European Sex Workers Rights' Alliance. Formerly ICRSE. We're a network of 100+ member organisations in 30+ countries, working to support human & labour rights!
To mark one-month countdown to the upcoming European Elections, ESWA published its manifesto calling for the candidates' support for sx workers’ self- determination and the recognition of sx work as work.
Our community is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Carol Leigh.
Over five decades of revolutionary activism, she was instrumental in shaping the modern SW rights movement - including coining the term "sex work", in recognition and respect of our agency.
Rest in Power.
Huge victory for sex workers in Belgium where, early this morning at 1:35am, the Federal Parliament voted in favour of rights-affirming legal reform - with 70 for, 41 abstentions and just 4 against.
1/3
Today is the International Day to End Violence Against Sx Workers.
Violence against sx workers is widely attributed to abusive clients.
But ESWA’s research interviews with over 200 SWs on their experiences with police in 12 countries tells a different story.
#IDEVASW
1/4
2 June is International S*x Workers' Day 🎉
2023 has seen some pretty extraordinary achievements for our members and our community around the globe - so we're taking today as an opportunity to highlight them!
A thread to celebrate, inspire and galvanise🧵
1/9
Today is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.
But ending violence cannot happen when we don’t have access to justice.
Stand with sex worker-led organisations & oppose all forms of criminalisation to help end violence against sex workers.
#IDEVASW
#IDEVASW22
Today is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.
#IDEVASW
#IDEVASW22
Stand with sex worker-led organisations & oppose all forms of criminalisation to help end violence against sex workers.
@sexworkeurope
@ukdecrimnow
We're so excited to announce the launch of our programme for the upcoming Digital Sex Workers' Festival! Head to our website to see all the events we have lined up and how to register:
Victory at the European Court of Human Rights!
3+ years after receiving an application from 261 sx workers challenging the 2016 Pr*stitution Act in France,
@ECHR_CEDH
has renewed its ruling that it IS admissible!
Our joint statement with
@MdM_France
👇
Ahead of the International Women's Day, we launch a new infographic explaining the consequences of the most common sex work legal frameworks on the living and working conditions of sex workers.
#IWD2018
#pressforprogressforsexworkers
This Sx Worker Pride Day, we are SO proud to report that the majority of MEPs voted to reject or abstain on the
#ProstitutionReport
!
Crucially, MEPs rejected a call for an EU-wide ban on the purchase of sx, seeing it removed from the resolution entirely.
🌈 Happy Sx Worker Pride Day!! 🌈
While we continue to campaign against the
#ProstitutionReport
today, we are so proud to share this teaser from our groundbreaking HIV Advocacy Training earlier this year.
Watch the full video on our YouTube channel:
🚨
#FacialRecognition
in public spaces and at our borders treats us all like suspects.
ESWA is among 170+ signatories to a statement led by
@edri
and
@BigBrotherWatch
that calls on authorities and companies to end all facial recognition surveillance now.
ANNOUNCEMENT! We’re so pleased to announce the ICRSE Digital Sex Workers’ Festival 2020!
Featuring 5 days of workshops, discussions, art, research & policy looking at issues impacting on sex workers across Europe & Central Asia.
December 7th - 11th.
More details soon!
Criminalisation triples the likelihood of sx workers experiencing violence.
After buying sex was criminalised in Ireland, violence against SWs rose by 92%. In France, 10 SWs were murdered in just 6months.
MEPs who vote for the
#ProstitutionReport
are voting for violence.
1/3
Happy International Women's Day!
We're launching the
#ESWAFemifesto
- already endorsed by 198 civil society organisations - and inviting individuals to add their signatures.
Sign to declare: "I am a feminist, and I support sex worker rights!"
✍️
#IWD2023
Criminalising clients or any aspect of
#sexwork
is extremely harmful to the safety and wellbeing of those who are involved in it. We stand in solidarity with UK sex workers against these harmful legislative proposals.
Please share and sign the open letter!
SPAIN: DON’T OUTLAW SEX WORKERS’ CONSENT
The Spanish government wants to take the consent away from sex workers! Spain CAN NOT go back to Franquist times, when the premises of sex work were criminalised! Sign the pledge to support our demand >
We are deeply disappointed by comments from German chancellor
@Bundeskanzler
Olaf Scholz.
Sx work is overwhelmingly a survival strategy for those who are excluded from the traditional labour market by migration status, disability, caring responsibilities and discrimination.
1/3
Our
#DigitalSexWorkersFestival
is here, from 7 till 11 December, a week full of activities and events by
#sexwork
(ers) activists and organizations.
Open thread for full program!
We are so proud to announce the launch of a European Coalition on Sex Workers' Rights & Inclusion.
This coalition unites 15 organisations in denouncing sex work criminalisation & pledging to include, support & protect SWs.
Read our full statement here!
On Thursday, MEPs vote on the
#ProstitutionReport
.
Today we send an Open Letter signed by 13 human rights & civil society organisations, calling on them to reject this harmful, biased & misleading report.
Read it here:
#CoalitionAgainstCriminalisation
Today the
#ProstitutionReport
was adopted with a mere 16 votes in favour (10 against, 3 abstentions).
This report was written without consultation with our community.
It includes willfully misinterpreted research & warped definitions that we can scarcely believe are legal.
1/2
Sex workers interrupted the ‘
#positiveflame
’ceremony and asked for conference to change its location for 2020.
@AIDS_conference
is planned to take place in San Francisco where SWs, migrants, drug users and many other key populations won’t be able to attend.
#SexWorkersatAIDS2018
Disturbing to see how the murder of Geila Ibram in Ireland is being used to fuel stigmatising rhetoric of sex work as "inherently violent".
Violence is NOT inherent to sex work. The law in Ireland is directly responsible for making our industry and our community less safe.
1/2
We are ecstatic to see the news that the plenary session of the Parliament in Catalonia, Spain has voted to reject the criminalisation of sex work!
1/3
Sx workers have ALWAYS been part of the LGBTQI+ movement.
While coming out is increasingly possible for many in the queer community, SWs are largely still forced to stay closeted.
Join us in fighting criminalisation, stigma & discrimination - to make
#ComingOutDay
safe for all!
500 sex workers in France have been helped through community fundraisers in the last few days. Twice as many as those 'helped' by the government's 'prostitution exit startegy' in the last 4 years!
#trescompliqu
é
#toocomplicated
#4ansloiprostitution
+ de 500 TDS dans toute la France ont été aidées ces derniers jours au travers des différentes cagnottes et grâce à votre solidarité. Soit 2 fois + que le nb de TDS "aidées" par le gvt en 4 ans via le "parcours de sortie".
#Tr
èscompliqué
#4ansloiprostitution
CALL FOR ACTION: Join our call to European governments and institutions to develop and implement evidence and rights-based policies to include and protect all
#sexwork
-ers in this crisis.
We invite all organisations to endorse our call for action!
Today is the 45th International Sex Workers’ Day. On 2 June 1975 more than 100
#sexwork
-ers occupied the Saint-Nizier church in Lyon, France to protest against
#PoliceViolence
and corruption, incarceration, and stigmatisation and to demand better conditions.
#ISWD2020
Criminalisation triples the likelihood of sx w*rkers experiencing violence.
We cannot
#EndVAW
while these laws continue.
This
#InternationalDayToEndViolenceAgainstWomen
, stand with our community - and for the full decriminalisation of sx work.
For laws that protect ALL women.
It's the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia & Transphobia!
Today we recognise the achievements of LGBTQI+ people in the fight for their human rights.
#IDAHOBIT
1/2
Today is the five year anniversary since FOSTA SESTA became law.
These laws have inflicted enormous damage on our community in the US and worldwide, making us poorer and more vulnerable, while completely failing to tackle exploitation.
🧵
1/10
Today is
#WorldAIDSDay
.
Sx workers are a key population in the fight against HIV. Laws that criminalise any aspect of our industry have been repeatedly correlated with higher transmission rates, as well as impeding access to treatment & support.
🧵🧵
1/9
Criminalisation of ANY aspects of sx work does not prevent or reduce trafficking in human beings.
In fact, criminalisation of sx work causes immense harm - both to sx workers, and to victims of trafficking & exploitation.
Our Open Letter to MEPs👇
“Decriminalisation is the answer to many of the issues that we face. All the evidence points to it.”
Yesterday we ended our health conference with a return to the European Parliament for a special event: Towards Improved Health Outcomes for Sx Workers!
MEPs: Vote against the
#ProstitutionReport
!
Human rights organisations & public health bodies denounce criminalisation of sx work.
Their own research has consistently shown this harms our community's safety, health, wellbeing & access to justice.
@EP_GenderEqual
@Europarl_EN
We were heartbroken to wake yesterday to news of a full-scale invasion in Ukraine. We reached out to our Ukrainian members to send our love and solidarity, and to discuss how we might best offer additional support to our members and the general population there.
1/4
This victory is the culmination of many years of work by sex workers and allies in the difficult context of the COVID pandemic. Belgian lawmakers clearly rejected the failed Swedish Model and listened to sex workers.
2/3
Happy International Sex Worker Rights Day!
To mark the occasion, ESWA is launching a factsheet busting Swedish Model myths 🥊
We are sex workers and we can speak for ourselves. Stay out of our ring!
So, what do we want instead? A thread 🧵
"...We further reject any analysis which holds that sex workers contribute to the 'commodification of women, sex or intimacy'. We will not blame sex workers for causing harm to other women but patriarchy and other oppressive systems."
Decriminalisation of sex work has just been passed into law by the Victorian government in Australia!
This includes decriminalising sex work by people living with HIV & destroying SW registration records.
We are so thrilled for our VIC allies. Enjoy the celebrations! 🎉🥳
We are very proud to have played our part in this resolution. Thank you to all those who fought for it and all at
@NZPC_
for their leadership for decriminalisation. We also encourage sex worker led organisations inclusive of LGBT SW to join
@ILGAWORLD
and being our experiences.
Happy
#TransDayOfVisibility
!
Trans people are overrepresented in our community due to structural discrimination and transphobia. As such, sex worker rights are inherently a trans rights issue.
1/2
#TDOV
#TDOV2023
We are ecstatic that the International Planned Parenthood Federation has adopted a global policy position to strongly support fully decriminalising all aspects of s3x w0rk, along with social policies addressing structural inequalities.
Read the blog here👇
We asked sx workers: What would help you to feel safer in this job?
Their overwhelming call for full decriminalisation wasn't just for protection from abusive clients.
Full decriminalisation takes the power back from abusive police.
#IDEVASW
#DecrimNow
3/4
The evidence from Ireland is clear - criminalisation of clients increases police violence, discrimination and abuse.
The government's stalled review must prioritise consultation with sx workers and SW-led organisations.
@neo_chlo
@hrw
@SWAIIreland
*HELLO
#ESWA
, GOODBYE
#ICRSE
*
We are very proud to announce that
#ICRSE
is now
#ESWA
, the European Sex Workers Rights Alliance, a sex worker-led network representing over 100 organisations led by or working with sex workers in 35 countries in Europe and Central Asia. 1/2
Solidarity with workers in Spain as the government looks at new laws to "abolish prostitution".
The idea that sex work can be criminalised out of existence is patently absurd. As seen countless times in other countries, these laws will make workers more vulnerable.
#DecrimNow
New research article!
"Criminalisation of sx work, as well as regulation of any form, had negative consequences on SWs in the EU in terms of healthcare, stigma & discrimination, and physical & sxual victimisation - for both nationals & migrants."
1/2
We are delighted by this news!
ESWA has previously conducted research and published resources on the impact of digital & financial discrimination on our community. We are fully behind the ACLU's complaint.
You can sign their petition to Mastercard here👇
BREAKING: We just filed a Federal Trade Commission complaint, calling for an investigation into Mastercard’s policies discriminating against online sex workers.
*INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SEX WORKERS IS COMING*
Turn up your volume to listen to what happened on the 2nd of June 1975, when over 100 french sex workers occupied a church in Lyon to have their demands heard all over the country, and even the world.. 🤩 (1/3)
Today is Trans Day of Remembrance.
@TGEUorg
data shows that racialised trans women and trans sx workers continue to face the highest risks of transphobic violence.
We grieve, honour and remember those whose lives have been taken.
#TDoR2023
Last week, a motion to criminalise the purchase of sex throughout the EU was tabled for vote in parliament.
A day later,
@ECHR_CEDH
advanced a case *against* client criminalisation.
Politicians are divided, but the evidence is clear.
1/5
This
#IWD2024
, we celebrate bodily autonomy as a feminist principle.
Women in all their diversity deserve the right to choose how they earn a living, free from judgement, stigma & prosecution. SW are a vital part of the movement for gender equality!
#Feminism
#DecrimNow
Norway adopted the Swedish Model in 2009.
Now, a Criminal Law Council has officially recommended decriminalising the purchase of s£x.
ESWA Comms Officer
@marinscarlett_
speaks to
@pionnorge
Manager Astrid Renland about what this means for SWs in Norway!
"It's the client who dictates his conditions and we have no choice because we have fewer clients than before but still as many bills at the end of the month"
@STRASS_Syndicat
#sexwork
Call for proposals!
We’re inviting sx worker rights advocates, researchers & other experts to submit proposals for our public health conference this December.
Find out more about Part of the Solution: sx work, public health & (de)criminalisation here👇
The former UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons and former
@OSCE
Special Representative on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, globally recognized expert Maria Grazia Giammarinaro speaks against the so-called 'Nordic Model'.
Sx worker rights are human rights.
The
@UN_WGDAWG
's position paper is grounded in this simple truth - alongside evidence-based research and meaningful consultation with diverse SWs all over the world.
Our joint statement with 5 fellow SW-led networks👇
Happy Halloween from ESWA 🎃
We ain't afraid of no ghosts, but we are afraid of criminalisation laws that make us:
- 3x more likely to experience violence
- 2x more likely to engage in sx without a condom
- 50% more likely to contract HIV
Make the world less scary:
#DecrimNow
!
"96% of SWs surveyed believe criminalisation of the sx buyer has made workers in the industry more unsafe and more vulnerable to exploitation...particularly migrant workers & persons of colour."
Read this excellent article featuring researcher
@NiinaVu
!
“Criminalisation is not the answer … we cannot simply ban it, because that excludes sx workers from public care and protection." -
@SylwiaSpurek
It also often “leads to working in secret and being denied the opportunity to organise." -
@MonikaVana
We are deeply concerned by a recent attack on a member of our community in Germany.
ESWA extends our support to
@RubyRebeldeA
who has received a textbook "SLAPP" (Strategic Lawsuit Against Political Participation) aimed at silencing criticism of anti-SW organisations.
1/4
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Sex worker rights are a racial justice issue, and the decriminalisation movement is a racial justice movement.
🧵🧵
1/4
New Resource Announcement:
@UNHumanRights
released a Guide on the
#HumanRights
of Sx Workers!
It offers an accessible overview of key issues in sx workers' rights.
A heartfelt acknowledgment goes
@drtlaleng
for her work on this vital resource:
While we await further details, we are delighted at the progress made and join in the celebrations of our members and allies. We will soon share a more detailed statement on the law reform and how it benefits sex workers in Belgium.
3/3
Thank you to everyone who attended yesterday's launch of our new briefing paper!
"Sex Work & Racism: Historical Overview of Racism in Anti-Sex Work, Anti-Trafficking and Anti-Immigration Legislation in Europe" can be accessed in full here:
We urge policymakers in Germany not to pursue a criminalisation approach.
ALL forms of criminalisation have been repeatedly proven to endanger sx workers, placing them at greater risk of violence and abuse.
These laws do nothing to stop sx work. They only punish sx workers.
3/3
We are disgusted by this news.
This is a reprehensible decision that will endanger the safety of sx workers in Ireland.
ESWA calls on
@GooglePlay
to reverse its decision to remove the Ugly Mugs app - a crucial resource for community safety.
@Google
@GoogleUK
The Sex Workers Alliance Ireland is disgusted and distressed to learn that
@Google
has removed the Ugly Mugs app from its store. Need we remind
@GooglePlay
that sex work is legal in Ireland.
Sex worker rights and the demands of sex worker-led organisations are overwhelmingly supported by human rights organisations.
In our new resource, we outline each of their positions, complete with links to their statements, research and policy papers.
1/12
Call for registrations!
Part of the Solution: sx work, public health & (de)criminalisation is fast approaching on 4-7 Dec at the Bedford Hotel in Brussels, Belgium.
This is a public conference, but you MUST register by 26 Nov to attend.
Register here!
Workers and allies: we need you.
Sweden will vote next month on ramping up penalties for the clients of sex workers from a fine to a prison sentence.
@RedUmbrellaSwe
has issued an international call out to demonstrate in Stockholm on 21 May.
#SolidaritetF
örAvkriminalisering
1/5
Today is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
#IDEVASW
Policies fighting gender-based violence in Europe fail to include marginalised communities, such as sex workers, increasing the risk of violence
Read and share ESWA’s statement>
Thank you everyone who attended yesterday’s briefing paper launch!
It was an absolute pleasure to host such a fantastic panel of speakers & our audience were unfailingly polite in the face of minor technical delays 😅
You can read the paper in full here:
The
#ProstitutionReport
goes to a plenary vote in the
@Europarl_EN
in September.
In the meantime, we will keep highlighting the misrepresentation of research and downright falsehoods that this report peddles.
The evidence consistently supports FULL DECRIMINALISATION of sx work.
We stand in solidarity with the
#blacklivesmatter
movement in the USA.
#Racism
, structural discrimination, poverty, criminalisation of migration all negatively impact
#sexwork
-ers, in particular
#migrant
sex workers, black sex workers, and sex workers of color.
#ISWD2020
The full decriminalisation of sx work is absolutely essential to reducing HIV transmission and fighting stigma.
Calls to remove ALL punitive sx work laws in order to fight HIV have been made by health organisations worldwide, including
@UNAIDS
,
@WHO
,
@MdM_France
&
@HIVIreland
.
“I was so proud earlier this year to announce that the Palaszczuk Government here in Queensland will decriminalise sex work.” Shannon Fentiman, Minister for Health and Women addressing
#IAS2023
#DecrimQLD
Sex workers marching through the streets of Stockholm for the first ever sex worker rights protest here, calling for decriminalisation and an end to the Swedish Model.
#FFconf
Today Niki Adams from the English Collective of Prostitutes and ICRSE board member Sabrina Sanchez spoke with the BBC about the current
#Covid19
pandemic and its effects on
#sexwork
(ers).
Tomorrow! 14h-16h (CET)
@GreensEFA
MEP
@MonikaVana
is hosting a roundtable discussion in the European Parliament.
This round table will bring together different experts from international organisations that form part of our European Coalition on Sex Workers’ Rights and inclusion.
If
@Bundeskanzler
wishes to reduce sx work, his gov should start by addressing discriminatory migration laws, ableist workplaces excluding those with disabilities, insufficient support for those caring for children or elderly relatives, and prejudice against LGBTQ+ people.
2/3
The European Court of Human Rights (
#ECHR
or
#CEDH
in French) has accepted to examine the requests of 261 sex workers in France against the criminalisation of clients! It is the first time the ECHR will be asked to take a decision on this issue.
@STRASS_Syndicat
@ProjetJasmine
Pénalisation du recours à la prostitution : De façon inédite, la France est mise en cause devant la
#CEDH
par 261 travailleuses/rs du sexe.
C'est la 1ère fois que la Cour accepte d'examiner la pénalisation de la prostitution entre adultes consentants.
=>
An extraordinary victory for sex workers and allies in Spain. We are so proud of their tireless work and to have played a small part in supporting them.
Consent is crucial, and nobody else gets to tell us whether we can give it or not.
Congratulations to our community 🎉
17th Dec 2019 marks the 16th annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers,
@SWAN_Network
and ICRSE join
#sexwork
-ers and allies in remembering those who were taken away from us.
#IDEVASW2019
#IDEVASW
Read our joint statement here:
Our full programme is finally here!
Part of the Solution: sx work, public health & (de)criminalisation is set to take place in Brussels on 4-7 December.
You must register to attend in-person by Sun 26 Nov - plus, online registration coming soon!
These are excerpts of just some of the 200+ interviews we conducted with sx workers across Europe and Central Asia.
These interviews consistently reflect the same thing: the police do not protect sx workers.
The police are the perpetrators of violence against sx workers.
2/4
URGENT CALL TO ACTION
We are urgently asking civil society organisations to sign our open letter calling on members of the European Parliament to support SW rights and oppose criminalisation.
✍️ Read and sign here:
Deadline: TOMORROW
Please share!
We're hiring!
Do you have strong research, writing and interpersonal skills? ESWA is recruiting a digital rights research consultant to undertake community research with our members and sx workers in our region.
Find out more and apply by 15 Jan👇
Sex workers protest in Stockholm and launch report on 20 years of Swedish model at first international
#sexwork
-ers' rights conference in Sweden.
Read our report here: