Learn how sex workeers' rights organisations & sexual and reproductive health networks collaborate to protect public health.
Sex workers’ rights organisations networks ESWA & SWAN met with global organization International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) in Utrecht, the Netherlands to work on improving sex workers’ access to sexual and reproductive health. Protecting public health starts with protecting individuals - making health services widely accessible benefits us all.
The following article was written by Tore Aasheim shared for our use by the courtesy of Sex of Politikk - IPPF Norway.
You can find the original version in Norwegian here.
Policy meeting in Utrecht: Believing in a rights-based future for sex workers
Representatives from sex workers’ organizations in several European countries and the network of the global organization International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) recently held a strategy meeting in Utrecht, the Netherlands, with the aim of improving sex workers’ access to SRHR in the region.
Sex workers across Europe have long struggled to gain access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. This has been difficult due to the general attitude of society towards sex work, as well as the fact that many countries are introducing restrictions on the purchase of sex.
IPPF member organizations from France, North Macedonia, Poland and Norway attended what can also be said to be a kick-off meeting for even closer cooperation between these two networks of organizations.
The meeting, which was initiated by the European network of IPPF, had as its main objective to look at opportunities for sex workers to have better access to often vital SRHR, everything from safe access to abortion, STI testing, medication, counselling and access to mental health professionals.
When the global organisation IPPF updated its policy document a couple of years ago, a separate chapter on sex workers was included. The meeting in Utrecht must therefore also be seen as a practical implementation of this part of the policy, which was seen as very positive by both IPPF members and sex workers' organisations.
Although the updated policy is relatively new, the strategy meeting showed that sex workers' organisations and IPPF have been working towards the same goals. In many ways, the two groups have completely identical goals for their work.
There are few groups in society that are as dependent on good sexual and reproductive health and rights as sex workers. Yet many in this group find it extremely difficult to access this type of service.
First and foremost, it seems challenging to be met with respect and understanding when contacting healthcare and other public authorities. This has now become a priority area of work for IPPF.
In addition to both groups seeing how much they had in common, many also pointed out how proactive many sex workers have become in their rights work recently.
Here, several things were pointed out, from the efforts of the French sex workers who had their case brought before the European Court of Human Rights to the voluntary activist work of individuals and groups of sex workers who contribute every day. The sex workers at the meeting highlighted the importance of speaking up for themselves and being heard in the political debate.
As part of the meeting, the groups have visited the Amsterdam Center for Sex Workers to compare notes with social workers delivering services on the ground.
The meeting ended with a joint decision on three projects or activities: an international conference with a spotlight on the impacts of criminalising clients of sex workers, work to gather knowledge about trials and convictions in sex work cases in Europe, and a collaborative project across organizations and allies in eastern part of Europe.
"I am much more positive about the future after these three days," said one of the participants at the meeting. "There are a lot of negative things going on in the world right now, but this collaboration can really lead to something good."
