On the 2nd of June 2021, the Spanish Supreme court ruled in favour of sex workers and their right to form unions in Spain. This ruling occurred after an appeal from ICRSE member organisation OTRAS - Organización de Trabajadoras Sexuales, the first fully independent union led by sex workers, established in 2018.
In November 2018, the Spanish National Court annulled the status of OTRAS, arguing that allowing the union to exist meant “recognising the act of procurement as lawful”. Almost 3 years later, the Supreme Court reversed the decision, stating that OTRAS’ statutes are “in line with the law”. Moreover, the Supreme Court stated that sex workers “have the fundamental right to freedom of association and the right to form a union”.
Visit OTRAS’ social media accounts for more information on the Supreme Court’s judgment.
See below the press conference held by the union following the judgment.
