Resources from Funders and Allied Organisations Supporting Sex Workers’ RightsWe have organised the growing community of organisations supporting sex worker rights and provided brief introductions to strengthen the support available to the sex worker rights movement.
We have categorised them (funders, sex worker-led networks, and allied organisation) as well as created tags for key topics that intersect with our work.
Access Now defends and extends the digital rights of users at risk around the world. Also provides digital security trainning/support through a 24/7 Digital Security Helpline, policy analysis, advocacy, and grants to granssroots organisations and activists groups.
African Sex Worker Alliance (ASWA) is a sex worker-led African regional network that was created in 2009 and is based in Nairobi, Kenya. ASWA has more than 70 sex worker-led organisations as members in 33 African countries. The network amplifies the voices of their sex worker members and advocates for the health and human rights of the diverse community of sex workers working and living in Africa.
The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is “a grantmaking foundation that supports local, national and regional women’s organisations working towards the empowerment of African women and the promotion and realisation of their rights .By specialising in grant-making and focused, tailored movement-building programmes, we work to strengthen and support the work of African women’s organisations.By amplifying and celebrating African women’s voices and achievements, AWDF supports efforts that combat harmful stereotypes, and promote African women as active agents of change.” Information about their grantmaking and other work is available on their website.
AIDS Fonds is “a Dutch non-profit organisation that works internationally. Working with communities as equals is at the heart of all our work. We conduct research and ensure that HIV, AIDS and STIs remain high on the agenda worldwide. Together we are working to find a cure for HIV.”
They provide a variety of Grants and funding oportunities and provide an updated list of COVID-19 & HIV Funding Opportunities from allied organisations.
Alliance Magazine is a quarterly print magazine with an in-depth special feature dedicated to a key aspect of global philanthropy. “Essential reading for the global philanthropy sector with independent opinion, expert debate, and trusted insight. The only philanthropy magazine with a truly global focus, the latest 12 issues of Alliance are behind a paywall and are available only for subscribers, although selected articles are made freely available. The remainder of our archive is open to all visitors.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was founded in 1920. The ACLU works in the courts, legislatures, and communities of the United States of America to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Read more about the history and mission of the ACLU.
“American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is the leading Jewish organisation working to fight poverty and pursue justice in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Through philanthropy and advocacy, American Jewish World Service responds to the most pressing issues of our time—from disasters, genocide and hunger, to the persecution of women and minorities worldwide.
AJWS is one of the founding members of Red Umbrella Fund’s International Steering Committee. AJWS has reported extensively on the importance of protecting the human rights of sex workers and is an active member of the Sex Worker Donor Collaborative. “To effectively stop abuse against sex workers, experts suggest that many changes must take place—from supporting sex workers to educate each other about their rights to reforming laws that have limited sex workers’ access to safe workplaces, economic opportunities and critical services such as health care.”
“Amnesty International has grown from seeking the release of political prisoners to upholding the whole spectrum of human rights. Our work protects and empowers people – from abolishing the death penalty to protecting sexual and reproductive rights, and from combatting discrimination to defending refugees and migrants’ rights. We speak out for anyone and everyone whose freedom and dignity are under threat.”
AmplifyChange is a fund that supports civil society organisations (CSOs) who advocate for improved sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). AmplifyChange launched in 2014 as a project by a consortium consisting of MannionDaniels, African Women’s Development Fund and Global Fund for Women. Most of our grants (89%) are small grants to small groups, and we have other grant types available for them to form coalitions. The majority of our grants are based in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia and our reach also extends to the Middle East and Latin America. We have identified 25 countries that are most off-track on the AmplifyChange priorities and we do not want these countries to be overlooked.
Ariadne (European Funders for Social Change and Human Rights) is a European peer-to-peer network of more than 600 funders and philanthropists who support social change and human rights. Ariadne helps those using private resources for public good achieve more together than they can alone by linking them to other funders and providing practical tools of support.
This regional network
Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW) has 32 active organisational members in 23 countries that work together to promote the human rights of sex workers of all genders in Asia and the Pacific. APNSW conducts advocacy with regional intergovernmental bodies and the United Nations. The network provides training and technical support to its members on human rights, and quality HIV and health services, sets up sex worker-led legal services, and develops advocacy strategies.
“The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is a network of 85 member organisations across 23 countries, mainly in Asia. Founded in 1991, FORUM-ASIA works to strengthen movements for human rights and sustainable development through research, advocacy, capacity development and solidarity actions in Asia and beyond. It has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and consultative relationship with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. The FORUM-ASIA Secretariat is based in Bangkok, with offices in Jakarta, Geneva and Kathmandu.
FORUM-Asia provides urgent funding for human rights defenders through their Protection Plan for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.”
The ASTRAEA LESBIAN FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE is the only philanthropic organisation working exclusively to advance LGBTQI human rights around the globe. We support brilliant and brave grantee partners in the U.S and internationally who challenge oppression and seed change. We work for racial, economic, social, and gender justice, because we all deserve to live our lives freely, without fear, and with dignity.
Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) is a global, feminist, membership, movement-support organisation working to achieve gender justice and women’s human rights worldwide.
“Every year, millions of nonprofits spend trillions of dollars around the world. Candid finds out where that money comes from, where it goes, and why it matters. Through research, collaboration, and training, Candid connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to do it. Candid’s data tools on nonprofits, foundations, and grants are the most comprehensive in the world. Foundation Center (including Grantcraft) and GuideStar joined forces to become Candid, a 501c3 nonprofit organisation.”
