Nordic Model

Global Monitoring of CEDAW Concluding Observations Relating to Sex Work

NSWP has developed a global monitoring system to track and analyse the concluding observations relevant to sex work that are published by the Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) three times a year for those countries that have ratified the CEDAW Convention. The purpose of the monitoring is to track which types of recommendations that CEDAW makes for different countries to improve the status of women and what this shows about CEDAW’s awareness and inclusion of sex workers’ rights. 

European Parliament ‘Prostitution Report’: One fight ends, another begins

This article was written by Marin Scarlett, Campaign and Communications Officer at the European Sex Workers' Rights Alliance (ESWA).

Sex worker rights activists’ success against the ‘Prostitution Report’ was the culmination of months of campaigning – that must continue in the next fight against the Anti-Trafficking Directive.

NSWP Submission to European Parliament re Report on Sex Work

NSWP submitted this letter to Members of the European Parliament as they prepared to discuss the report, “Regulation of prostitution in the EU: its cross-border implications and impact on gender equality and women’s rights, 2022/2139(INI)”. 

The report, from the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality will be put to a vote in plenary on 14th September 2023.

NSWP called on all Members of the European Parliament to reject and to vote against the report.  

NSWP calls on MEPs to vote against sex work report

NSWP has submitted this letter to Members of the European Parliament as they prepare to discuss the report, “Regulation of prostitution in the EU: its cross-border implications and impact on gender equality and women’s rights, 2022/2139(INI)”. 

The report, from the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality will be put to a vote in plenary on 14th September.

The European Coalition on Sex Workers’ Rights and Inclusion have also published an Open Letter.

“We live within a violent system.” Structural violence against sex workers in Ireland, a report from Amnesty International

This report from Amnesty International, based on in-depth interviews with sex workers, experts and representatives of the Irish authorities, provides insights into sex workers’ human rights in Ireland, in particular their right to safety and freedom from violence. It shows that criminalisation of aspects of sex work in Ireland has a “chilling effect” on sex workers’ exercise of their human rights, for instance by preventing them from working together in one apartment for safety.

Case Study: Sex Worker-led Organisations’ Engagement with the Women’s Movement

The struggles for sex workers’ and women’s rights are innately interconnected. Worldwide, most sex workers are women, who share challenges in their fight for justice, equality, and the right to be free from violence, stigma, and discrimination. Nevertheless, within the women’s movement there have been obstacles to acceptance of and meaningful engagement with sex worker-led organisations, ranging from ideological opposition to outright abuse.

Animation: Challenging the introduction of the Nordic Model

This animation looks at the harms caused to sex workers in countries where the Nordic Model has been introduced and  is intended as a tool to strengthen and support NSWP members and sex workers’ rights advocates’ ability to actively challenge proposals to introduce the Nordic approach in their countries.

The Challenging the introduction of the Nordic Model animation is a new tool for sex workers' advocacy worldwide. It was designed and created by Smo Sienkiewicz.

Infographic: Challenging the introduction of the Nordic Model

This infographic looks at the harms caused to sex workers in countries where the Nordic Model has been introduced and  is intended as a tool to strengthen and support NSWP members and sex workers’ rights advocates’ ability to actively challenge proposals to introduce the Nordic approach in their countries.

The Challenging the introduction of the Nordic Model infographic is a new tool for sex workers' advocacy worldwide. It was designed and created by Smo Sienkiewicz.

Sex Workers Project of the Urban Justice Center issue statement on prohibitionist ‘Nordic Model’ legislation in New York

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.

Twenty Years Of Failing Sex Workers: A community report on the impact of the 1999 Swedish Sex Purchase Act

Fuckförbundet launched a new report - "20 Years Of Failing Sex Workers" - as part of their 2019 conference "Sex Work, Human Rights And Health: Assessing 20 Years Of Swedish Model". It brings together available evidence from sex workers on the impact of the law. Contents include: