Violence

Community Guide: Sex Workers in Conflict Zones and Humanitarian Crises

This resource is a Community Guide to the Policy Brief: Sex Workers in Conflict Zones and Humanitarian Crises. It provides an overview of the full Policy Brief, and provides key recommendations to ensure that sex workers’ health, safety, and human rights are upheld in the response to humanitarian crises and conflicts worldwide.

Policy Brief: Sex Workers in Conflict Zones and Humanitarian Crises

Conflicts and humanitarian crises, such as natural disasters, pandemics, civil and cross-border wars, and other emergencies, are increasingly impacting communities globally. By the end of 2022, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), reported that 108.4 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced due to humanitarian crises. Sex workers are disproportionately affected by humanitarian crises and conflicts due to structural barriers and intersecting forms of oppression which increase their vulnerability to violence, economic hardship, and human rights abuses.

Infographic: Sex Workers in Conflict Zones and Humanitarian Crises

Conflicts and humanitarian crises, such as natural disasters, pandemics, civil and cross-border wars, and other emergencies, are increasingly impacting communities globally. Sex workers are disproportionately affected by humanitarian crises and conflicts due to structural barriers and intersecting forms of oppression which increase their vulnerability to violence, economic hardship, and human rights abuses. 

Infographic: Meeting the Needs and Priorities of Young Sex Workers

Young sex workers (aged 18-29) have diverse needs and priorities. 

This infographic summarises the Briefing Paper: Meeting the Needs and Priorities of Young Sex Workers.

This resource is available above in a screen version and a downloadable print version. It is available in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic.

Community Guide: Meeting the Needs and Priorities of Young Sex Workers

Young sex workers (aged 18-29) have diverse needs and priorities and face multiple structural barriers and increased vulnerabilities. However, young sex workers are often excluded from meaningful involvement in the development of policies and programming that affect their health and lives. 

Briefing Paper: Meeting the Needs and Priorities of Young Sex Workers

Young sex workers (aged 18-29) have diverse needs and priorities and face multiple structural barriers and increased vulnerabilities. As young people, young sex workers face particular challenges around housing, income security, and access to opportunities such as education and employment. At the same time, structural barriers, combined with increased isolation, create conditions that make it difficult for young sex workers to access vital resources, including peer support from sex worker-led organisations.

Sex Worker-Led Networks Statement of Support for UN Working Group position paper on sex work

Global and regional networks of sex worker-led organisations, express support for the UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls’ position paper, “Eliminating discrimination against sex workers and securing their human rights

You can download this resource above. This resource is available in English only. 

“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.

Illustrated Consensus Statement on Sex Work, Human Rights, and the Law

This is a summary of NSWP's Consensus Statement on Sex Work, Human Rights, and the Law. The Consensus Statement is issued on behalf of NSWP members and the sex workers they represent including sex workers of all genders, class, race, ethnicity, health status, age, nationality, citizenship, language, education levels, disabilities, and many other factors.

Animation: NSWP Consensus Statement on Sex Work, Human Rights, and the Law

The Consensus Statement details eight fundamental rights that sex worker-led groups from around the world identify as crucial targets for their activism and advocacy. Following a global consultation with members, the NSWP Consensus Statement reaffirms NSWP ’s global advocacy platform for sex work, human rights and the law. 

The Consensus Statement animation is a new tool for sex workers' advocacy worldwide. It was designed and created by Smo Sienkiewicz.