers, sex workers working for organizations that provide services to sex workers, and allies to discuss strategies and priorities within the sex worker rights movement.

Our objectives are:
· Take stock of the sex worker rights movement;
· Develop common visions and;
· Strategize around actions for the future.

To represent the different issues for sex workers the program will be developed around the following themes:
· Me and My Work
· Sex Work and Society
· Sex Work and the Law

The program is composed of many activities including discussion groups, a public conference, workshops, a party, etc. Consult the program and the schedule. 

This forum addresses people who work or have worked in the sex industry, who adhere to the following criteria :
· Understand of the diverse reality of sex work;
· Recognize sex work as a form of work;
· Is involved or would like to be involved in the struggle for and recognition of sex workers’ rights and;
· Is involved or would like to be involved in the fight for the decriminalization of sex work.

Naturally, this criteria also applies for associations and organizations founded by people who, in the past, worked in the sex industry and currently offer services to sex workers, as well as allies. As places are limited, and sex workers are given priority (80% of participants will be sex workers), we recommend that our allies register quickly, 40 places will be available for you. It is also important to ensure that you respond to our selection criteria!

There is no cost to participate in the Forum. Participants will be provided with breakfast and lunch at the Forum. Lodging is also available; 60 double rooms at a hotel have been reserved and there are many sex workers and activists who have offered up space for the rest of the participants who cannot be lodged in a hotel. It is also possible for us to help you with certain costs related to the event if you indicate your financial needs on the registration form.

Special Collaborators
Cabiria: Gaelle Téqui, Françoise Guillemot and Corinne Monnet
DMSC: Swapna Gayen and Rama Debnath
Université de Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Service aux Collectivités : Irène Demczuk

Organizing Committee
Valérie Boucher, Stella, Forum XXX Project Coordinator
Emilie Cantin, Feminist Studies Research assistant, UQAM
Jenn Clamen, Stella, Forum XXX Project Coordinator
Marie-Claude Charlebois, Individual Member
Anna-Louise Crago, Forum XXX Public Relations
Célina Crochetière, Cru, Individual Member
Rama Debnath, Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Commitee, Special Contributor to the Forum XXX
Irène Demczuk, Collectivity Services, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Swapna Gayen, Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Commitee, Special Contributor to the Forum XXX
Sylvie Gendron, School of Nursing, Université de Montréal, Institutional Member
Kara Gillies, Migrant Sex Workers Advocacy Group, Canadian Guild for Erotic Labour
Françoise Guillemot, Cabiria, Special Contributor to the Forum XXX
Robert Johanson, Maggie’s Prostitutes Project
Maria Nengeh Mensah, School of Social Work and IREF, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Project Correspondent
Corinne Monnet, Cabiria, Special Contributor to the Forum XXX
Louise Toupin, Stella, Member of the Board of Directors
Gaëlle Téqui, Cabiria, Special Contributor to the Forum XXX
Claire Thiboutot, Stella, General Director

Cultural Committee
Lainie Basman, Valérie Boucher, Jenn Clamen, Marie-Claude Charlebois, Stéphane Crête, Célina Crochetière and Isabelle Lussier.