Where our members work

This is the 30th issue of NSWP's quarterly newsletter ‘Sex Work Digest’, covering the period January - March 2021. 

Features include:

The global key population networks GATE, GNP+, INPUD, IRGT, MPact and NSWP mourn the untimely and tragic passing of activist, leader, and dear friend, Jude Byrne of Australia, who was taken from us too soon by cancer.

For over 40 years Jude was a leading activist for people who use drugs. She was also the board chair of INPUD, a global network of people who use drugs that fights for the human rights and dignity of people who use drugs around the world.

The global key population networks GATE, GNP+, INPUD, IRGT, MPact and NSWP mourn the untimely and tragic passing of activist, leader, and dear friend, Jude Byrne of Australia, who was taken from us too soon by cancer.

For over 40 years Jude was a leading activist for people who use drugs. She was also the board chair of INPUD, a global network of people who use drugs that fights for the human rights and dignity of people who use drugs around the world.

NSWP is running a parallel event at CSW65 (Committee on the Status of Women) with the Sex Worker Inclusive Feminist Alliance (SWIFA).

Inclusive Feminist Perspectives on Meaningful Involvement of Sex Workers takes place online on 17th March at 4:30 PM GMT (12:30 EST, 18:30 EET, 19.30 EAT, 23.30 ICT and 03.30 – 18th March – AEDT). The event will be in English with Russian translation.

Sex worker groups around the world held online and in-person events and actions to mark March 3rd, International Sex Workers’ Rights Day.

NSWP has developed new infographic and animation formats of key advocacy tools. The ten infographics and five animations will help to expand the accessibility of NSWP resources and support global campaigns and the advocacy work of regional networks and member organisations in campaigning for the rights of female, male and transgender sex workers and amplifying the voices of sex workers globally.

The new resources, which are each available in the 5 NSWP languages, were designed and created by Smo Sienkiewicz.

Explore the infographics and animations below.

2nd March 2021, the day before International Sex Workers’ Rights Day, is SheDecides Day. This globally recognised day of action is held to stand up and speak out in support of girls and women's rights over their bodies, their lives and their future. The organisers of the day are united by the belief in the right of every girl and every woman, everywhere, to make the decisions only she should make. “We are committed to a world where SheDecides. Without question.”

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.