Sex Workers mark the 3rd International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers with a protest at the 6th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong.
December 17 is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers and each year sex-worker organisations in different parts of the world organise different activities to commemorate the sex workers who have been abused and/or killed, and urge the public to respect sex workers' human rights. Just in time for the 6th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference (MC6) held in Hong Kong, sex-worker organisations from all over the world (Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, Thailand, Cambodia) marched and held exhibitions to help the public understand more about the situation of sex workers, and to eliminate violence against sex workers.
It is estimated that more than 20 million people worldwide work as sex workers. Despite the large numbers, sex workers have never been accepted by society, making their work environment extremely difficult and vulnerable to various threats of violence. Both male and female sex workers are exposed to different types of violence everyday and their human rights are severely violated. Thousands of sex workers are killed every year in the world, even more are raped and beaten.
For example, more than 500 sex workers are killed every year in Mainland China; 97 per cent of 1,000 Cambodia sex workers had been raped; and the 'Green River killer,' who raped and killed more than 60 sex workers in the U.S., has claimed that, 'he does not need to take any responsibility for killing sex workers.'
Instead of protecting the safety of sex workers, laws and law enforcement agencies are more often the tools of persecution. Social discrimination is also a kind of violence against sex workers, because it marginalises them and renders them isolated and defenceless.
Contents of this resource include:
- Data on sex worker complaints against police violence, 2004-2005
- Background on Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
- Stories from sex workers about violence they experience
You can download this 5 page PDF resource above. This resource is in English.