Aspasie was created in Geneva in 1982 by Griselidis Real. In a non-judgmental attitude, Aspasie defends the human rights and the legal interest of sex workers. It can intervene in judicial, criminal, civil or administrative proceedings. Aspasie operates as well health prevention projects on the streets through its night buses and visits regularly parlours and cabarets in the Geneva region. Aspasie listens and provides psychological support in several languages as well.
Sex workers are involved at all levels. They are present in our communities (5/12) as well as in the team where half of the people working ”in the field” come from the sex work branch.
In a reglementarist place as Geneva, European laws have allowed sex workers to move in during 90 days a year to try the market ......Competition is fierce and we now see everyday sex workers working essentially to pay their landlords rent leaving them with only a few hundred francs a week. Challenge 1: acquire locative rights even although renting places per day. Challenge 2: decline dangerous practices asked for by clients. Challenge 3: organise themselves as a local syndicate.
Sex work is a socially stigmatised and sometimes emotionally demanding job. To contact the project, one can present him/herself to our permanence without an appointment. If necessary, we can redirect towards appropriate medical and social care. We also defend the rights of those who exercise sex work by individualised interventions, collective actions and by informing the public, media, authorities and institutions.