Grantee-Partners Map
In the 10 years since our launch in 2012, Red Umbrella Fund has given 279 grants to 180 organisations in 68 countries. Every year we share our list of grants including the names of the grantee-partner organisations that request to be published on our website. Organisations that wish to stay anonymous do not have their name or country publicly available. Please contact us if you would like to contact any of our former-grantees or discuss their work.
In 2022 Red Umbrella Fund’s PAC awarded €1,300,000 – our first time giving more than a million in a single year – bringing total grants to €7,886,500!
| Organisation Name | Country | Region | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
Adarsha
AdarshaIndia Local English This organisation aims to increase social acceptance for men and transwomen sex workers and to secure their fundamental rights as citizens of India. Adarsha works primarily at the local level and contributes to national and international advocacy efforts. The group supports sex workers to access health and general social services through peer outreach work and referrals and builds sex workers’ leadership skills.
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India | Asia/Pacific | 2016 |
Adarsha
AdarshaIndia National English This organisation works to increase social acceptance for men and transwomen sex workers in India, and to secure their fundamental rights as citizens. Adarsha is active at the local level in Mysore and other districts in the state of Karnataka, and contributes to national advocacy efforts. The group supports sex workers to access health and general social services through peer outreach work and referrals, and builds sex workers’ leadership skills. Adarsha mobilises sex workers and allies to improve laws, policies and practices around sex work, homosexuality and gender identity.
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India | Asia/Pacific | 2018 |
Adarsha
AdarshaIndia Local English This community-led organisation of male and trans* sex workers supports sex workers to access health services, social housing schemes, an identity card and other social services. The group mobilizes sex workers and allies to improve laws, policies and practices around sex work, homosexuality, and gender identity.
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India | Asia/Pacific | 2014 |
Adarsha
AdarshaIndia Local English Established less than three years ago in 2009, this organization advocates for the rights of sex workers who are men and trans, working to reduce stigma and building alliances with human rights organisations. Adarsha supports sex workers to access health care and other social services.
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India | Asia/Pacific | 2012 |
Advocacy Normalizing Sex Work through Education and Resources (ANSWERS)
Advocacy Normalizing Sex Work through Education and Resources (ANSWERS)Canada Local English ANSWERS envisions a community of sex workers that is fully integrated, accepted, and safe so that they can enjoy equal opportunities within Canadian society. To achieve their mission, ANSWERS supports sex workers and their rights through outreach, education, and support services while working to end violence and stigma towards sex workers. Learn more
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Canada | North America/Caribbean | 2021 |
Africa Sex Worker Alliance
Africa Sex Worker AllianceKenya international English This sex worker-led African regional network was created in 2009 and is based in Nairobi, Kenya. The Africa Sex Worker Alliance (ASWA) has sex worker-led organisations as members in 35 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. ASWA intends to use its grant to continue its advocacy in the region and continue to strengthen itself as a network. Learn more
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Kenya | Africa | 2022 |
African Sex Worker Alliance (ASWA)
African Sex Worker Alliance (ASWA)Regional Network - Kenya Based International English This sex worker-led African regional network was created in 2009 and is based in Nairobi, Kenya. The Africa Sex Worker Alliance (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. ASWA intends to use its grant to create a capacity scan to be used in modelling future trainings for sex worker-led organisations in 5 African countries. Learn more
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Regional Network - Kenya Based | Africa | 2020 |
African Sex Worker Alliance (ASWA)
African Sex Worker Alliance (ASWA)Regional Network - Kenya Based International English Created in 2009, this regional network unites 75 sex worker groups from 28 countries and aims to expand its membership to include all countries in Africa. It provides strategic advice, networking opportunities, capacity-building tools and financial support to local groups that work to improve sex workers’ access to health services and labour rights. Its membership includes sex workers of all genders. ASWA represents sex workers’ interest in regional and international processes and platforms. Learn more
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Regional Network - Kenya Based | Africa | 2016 |
African Sex Worker Alliance (ASWA)
African Sex Worker Alliance (ASWA)Regional Network - Kenya Based International English Created in 2009, this regional network based in Kenya unites 100 sex worker groups from 33 countries in Africa and aims to expand its membership to include all countries of the continent. ASWA provides strategic advice, networking opportunities, capacity-building tools and financial support to local groups that work to improve sex workers’ access to health services and labour rights. Its membership includes sex workers of all genders. ASWA represents the interests of sex workers in regional and international debates and platforms. Learn more
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Regional Network - Kenya Based | Africa | 2018 |
African Sex Worker Alliance (ASWA)
African Sex Worker Alliance (ASWA)Regional Network - Kenya Based International English This regional network unites sex worker groups from 11 countries and seeks to expand its membership to include all countries on the African continent. It provides strategic advice, networking opportunities, capacity-building tools and financial support to local sex workers’ groups that work to improve their access to health services and labour rights. Its membership includes groups working with women, men and trans sex workers. ASWA represents sex workers’ interest in regional and international processes and platforms. Learn more
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Regional Network - Kenya Based | Africa | 2013 |
Alianza Por El Trabajo Sexual
Alianza Por El Trabajo SexualEl Salvador local Spanish Alianza por el trabajo sexual defines its role in El Salvador as “working actively in the action for the defense of the rights of women sex workers, through the unification of the sector.” With this first grant from Red Umbrella Fund, the organisation aims to organise a variety of events, trainings, meetings and campaigns in line with this work. In the country, sex work is technically legal but municipal authorities create administrative offences making sex work more isolated and dangerous. Learn more
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El Salvador | Latin America | 2022 |
AMMAR Asociación de Mujeres Meretrices de la República Argentina
AMMAR Asociación de Mujeres Meretrices de la República ArgentinaArgentina national Spanish AMMAR’s mission is to defend the human, social and labour rights of sex workers in Argentina. With a national reach of around 10,000 sex workers, the organisation is present in 14 provinces of the country through 18 branches in different locations all of which are run by sex workers. With this third grant from Red Umbrella Fund, the organisation aims to provide food, medication, legal services and to implement workshops and visibility activities during the women’s march and cover some of its core costs. Learn more
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Argentina | Latin America | 2022 |
AMMAR Córdoba (Associación de Mujeres Meretrices de Argentina delegación Córdoba)
AMMAR Córdoba (Associación de Mujeres Meretrices de Argentina delegación Córdoba)Argentina Local, Subnational Spanish This provincial level network of female and transgender sex workers combines community services tailored to the needs of sex workers (like a nursery, literacy courses, litigation) with political activism. They are a driving force behind a nation-wide campaign for the regulation of sex work in Argentina. Their sex worker friendly clinic provides comprehensive health services including condom distribution and HIV testing. Learn more
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Argentina | Latin America | 2014 |
AMMAR Córdoba (Associación de Mujeres Meretrices de Argentina delegación Córdoba)
AMMAR Córdoba (Associación de Mujeres Meretrices de Argentina delegación Córdoba)Argentina Local, Subnational Spanish This group of women sex workers functions as a labour union for sex workers in the province of Cordoba in Argentina. AMMAR Córdoba advocates for the labour rights of all sex workers by networking and lobbying with local authorities and other government departments. The group combines political activism with providing tailored services to different groups of sex workers ranging from social support and sex worker friendly health services to economic empowerment or artistic expression workshops. The group engages with academia and recently published a book on sex work in Argentina. Learn more
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Argentina | Latin America | 2017 |
AMMAR Córdoba (Associación de Mujeres Meretrices de Argentina delegación Córdoba)
AMMAR Córdoba (Associación de Mujeres Meretrices de Argentina delegación Córdoba)Argentina Local Spanish Led by women sex workers, this is a network in the province of Córdoba that combines community services for sex workers – like offering daycare, literacy courses, and health services – with political activism, such as advocating for the protection of sex workers’ labour rights and for the legal recognition of sex work as work. Learn more
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Argentina | Latin America | 2012 |
ANSWER Detroit
ANSWER DetroitUnited States Local English This sex worker-led justice collective believes in the right of all people to choose to do sex work on their own terms. As such, this collective’s work focuses on power building and political education, advocacy, harm reduction and media and culture amongst others. Learn more
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United States | North America/Caribbean | 2021 |
Ashraya
AshrayaIndia Local, Subnational English This community-based organisation in the Indian state of Karnataka was created in 2007 to address the specific needs of sex workers living with HIV. Ashraya provides a safe space for sex workers living with HIV to connect, access health and social services, and benefit from alternative income generating activities and other economic empowerment services. The group works with sex workers of all genders. Ashraya amplifies the voices of sex workers living with HIV in decision-making spaces and campaigns for legal reforms in India to improve the human rights of sex workers living with HIV.
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India | Asia/Pacific | 2017 |
Ashraya
AshrayaIndia Local, Subnational English This organisation was established in 2007 to support and represent sex workers living with HIV in India. Most of its members and activities are in the state of Karnataka. The group builds human rights awareness among its community and works with sex workers, health care providers and government officials to improve sex workers’ access to HIV and other health and social services. Ashraya works with the Ministry of Women and Child Development to improve access to housing and income supplements.
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India | Asia/Pacific | 2019 |
Asociación Civil CAMBIO Y ACCION
Asociación Civil CAMBIO Y ACCIONPeru Local, Subnational, National Spanish Working mainly with men sex workers, Asociación Civil Cambio y Accion aims to eradicate violence, stigma and discrimination and achieve the recognition of sex work as work. Amongst others, the organisation will use its grant from Red Umbrella Fund to mark International Sex Workers’ Days and to strengthen itself. Learn more
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Peru | Latin America | 2021 |
Asociación de Mujeres ‘Las Golondrinas’
Asociación de Mujeres ‘Las Golondrinas’Nicaragua Local Spanish This sex worker group in the north of Nicaragua was founded in 2004. Golondrinas promotes the recognition of sex work as work through public campaigns and by building human rights knowledge and skills of women and trans sex workers. Considering the effects of the political crisis and high levels of violence against human rights defenders in the country, the group is prioritising building self care and peer support mechanisms. Learn more
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Nicaragua | Latin America | 2019 |
Asociación de Mujeres ‘Las Golondrinas’
Asociación de Mujeres ‘Las Golondrinas’Nicaragua Local Spanish Founded in 2004, this organisation works with 12 local groups of female and trans sex workers in different municipalities in central and northern Nicaragua. The group uses mass media to promote labour rights of sex workers and address stigma and discrimination. The Red Umbrella Fund grant will contribute to core costs of the organisation and enable it to conduct trainings on sexual health and human rights for sex workers, and launch a campaign to end violence against sex workers. Learn more
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Nicaragua | Latin America | 2013 |
Asociación de Mujeres Liquidámbar
Asociación de Mujeres LiquidámbarEl Salvador Local Spanish In a country where violence against women sex workers is particularly high, this sex worker-led group devotes much of its time to activities for its community related to self-care, healing and overcoming experiences of violence. Liquidambar organises training opportunities for sex workers on human rights and builds lobbying skills. At a national level, the group works collectively with other sex workers’ groups in El Salvador to promote the human rights of sex workers. Learn more
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El Salvador | Latin America | 2017 |
Asociación de Mujeres Meretrices de la República Argentina (AMMAR)
Asociación de Mujeres Meretrices de la República Argentina (AMMAR)Argentina National Spanish This network advocates at national level and through its provincial branches for the human rights of sex workers in Argentina. With nearly 25 years of experience, the network has a strong presence in the sex work community and relatively high visibility among the general public. AMMAR was a founding member of RedTraSex, the Latin American and Caribbean Female Sex Workers Network. With this grant the network will hold an international convening of sex worker-led labour unions.
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Argentina | Latin America | 2019 |
Asociación de Mujeres Meretrices de la República Argentina (AMMAR) (AMMAR)
Asociación de Mujeres Meretrices de la República Argentina (AMMAR) (AMMAR)Argentina Subnational, National Spanish This national network advocates at the national level for the regulation of sex work in Argentina and through its provincial branches across the country. It has been active for more that 20 years and is recognised as a strong, political and influential organization that campaigns with high reach among the community and general society. AMMAR is a founding member of Redtrasex, the Latin American and Caribbean Female Sex Workers Network. Learn more
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Argentina | Latin America | 2015 |
Asociación de Mujeres Trabajadoras Sexuales 21 de Septiembre (ASOTRASEX)
Asociación de Mujeres Trabajadoras Sexuales 21 de Septiembre (ASOTRASEX)Ecuador Local Spanish Founded in 1998, Asociación de Mujeres de Trabajadoras Sexuales ’21 de septiembre’ trains sex workers in human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights and leadership as well as carrying out advocacy to improve the lives of sex workers in the province of Esmeraldas, Ecuador. With this grant, the organisation will organise national and local workshops, produce advocacy materials and strengthen its national and local coordination.
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Ecuador | Latin America | 2021 |
Asociacion de Mujeres Trabajadoras Sexuales 21 de Septiembre (ASOTRASEX)
Asociacion de Mujeres Trabajadoras Sexuales 21 de Septiembre (ASOTRASEX)Dominican Republic National Spanish OTRASEX first originated in 2012 and had its first Board of Directors in 2016. The organisation fights for the respect of sex workers’ human and labour rights in the Dominican Republic. With this grant, the organisation aims to train and support young activists, strengthen its organisation and organise discussions on trade unions and labour rights.
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Dominican Republic | North America/Caribbean | 2021 |
Asociación de Mujeres Trabajadoras Sexuales: “Unidas en la Esperanza” (UNES)
Asociación de Mujeres Trabajadoras Sexuales: “Unidas en la Esperanza” (UNES)Paraguay National Spanish This group promotes public policies and practices that protect women sex workers and that improve their working and living conditions. UNES aims to eradicate all forms of discrimination, stigma, and violence against sex workers. The group carries out sensitisation campaigns in coordination with other sex worker groups in Latin America. UNES organises regular meetings with municipal authorities, health service providers, and local police to promote the wellbeing and rights of sex workers in Paraguay. Learn more
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Paraguay | Latin America | 2017 |
Asociacion de Mujeres Trabajadoras Sexuales: “Unidas en la Esperanza” (UNES)
Asociacion de Mujeres Trabajadoras Sexuales: “Unidas en la Esperanza” (UNES)Paraguay national Spanish Asociacion de Mujeres Trabajadoras Sexuales: “Unidas en la Esperanza” (UNES) promotes public policies and practices that protect women sex workers and that improve their working and living conditions. UNES aims to eradicate all forms of discrimination, stigma, and violence against sex workers. The group carries out sensitisation campaigns in coordination with other sex worker groups in Latin America. UNES organises regular meetings with municipal authorities, health service providers, and local police to promote the wellbeing and rights of sex workers in Paraguay where sex work is not recognised as work.
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Paraguay | Latin America | 2022 |
Asociación de Trabajadoras Sexuales Mujeres del Sur
Asociación de Trabajadoras Sexuales Mujeres del SurPeru Local Spanish This organisation led by women sex workers in southern Peru offers support and training to its members to develop public speaking and leadership skills. Mujeres del Sur works to address police harassment, economic exploitation and violence against sex workers in the work place. The group builds alliances with other sex worker and allied organisations at local, national and international levels. It advocates with local governments for sex work to be recognised as work and for sex workers to be able to access quality health and social services Learn more
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Peru | Latin America | 2018 |
Asociación de Trabajadoras Sexuales Trans de Quito (Aso TST de Quito)
Asociación de Trabajadoras Sexuales Trans de Quito (Aso TST de Quito)Ecuador Local, Subnational Spanish This group was formed by and works for trans street sex workers in Quito, the capital city. The group aims to improve the working conditions on the streets for trans sex workers who are vulnerable to harassment and violence. Aso TST Quito organises frequent meetings with local police, mediates in conflicts, conducts regular outreach work on the streets, and provides health services and various other forms of support to trans sex workers. The group cooperates with other sex worker organisations in Latin America to promote the decriminalisation of sex work through the sex worker network Plaperts. Learn more
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Ecuador | Latin America | 2017 |
Asociación de Trabajadoras Sexuales, Miluska, Vida y Dignidad
Asociación de Trabajadoras Sexuales, Miluska, Vida y DignidadPeru National Spanish This sex worker-led group has been working without previous funding for over 15 years for the recognition of sex work as work. Miluska Vida y Dignidad collaborates with a legal advisor to denounce police violence against sex workers and respond to arrests. The group collaborates with other activists in the country and the region to share experiences and conduct joint advocacy for the human rights of sex workers. By setting up a transit house, the group will provide direct support to women sex workers who have experienced violenc Learn more
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Peru | Latin America | 2019 |
Asociación Nacional de Mujeres Buscando Libertad (ASMUBULI)
Asociación Nacional de Mujeres Buscando Libertad (ASMUBULI)Colombia Local, National Spanish ASUMBULI unites women sex workers in Colombia in their struggle against injustice, inequality and discrimination. The group defends and promotes sex workers’ human rights and aims to create choices and tools which allow sex workers to achieve a better quality of life, and to empower women sex workers in the country. ASMUBULI builds capacity of sex workers in advocacy, governance, democracy, gender, and human rights and supports projects that improves sex workers’ access to health, education, housing, and legal services. The group strategically builds partnerships and conducts national level advocacy, and is building a national sex worker union. At the international level, ASMUBULI works with the regional sex worker network RedTraSex. Learn more
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Colombia | Latin America | 2016 |
Asociación Nacional de Mujeres Buscando Libertad (ASMUBULI)
Asociación Nacional de Mujeres Buscando Libertad (ASMUBULI)Colombia Local, National Spanish ASMUBULI unites women sex workers in Colombia in their struggle against injustice, inequality and discrimination, and actively contributes to the building of a national sex worker union. The group defends and promotes sex workers’ human rights and aims to create choices and tools that allow sex workers to achieve a better quality of life. ASMUBULI builds the capacity of sex workers in advocacy, governance, democracy, gender and human rights, and implements projects that improve sex workers’ access to health, education, housing and legal services. The group strategically builds partnerships to conduct more effective advocacy at the national level. Learn more
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Colombia | Latin America | 2018 |
Association Biowa
Association BiowaBenin Local French This is a new organisation which aims to mobilise and educate women sex workers in urban and rural areas of Benin, using peer learning and outreach to other sex workers as a key strategy. The organisation advocates for improved access to health care and for the decriminalisation of sex work.
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Benin | Africa | 2012 |
Association New Way+
Association New Way+Cameroon Local French This organisation is run by and for sex workers on the outskirts of Douala, Cameroon. Association New Way+ works to increase access to quality health care, including HIV services, for women sex workers. Working primarily at the local level, New Way+ works to mobilise sex workers to stand up against stigma and discrimination and provides information, condoms, HIV services, and referrals. The group coordinates home visits and nutitional support to people living with HIV.
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Cameroon | Africa | 2016 |
Bar Hostess Empowerment & Support Programme (BHESP)
Bar Hostess Empowerment & Support Programme (BHESP)Kenya Local, National English This Kenyan national sex worker-led organisation was created in 1998. BHESP runs three community-led clinics providing free and comprehensive health and legal services to sex workers. The group successfully reaches street sex workers who are considered particularly vulnerable. This organisation identifies county laws oppressing sex workers across Kenya and repeals them through legal actions, demonstrations, media campaigns and petitions. BHESP works closely with other sex worker groups in the country and region. Learn more
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Kenya | Africa | 2018 |
Bar Hostess Empowerment & Support Programme (BHESP)
Bar Hostess Empowerment & Support Programme (BHESP)Kenya Local English BHESP was created in 1998 and runs 3 clinics in Nairobi providing health and legal services to Kenyan women sex workers. In 2020, the organisation had reached more than 20,000 individuals. To reach its aim of providing quality services to sex workers, BHESP works with over 180 sex worker peer educators. BHESP was instrumental in the creation of the Kenya Sex Workers Alliance. Learn more
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Kenya | Africa | 2020 |
Berufsverband Erotische und sexuelle Dienstleistungen e.V (BesD)
Berufsverband Erotische und sexuelle Dienstleistungen e.V (BesD)Germany National English Berufsverband Erotische und sexuelle Dienstleistungen e.V (BesD) is a group that unites sex workers from all backgrounds and regions of Germany. The group engages in the public debate around fair and dignified working conditions in sex work. Operating as a professional union, BesD not only amplifies the voices of sex workers in media and with policymakers, but also fights for improved access to information, training and greater solidarity among the sex worker community. Learn more
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Germany | Europe | 2016 |
Berufsverband Erotische und sexuelle Dienstleistungen e.V (BesD)
Berufsverband Erotische und sexuelle Dienstleistungen e.V (BesD)Germany Local, National English This group unites sex workers from all backgrounds and regions of Germany to engage in the public debate around fair and dignified working conditions in the sex industry. Operating as a professional union, BesD amplifies the voices of sex workers in media, public debates and conversations with policymakers. The group provides information to sex workers and works to build greater solidarity among sex worker communities. In response to a recent law on mandatory registration for sex workers, the group is supporting migrant sex workers in Germany who are most affected by the change. Learn more
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Germany | Europe | 2018 |
Berufsverband Erotische und sexuelle Dienstleistungen e.V (BesD)
Berufsverband Erotische und sexuelle Dienstleistungen e.V (BesD)Germany National English This group unites sex workers from all backgrounds and regions of Germany to organise and engage in the public debate around fair and dignified working conditions in sex work. Operating as a professional union, BesD not only amplifies the voices of sex workers in media, public debates and conversations with policymakers, but also fights for improved access to information, training and greater solidarity among the sex worker community. Learn more
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Germany | Europe | 2014 |