Reina and Monica of Flor de Piedra © Vanessa Kurz/ Progressio

Monica Calvo is a development worker, working in broadcasting and communication for the women's association Flor de Piedra in the capital of El Salvador, San Salvador.   Monica is Spanish.

When Monica arrived in the country in September 2003 and after an orientation programme which helped her to know the country, she was sent to the Salvadorean NGO Flor de Piedra, the only organization in the country which carries out activities with sex workers to promote and protect their rights.

Set up in 1990, the word Flor (Flower) was chosen to reflect the beauty of the women, and "piedra" (stone) symbolizes their hard life.   Monica immediately took to the atmosphere at work: "in my work place relationships are very good, there is a climate of trust which helps this.   In addition, the team is a small one, so that we are all accessible to one another."

Monica's work is closely linked with HIV and Aids and sexual and reproductive rights.   These are among her responsibilities:

• Relationship with the media
• Coordination with women's organizations
• Making materials
• Attending to students at whatever level
• Creation of a census of sex workers and trades
• Production of photographic and audiovisual material

El Salvador is a country in which violence, especially against women, is very deep-seated.   Monica explained, 'Living in El Salvador is not a missionary's romantic action, it is living from day to day in a dangerous country.   This year, January ended with a toll of 10.2 homicides a day.   Needless to say, gender violence and murders of women form a considerable part of these figures.'

Although prostitution is legal in El Salvador, public perception of sex workers is extremely negative, as they are considered to be carriers of HIV.   Part of Monica's work is to change this perception in the media.   "We are present in the media, with more respect and rigor in dates and statements.   In spite of this, there are still persons who deal with the theme with little or no respect; responding to this, letters are written to the director, or institutional positions are taken up, showing our disagreement."

Her work also lies in publicising the work of Flor de Piedra in the student world, but at times it goes beyond this.   "I give the students information on sex work in El Salvador and the work of Flor de Piedra.   In some cases information is also given at a more personal level, on reproductive or preventive health."

Monica's work is closely linked to giving a voice to and increasing the self-esteem of those women who have taken up sex work.   "The main reason for someone being converted to sex worker is the lack of economic resources, but most of these women have family problems.   Sometimes the women cannot even get the most basic work, and life simply imposes the situation on them."

'As a development worker I have always sought to get respect for the image and the  witness of the women I work with, while giving them the tools to get their opinions or views respected.'

The broadcasting and communications programme Monica Calvo is involved with in El Salvador has been generously financed by the European Union.