COVID-19

NSWP are reporting on the impact of COVID-19 on sex workers around the world. We are documenting and reporting to international policy makers about human rights violations, and putting pressure on national policy makers to ensure the needs of sex workers are not ignored in this pandemic. We are also sharing stories of solidarity and strength within the sex worker community.

A map of the world covered in red umbrellas

Global Network of Sex Work Projects and UNAIDS joint statement

Sex workers must not be left behind in the response to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic, as with other health crises, exposes existing inequalities and disproportionately affects people already criminalized, marginalized and living in financially precarious situations, often outside social protection mechanisms.

During these difficult times, the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) and UNAIDS wish to draw attention to the particular hardships and concerns facing sex workers globally, and are calling on countries to ensure the respect, protection and fulfilment of sex workers’ human rights.  

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, sex workers all over the world are experiencing hardship, a total loss of income and increased discrimination and harassment. The criminalization of various aspects of sex work in the majority of countries serves to magnify the already precarious situation of sex workers in the informal economy. As sex workers and their clients self-isolate, sex workers are left unprotected, increasingly vulnerable and unable to provide for themselves and their families.

Sex worker-led organizations from all regions are reporting a lack of access to national social protection schemes and exclusion from emergency social protection measures being put in place for other workers, particularly where sex work is criminalized. Whenever and wherever possible, sex workers are responsibly self-isolating in response to governments’ calls. However, when they are excluded from COVID-19 social protection responses, sex workers are faced with putting their safety, their health and their lives at increased risk just to survive.

NSWP and UNAIDS are furthermore concerned at reports of punitive crackdowns against sex workers, resulting in the raiding of homes, compulsory COVID-19 testing, arrest and threatened deportation of migrant sex workers.

UNAIDS calls on countries to take immediate, critical action, grounded in human rights principles, to protect the health and rights of sex workers. Measures should include:

  • Access to national social protection schemes for sex workers, including income support schemes.
  • An immediate firewall between health services and immigration authorities in order to ensure that migrant sex workers can access health services.
  • Emergency financial support for sex workers facing destitution, particularly migrants who are unable to access residency-based financial support.
  • An immediate end to evictions and access to appropriate emergency housing for homeless sex workers.
  • Stopping raids on sex workers’ homes and sex work premises and ensuring that all measures to protect public health are proportionate.
  • An immediate halt to arrests and prosecutions for sex work-related activity, moving away from punitive measures and criminalization towards reaching and serving those most in need.  
  • An immediate end to the use of criminal law to enforce COVID-19-related restrictions, including forced COVID-19 testing and related prosecutions.
  • Automatic extensions on visas due to expire as travel restrictions tighten. Immigration detention systems must support detainees in safe accommodation.
  • The engagement of sex worker communities in responses—the meaningful involvement of sex worker-led organizations in emergency public health planning groups.

UNAIDS, as ever, stands ready to support countries in the implementation of the above recommendations.

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Latest News on COVID 19

本信息图总结了:《性工作者明智指南:社群主导的COVID-19抗击工作》

在COVID-19大流行开始时,性工作者受到的打击最为严重,并持续被这场全球公共卫生危机所影响。 由于刑事定罪、污名和歧视,性工作者在COVID-19之前面临的挑战都因大流行而加剧。由于政府未能在应急响应和社会保障机制方面提供足够的援助,世界各地的性工作者主导组织加紧支持他们的社群。

NSWP的信息图是全球性工作者的宣传工具。它们包含由Molly Hankinson创作的图片。

你可以在上面下载这个信息图表的英文版本,它也有法语、俄语、西班牙语、中文和阿拉伯语版本。 如果你想把信息图表打印成A4纸上的A5小册子,上面还有一个打印版本。  

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