When scholars and activists fight for the rights of sex workers, people occassionally take notice. But when a humanitarian giant gets on board the sex worker rights movement, its time for the world to stop and listen. Amnesty International, one of the most prestigious human rights organizations in the world recently made headlines when a document entitled “Decriminalisation of Sex Work: Policy Background Document” was leaked. The document outlines the organization’s emerging stance on defending the rights of sex workers through [...]

25-year-old Nan Pyung works for the Kachin Women’s Association of Thailand’s anti-trafficking program in Laiza, Kachin State. She is also a former trafficking victim. I had the privilege of meeting with her today in Ruili, China, where she told me her story over a delicious Burmese lunch. Nan Pyung migrated to China when she was 13 years old. She came here to work and support her family, as they had little income in Burma’s Kachin State. Upon arriving in China, [...]

I enjoyed speaking at Chiangmai University's Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD) last week, where I presented key findings from my recent research on the trafficking of Kachin women into China as “forced brides.” In the talk, I discussed conditions in Kachin State, an ethnic region in northern Burma that has long suffered from an armed conflict with the central Burmese government. Engaging interviews with over 25 trafficking survivors, female soldiers, CBO women’s organizations, lawmakers, cultural leaders, IDP [...]

February 20 marked the celebration of the Jingpo World Manau Festival in Ruili, China. The Chinese government hosted this special cultural event, which brought together members of the Kachin ethnic minority group residing in northern Burma, Yunnan, China and Arunchal Pradesh, India. The festival, which traditionally takes place every year in Laiza, Kachin State and in Ruili, is also the home of the famous Manau dance. Led by traditional elders, Manau dancers move in a circular processional around tall poles, in a [...]

This August, Amanda Kruger will re-create the role of EMMA in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival production of LAND OF SMILES. Amanda is thrilled to be reprising the role of Emma! Since returning from the Chiang Mai production of Land of Smiles she has appeared in Santa Barbara Playfest in a new musical City of Light as well as in the ASCAP/Dreamworks workshop hosted by Stephen Schwartz in The Angel of Painted Post.  In the past she has received critical acclaim [...]