Today is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers 2021.
Gender-based violence has been recognized as a human rights issue. Yet, sex workers in Europe and Central Asia face high levels of violence, as the policies and interventions that aim to prevent gender-based violence do not include vulnerable communities such as sex workers.
On this international day, ESWA joins sex workers from all over the world to call for decriminalisation of sex work.
As long as our work is criminalised, sex workers, in particular those marginalised, will remain at higher risk of violence and human rights violation.
Click on the image below to access ESWA's Statement for the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers 2021
Do you want to help make sex workers voices heard?
Here are a few things you can do as an individual:
1. Share the Statement with the people in your social circle, and continue sharing the work of sex worker-led organisations
2. Send an email to the MEP of your country to remind that research used to develop policies concerning sex work need to be evidence-based and inclusive of sex workers
3. Sign and share the pledge saying NO to a 'carceral feminist' approach to gender-based violence