MAIZ is an organization of and for female migrants. According to the principle of the self organization MAIZ works since 1994 amongst other things also with female migrants in sex industry, persons concerned with woman trafficing and juvenile migrants.

MAIZ was developed out of the necessity for changes regarding the life and work situation of woman migrants in Austria and in order to empower political and cultural participation. „Concern and protagonism are our most important work principles“. Maiz investigates and changes theory and practice and develops thereby various new forms and methods.

Project: WOMAN MIGRANTS IN SEXWORK

Woman in the sex industry are an important group of the migrants living in upper-Austria. 85 % of the sexworkers active in upper Austria are female migrants. Their conditions of work and life, as well as the jointly responsible legal situation of migrants in sex industry are inacceptable. MAIZ for woman migrants wants to improve the conditions of work and life in sex industry and take their concerns and needs seriously. Services, projects and meetings are compiled and developed further together with migrants in sexwork.

What we want along with and for woman migrants in sexwork:

-to reach equal chances - through antiracist and antisexist work
-removing the taboo from sexwork through public campaign
-work against stigmatisation and discrimination
- empowerment of migrants in sexwork
- improvement of life and of the conditions of work of (migrated) sexworkers
- development of a social network amongst female sexworkers

How we work on it:

consciousness and educational work along with and for woman migrants in sexwork

- in direct contact to and in cooperation with female sexworkers (streetwork, workshops, single consultation and disussions)
- by training as well as offering support from multiplicators
- by the magazine „Cupiditas“. In Austria the only info booklet for Migrants in the Sex industry
- through creation of a network of prostitutes, woman and health organizations

MAIZ is working on consciousness and education for the Austrian majority public with interventions and provocations, mediawork and cultural projects in public.