Strumphet Alliance Network

Who do you work with?

Strumphet Alliance Network is truly led by former and present sex workers and also inlcusive off Trans and Cis woman sex workers community. We have 3 categories for membership in our constitution which are a) full membership (sex workers alone) , b) associate members, c) friends and families.

How are sex workers involved in your organisation?

Strumphet Alliance is 99% made up of sex workers. 1% are not sex workers but actively support the core values of the organisation. Sex workers are the decision makers in the organisation, also the full time and part time staff who manage the administration of the organisations are sex workers.

Which of NSWP priority areas does your organisation work on?
Oppose the criminalisation and other legal oppression of sex work and support its recognition as work
Advocate for universal access to health services, including primary health care, HIV and sexual and reproductive health services
Speak out about violence against sex workers, including violence from police, institutions, clients, and intimate partners, while challenging the myth that sex work is inherently gender-based violence
Oppose human rights abuses, including coercive programming, mandatory testing, raids and forced rehabilitation
Challenge stigma and discrimination against sex workers, their families and partners, and others involved in sex work
Advocate for the economic empowerment and social inclusion of sex workers as sex workers
What are the two main challenges that the sex workers you work with face

Main challenges that sex workers face are breaking down barriers that exist to allow a flow of conversation with topic around sex work. Confrontation with public stigmatisation is what the organisation faces due to culture, taboos, religion and the law which sex workers are continuously taken into stations, detained and some are criminalised. Most importantly, due to the limited funds we are unable to cater for the wider sex workers of the whole of Fiji. Limited funds and limited area of work for sex worker.

Describe other areas of your work

Facilitate referrals for sex workers to legal, health and counselling services. Organise support group meetings. We provide ongoing psychosocial support to our members through informal community empowerment. Advocate on sex work at any community, local, national, regional platforms. We organise community empowerment by commemorating sex worker international events through collaboration with other sex workers groups to strengthen community mobilisation. We also do condom distribution.

Country
فيجي