Where our members work

Open Democracy have added a new article to their Palermo 20th Anniversary Special, looking at the story of how ‘human trafficking’ got its definition, as told by someone who was there when it happened. Marjan Wijers is an experienced consultant, trainer and researcher in the field of human trafficking, violence against women, women’s rights, sex workers’ rights and human rights.

NSWP member organisation the Sex Workers Project (SWP) of the Urban Justice Center (UJC) provides legal advocacy to survivors of human trafficking and people who engage in sex work. They engage in advocacy, education, and organising to build a movement to protect the human rights of sex workers.

The Sex Workers Project of the Urban Justice Center have issued a statement opposing the harmful “sex trade survivors justice and equality act”, a new bill introduced to state senate in January.

The SEXHUM project (Sexual Humanitarianism: Migration, Sex Work and Trafficking) has published the SEXHUM Policy Making Report with policy recommendations on migration, sex work and trafficking globally and in Australia, France, New Zealand and the US.

NSWP member oranisation PION have reported on the use of pandemic regulations by Norwegian police to unfairly arrest, detain, heavily fine and deport foreign sex workers. Read the article below or on PION's website.

NSWP is seeking to appoint a Global Consultant to lead the development of a Briefing Paper, with accompanying Community Guide, on the consequences of misinformation on sex work, the role it plays in national and global decision-making processes, and its impacts on sex workers. NSWP will consider applications from individuals based in or outside of the UK.

'End demand' legislation, which criminalises the purchase of sex and third parties, impedes sex workers’ ability to seek police assistance when they are in danger, according to a new study from the Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity (CGSHE) at the University of British Columbia, and University of Ottawa.

'End demand' legislation, which criminalises the purchase of sex and third parties, impedes sex workers’ ability to seek police assistance when they are in danger, according to a new study from the Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity (CGSHE) at the University of British Columbia, and University of Ottawa.

HODSAS (Homme Pour le Droit et La Sante Sexuelle) have released a statement denouncing an increase in harassment in DRC, and highlighting the disproportionate costs of COVID-19 tests at the borders of DRC-Rwanda, and DRC-Burundi.

NSWP is seeking to appoint a Global Consultant to develop a Smart Sex Worker’s Guide, with accompanying Community Guide, on digital security for sex workers. NSWP will consider applications from individuals based in or outside of the UK.

NSWP is seeking to recruit a part-time Policy Officer  to join our Policy Team, led by the Senior Policy Officer, working on developing global advocacy tools for our members and reviewing external policy documents in line with the NSWP Consensus Statement and the priorities set by the NSWP Board.

For seventeen years, sex workers around the world have marked International Day to End Violence Against Sex Worker on 17th December. The day is used to highlight the need for action to end violence against sex workers. The issues faced by sex workers often vary from region to region, due to different laws, social and cultural contexts, but one common issue faced by all sex workers is their vulnerability to and experience of violence.

A sex worker in New Zealand has won a sexual harassment case against a business owner, including a six-figure settlement to compensate for "emotional harm and lost earnings", the country’s human rights commission has said.

The Sex Workers Academy Africa (SWAA) held its 24th session last month, with 18 activists from three different African countries: Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. The Academy ran for 7-days from 23rd to 29th November 2020 and involved female, male and transgender sex workers.