What does choice mean when survival is at stake? How do agency, coercion and exploitation intersect in the lives of people experiencing forced displacement?
Join the Liminality Research Consortium for an afternoon of film, research and dialogue exploring transactional sex in forced displacement. Drawing on the lived experiences of people across the gender and sexuality spectrum in Lebanon, Jordan, Türkiye, Greece and Switzerland, the Consortium’s research moves beyond simple narratives of victimhood or choice. It examines transactional sex as a survival strategy, the structural conditions that constrain people’s options, and the implications for mental, sexual and reproductive health.
Through short films, an infographic series, podcasts, and a related photo exhibition, the event will bring the research findings into an open conversation about survival, dignity and power. A panel discussion and audience Q&A will bring diverse perspectives into dialogue, inviting people with experience of displacement, community organisations, practitioners, policymakers and the wider public to consider: how can we prevent exploitation and mitigate harm while respecting people’s agency and autonomy?
This event is jointly organized by Gender Centre and the Liminality Research Consortium, and supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Agora.
The Liminality Research Consortium is funded by the International Development Research Centre’s (IDRC), the Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS), and the Stiftung Lindenhof Bern.
