Description
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical gaps in global health security frameworks, particularly for marginalized groups like female sex workers in Thailand. This paper examines how the crisis intensified vulnerabilities within Thailand’s informal sex economy, exacerbating income loss, violence, and disruptions to HIV prevention services for women already facing socio-economic hardship and stigma. Grounded in feminist international relations, drawing on Cynthia Enloe’s insights on gendered power dynamics and Clare Wenham’s critique of health security’s gender blindness, it employs qualitative methods, including policy analysis and interviews with Thai sex worker advocates. The study critiques Thai government measures, such as the 2020 Emergency Decree and limited relief programs, for prioritizing formal sectors while ignoring sex workers' demands for decriminalization and targeted health support. Global health policies from WHO and UNAIDS, despite advocating universal access, often failed to address local, cultural and gendered barriers, resulting in disconnected interventions. The paper proposes intersectional, rights-based approaches, centering sex worker-led initiatives to reshape health security frameworks. By foregrounding gender and marginality, it advances inclusive international studies, offering fresh perspectives on equitable global governance to address future global challenges with resilience and inclusivity.
