The title of this recording is "Annah Pickering". It was recorded in Wellington Town Hall, 101 Wakefield Street, Wellington on the 17th March 2011. Annah Pickering is being interviewed by Gareth Watkins.  Their names are spelt correctly but may appear incorrectly spelt later in the document. The duration of the recording is 9 minutes. A list of correctly spelt content keywords and tags can be found at the end of this document. A brief description of the recording is: In this podcast Annah Pickering from New Zealand talks about attending the human rights conference. The content in the recording covers the 2010s decade. A brief summary of the recording is: This summary describes an interview recorded on March 17, 2011, with Annah Pickering from the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective Auckland Branch. The interview, conducted by Gareth Watkins, took place in Wellington Town Hall, New Zealand, and lasted for approximately nine minutes. The focus of the discussion is on a human rights conference attended by Pickering, where the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective presented a workshop concerning the decriminalisation and law reform around sex workers' rights, health, and safety. During the workshop, representatives from New Zealand, Malaysia, and Fiji discussed the status of sex workers in their respective countries, highlighting the variations in laws and human rights issues each country faces. For instance, while New Zealand is commended for having one of the best models globally for decriminalizing sex work, Fiji and Malaysia still criminalize it, leading to problems such as violence, police entrapment, and violations of sex workers' rights. The panel's experiences stimulated conversations about potential reform in other countries by looking at successful global models like New Zealand's. New Zealand's sex work decriminalisation has led to significant positive changes within the industry. Sex workers are not regarded as criminals, they do not face the issue of police register books, and they can report incidences of violence. Moreover, the use of condoms and lubrication, which were historically leveraged as evidence against sex workers, is no longer an issue, ensuring their health and safety practices are protected under the law. However, Pickering emphasizes concerns about attempts to recriminalize, especially affecting street-based and transgender sex workers who are most vulnerable. The discussion also covered broader issues regarding human rights advocacy, education, and policy work. The speakers at the conference, including Grace from Malaysia, Marilyn Waring, and Carl Polo in, are noted for their memorable presentations and inspiration they provided. Pickering also brings attention to the need for broader representation and discussion in the conference, particularly regarding Pacific Island women and lesbian issues, as well as the oppression faced by sex workers from these regions. The importance of building networks, staying informed on global developments, and actively engaging with political and social groups is highlighted. The significance of these human rights conferences is framed within the context of New Zealand’s progressive stands on sex work and homosexuality, contrasting with the struggles of developing countries. The takeaway is not to take these rights for granted, but rather to actively support and expand them. In reflection, Pickering voices concern over the current leadership potentially not prioritizing human rights, which could lead to a regression of progress. For future listeners, 30 years from now, Pickering hopes that the progress made will still be appreciated and that people will be aware of the history and the continuous need to be informed and involved in advocating for and supporting human rights globally. The full transcription of the recording follows.  It includes timestamps every thirty seconds in the format [HH:MM:SS].  The transcription begins:  Hi. My name is Anna Pickering, and I'm from the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective Auckland Branch. Um, and we came. I sorry. I came to the conference because our group had, um, presented a workshop here, Um, talking about decriminalisation and law reform around sex workers rights, and, um, health and safety. How did that workshop go? We were fantastic. Um, we had a panel of six worker representatives from a New Zealand, [00:00:30] um, Malaysia, Fiji and who spoke about what the laws were like in all three countries. And, um, the human rights issues that are happening for them there. And, um also, um, the issues that the sex workers are facing in those countries, um, around, um, which was brought around LGBTI and, um, heterosexual people. Yeah. What were the similarities and differences between the countries? Well, in New Zealand, sex [00:01:00] work is decriminalised and is probably one of the best models globally. But what we found, like in Fiji, that, um, their laws were not, um it was illegal as well as, um, in Malaysia. And, um, there was discussions around violence, um, police, entrapment. And, um, you know, particularly sex workers who were being violated of their rights is decriminalisation in those other countries going to happen any time soon? Well, it opened up the [00:01:30] floor for discussions around looking at models, um, happening in, you know, globally as well as in what's happening here in New Zealand and for those groups to go back, um, to their countries and and start the process around, you know, homosexual law reform and, um, sex worker law reform. Um, it's been a positive thing for the sex industry in New Zealand. Um, sex workers are no longer redeemed as, um criminals. There's no police register book. Um, sex workers can report incidents of violence. The only, [00:02:00] um, the other thing is that, um, condoms and lob lubrication were were historically used as evidence against sex workers. So, um, as far as the health and safety practises are concerned, it's, you know, they're protected under the law, just like any other occupation. The there are still people out there groups out there who want to recriminate, particularly street based sex workers who are very vulnerable, um, and predominantly transgender, um, sex workers. So that's one of our concerns, um, [00:02:30] as well, bringing that forth coming to the conference, too. as well. Has there been anything at the conference that's really challenged you and challenged your ideas? Oh, I mean, there's been some amazing speaking I mean, amazing people here who presented at the conference, Um, and the plenary, um, Programmes. But I think what's come out of this conference is the issues on human rights advocacy and, um, just, you know, groups [00:03:00] to be inspired and keep doing the work that they're doing working in policy education. Um, and yeah, those sort of issues. Yeah. Which of the speakers have already stood out for you? The, um, speaker from Malaysia. Um, Grace. Sorry, Grace. Poor, um, the other the first person, um, who spoke on the opening of the session would have been, um, Marilyn Waring. [00:03:30] Yeah, she did a fantastic, um, and Carl Polo in. He was fantastic as well. Um, and Felicia, who spoke this morning as well. Yeah, she's Yeah, they've all great speakers, and I think they've at least something memorable I could think of. Um, hopefully I mean, I really like to hear what Boris, um, Dietrich from the Netherlands would have to say. Speak about this afternoon. So I mentioned, um, that would be, um, he'd be a great speaker as well. Felicia was very strong this morning. Yeah, definitely. And, um, [00:04:00] and it was good to bring up the, you know, around the Pacific. Um, people being represented at, you know, the out games and the Not only that, but just at the, um, the conference itself. But one of the things I think I'd like to see is more of a, um, you know, more discussions around, you know, a lot. You know, lesbian Pacific Island women at the conference. There wasn't a lot of input in that. And there was a lot of input on brown that if you're gay, you're either. [00:04:30] And I just feel that there's a lot of oppression when it comes to, um, Pacific Island issues around lesbian, same sex, um, also, uh, oppression around sex workers. Who, um, who are Pacific island as well. So I think that there there should have been something more spoken about that. Um, I brought it up in one of the workshops, um, and to the American Samoa contingent group. And they mentioned that as far as their knowledge was concerned, there isn't any sex workers that they know of happening in their island, but interesting enough [00:05:00] when you look at countries like in Papua New Guinea and Pacific uh, Fiji, Um, there are representatives from Fiji here today. We were talking about those issues and the, um, groups that are coming out from these islands representing sex workers in G BT. I issues that, um there could be more focus put on to that as well, because when people talk about the pacific, it's not Polynesia. You know, there's Melania as well. Um, so I feel that, um, the, you know, that could be more broader. Um, yeah, that's [00:05:30] my perspective. And when you say oppressions, where is that coming from? It's just from the discussions that I've had with some of the, um the queer PIS who really haven't had much of a voice here. Um, at the conference, who sort of said that the, um that they don't identify as, um and for them, you know, they're either a gay man or a lesbian. So I hate those labels, but do you know what I mean? Um, the [00:06:00] the Yeah. You can't put them under the one umbrella and like like I said, when you're talking about Pacific. It's border. I mean, something that Felicia brought up that there were, you know, 22 countries that make up the region. So there's only like most of the input that have been put through the conference to at this conference was mainly representatives from Samoa and Tonga. Um, and there were two presenters from Fiji, but they didn't even cover the issues around, um, sex worker issues, which I know that they work with in Fiji. And yeah, so [00:06:30] yeah. So how how do we broaden it out? There are a lot of groups that, um, are running in the Pacific that aren't here. And, um, just the awareness and building up the networks is really important. Like the two Pacific guys, um, over there from Fiji. Like they see that, you know, they're working on human rights issues in Fiji, and that's something that's lacking there at the moment. And for them, it's about building the networks here. Um, learn what they you know, the networks here and the people that have met with at this conference and [00:07:00] go back to Fiji and be inspired and and go from there. So what would be the things that you would take away from a conference like this or what are the things you're going to take away from this conference? I mean, you know, we live in a safe world in New Zealand, and, you know, we've got Like I said, you know, there was homosexual law reform, the Prostitution Reform Act. And when you look at people, you know, when people who are coming from developing countries and Third World countries are here talking about the issues that they're facing, it sort of puts a perspective in, [00:07:30] Um, just how lucky we are. And we shouldn't take things for granted. Um, And then, you know, I get out there and, you know, join the networks and the, um you know, the Facebook political groups. And, um and, you know, just keep informed about what's happening globally, um, in other countries, and and also what happens here locally, um, keep up to date with or keep your local politicians up to date with what things are happening. And, um, the groups that are here in New Zealand pass that information around. Yeah. [00:08:00] I mean, that's probably what I Yeah, what I could say in a nutshell. Yeah, I'm just wondering, What do you think are the biggest issues facing a in New Zealand at the moment, in terms of human rights? Well, I mean, after coming back from the plenary, um, seminar this morning, The discussions here that came out was, um you know, I don't I mean, I'd like to talk about politics and that, but people were saying that, um, under this current leadership that, you know, human rights [00:08:30] is not a number one on the agenda. So when you think about issues or social issues that have been fought, um, and are really moving, you know, and globally through the board that they could be something pushed back. That's really it's a worry. Yeah. Um, but yeah, those are my That's my personal comments. Yeah. If somebody is listening to this in 30 years time, what would you say to them? Hopefully we're still around. No, [00:09:00] um I mean, you know, I mean, people are lucky, Like the generation. I mean, who've never known what it's like to, um, you know, fight for, you know, gay, lesbian trans rights wouldn't have the coup what it's like. Um, so I think that they should feel lucky and honoured and, you know, learn the history. Um, and, um, be proud of it. And, you know, don't take things for granted. Yeah, and probably get out there and travel and see what the issues are happening and, you know, globally, like in other, you know, developing [00:09:30] countries. And you just get out there out of your square, Yeah. The full transcription of the recording ends. A list of keywords/tags describing the recording follow. These tags contain the correct spellings of names and places which may have been incorrectly spelt earlier in the document. The tags are seperated by a semi-colon: 2010s ; Annah Pickering ; Asia Pacific Outgames ; Asia Pacific Outgames (2011) ; Auckland ; Fiji ; Homosexual Law Reform ; LGBT ; Malaysia ; NZPC: Aotearoa New Zealand Sex Workers' Collective ; Pacific ; Papua New Guinea ; People ; Polynesia ; Wellington ; Wellington Town Hall ; agenda ; board ; building ; collective ; coming out ; condoms ; conference ; education ; face ; gay ; hate ; health ; history ; hit ; homosexual ; human rights ; knowledge ; labels ; law ; leadership ; lesbian ; listening ; march ; media ; occupation ; oppression ; other ; police ; policy ; politics ; running ; safety ; sex ; sex work ; social ; time ; trans ; transgender ; travel ; violence ; voice ; work ; workshop. The original recording can be heard at this website https://www.pridenz.com/apog_annah_pickering.html. The master recording is also archived at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington, New Zealand.  For more details visit their website https://tiaki.natlib.govt.nz/#details=ecatalogue.1089435. Please note that this document may contain errors or omissions - you should always refer back to the original recording to confirm content.