Grantee-Partners Map

Uganda Network of Sex Worker-Led Organisations (UNESO)

Uganda

National

English

This network was established in 2015 to develop a common vision and mission among sex worker-led organisations across Uganda. It creates safe spaces where sex workers can convene in a country with high levels of violence against sex workers and LGBTQ people. UNESO maps sex worker organisations in rural areas and provides leadership, fundraising, and financial management training for sex workers.

Africa Sex Worker Alliance

Kenya

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.

Hommes pour les Droits et la Santé Sexuelle (HODSAS)

Democratic Republic of the Congo

National

French

HODSAS is an organisation for sex workers operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo. HODSAS supports its members in managing their health. With this grant, HODSAS will organise trainings on sexual health and rights, distribute sanitary pads and organise radio shows on sexual health and rights and family planning in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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.

Ohotu Diamond Women Initiative (Ohotu former WOPI)

Nigeria

Local, Subnational, National

English

This sex worker-led organisation in Lagos advocates for the human and labour rights of sex workers of all genders, sexual identities and backgrounds. The group trains sex workers on human rights and builds partnerships with local authorities to prevent and address violence against sex workers. ODWI plans to use the grant to run a media campaign to address stigma against sex workers and set up a crisis centre to respond to human rights abuses and support sex workers who have experienced violence.

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.

Sisonke – National Sex Worker Movement of South Africa

South Africa

Local, Subnational, National

English

This national network of sex workers strives for the decriminalisation of sex work and for all sex workers to be treated with respect and dignity. Sisonke fosters solidarity among sex workers and advocates for better access to health services and protection from violence. The group provides HIV and human rights information through peer outreach work, builds capacity of sex workers through training, and provides legal services. Sisonke strategically works in partnership with allied organisations to strengthen its influence and participates in relevant government spaces.

Alcondoms Cameroun

Cameroon

Local, National

French

This group provides health and HIV services to sex workers of all genders. Alcondoms organises workshops for law enforcement, health care providers and others to promote respect for sex workers’ rights, and to address stigma and violence. The Red Umbrella Fund grant will enable the group to develop advocacy material such as a documentary about the experiences of sex workers in Cameroon.

Women of Power Initiative (WOPI)

Nigeria

Local

English

This emerging group of sex workers includes many migrants in the capital city of Lagos. WOPI runs a nightly outreach programme, offering HIV testing and counselling services. The group also trains sex workers in leadership skills and builds their knowledge on sexual and human rights advocacy as a strategy to counter violence and abuse.

Sisonke – National Sex Worker Movement of South Africa

South Africa

Local, Subnational, National

English

This group strives for the recognition of sex work as work and for all sex workers to be treated with respect and dignity. Sisonke fosters solidarity among sex workers, provides educational support and legal services and advocates for better access to health and protection from violence. The Red Umbrella Fund grant contributes to the organisation’s progress towards becoming an independent and united movement, led by sex workers and for all sex workers across South Africa.

Ohotu Diamond Women Initiative (Ohotu formerly WOPI)

Nigeria

Local, Subnational, National

English

WOPI is the only visible, self-led group of sex workers in Nigeria. The organisation supports female sex workers mobilizing for their rights in the capital Lagos and organizes rallies and media campaigns for decriminalisation. They have been expanding their activities to other parts of the country and are increasing their influence at national level where they advocate for longer-term improvement of sex workers’ living and working condition and the recognition of their human rights.

Kenya Sex Workers Alliance (KESWA)

Kenya

National

English

This national network of sex workers works with and connects 35 sex worker-led organisations in Kenya to improve their skills and knowledge on topics such as organisational development, fundraising and human rights policy advocacy. KESWA organises campaigns to influence law and policy makers at national level to decriminalise sex work and improve living and working conditions for sex workers and end the high levels of violence against sex workers.

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.

$carlet Timor Kollectivu

Timor Leste

National

English

This national sex workers’ collective works to improve sex workers’ access to HIV and increase recognition of their human rights, including the right to fair working conditions, and freedom from violence and police harassment. $TK represents sex workers of all genders in government decision-making spaces and civil society, particularly with regard to HIV.

EMPOWER Chiang Mai

Thailand

Local, National, International

English

The sex worker organisation Empower Chiang Mai builds leadership capacity among Thai and migrant sex workers and advocates for safe and healthy work conditions. Created in 1985, the group is well connected nationally and internationally and known for its creative activism. Empower runs a museum called “This is Us” aimed at educating the public and has produced books and films. The group facilitates exchanges between sex workers in the region and campaigns for the decriminalisation of sex work.

EMPOWER Chiang Mai

Thailand

Local, National, International

English

The sex worker-led organisation Empower Chiang Mai working with women sex workers and particularly migrant women sex workers, advocates for safe working conditions. Created in 1985, the group is well connected nationally and internationally and is known for its creative activism. The group also runs a museum to educate the public on sex workers’ rights.

Hong Kong Transgender Migrant Service Workers Network (HKTGMSWN)

Hong Kong

Local

English

This emerging group in Hong Kong reaches out to migrant transgender sex workers with HIV and STI prevention information, legal support, and human rights capacity-building support, provided by peer educators. The group combats stigma and discrimination faced by transgender sex workers through public awareness campaigns. The ‘Don’t Cut my Hair Campaign’ addresses the humiliation faced by trans women in prisons in Hong Kong who are ordinarily placed in the men’s department and forced to cut their hair short.

HIV/AIDS Research and Welfare Centre (HARC)

Bangladesh

Local, National

English

HARC represents over 5,000 women sex workers mainly in the capital city Dhaka. The group works to improve sex workers’ health by conducting peer outreach and condom distribution, building sex workers’ knowledge on HIV and STIs and by providing referrals to services. The group builds sex workers’ skills in human rights advocacy and collaborates with the National Human Rights Commission and other allies to lobby for changes in laws and policies that negatively impact on sex workers’ lives.

HIV/AIDS Research and Welfare Centre (HARC)

Bangladesh

Local, National

English

HARC represents over 5,000 women sex workers mainly in the capital city Dhaka. The group works to improve sex workers’ health by conducting peer outreach and condom distribution, building sex workers’ knowledge on HIV and STIs and by providing referrals to services. The group builds sex workers’ skills in human rights advocacy and collaborates with the National Human Rights Commission and other allies to lobby for changes in laws and policies that negatively impact on sex workers’ lives. They were featured for their COVID-19 response on Australian TV: https://www.dw.com/en/covid-19-special-bangladeshs-sex-workers/av-59050940

HIV/AIDS Research and Welfare Centre (HARC)

Bangladesh

Local, National

English

This sex worker-led group promotes sex workers’ safety, health, and human rights by mobilising the community and organising capacity-building opportunities for sex workers. HARC provides referrals to HIV and sexual and reproductive health services. The group also challenges laws and policies that are harmful to sex workers. Building on the knowledge and experience gained through the group’s previous Red Umbrella Fund grant, HARC plans to use this grant to build the capacity of five local sex worker groups in five major cities of Bangladesh to address human rights violations and promote respect for sex workers.

Petubuhan Advokasi Masayrakat Terpinggir (PAMT)

Malaysia

Local, Subnational, National

English

Established in 2011, this organisation supports sex workers’ access to health care through peer education, condom distribution and referrals to health and social services. The group supports sex workers in setting up their own support groups, and aims to improve the living and working conditions of sex workers in the country. With the Red Umbrella Fund grant, PAMT will set up a crisis response team to support sex workers who face violence, exploitation, and arrest.

Vietnam Network of Sex Workers (VNSW)

Vietnam

Local, National

English

This network unites female sex workers who are organised in peer support groups in 16 provinces. It aims to represent the voice of sex workers at national level to improve laws, policies, and practices that impact on sex workers’ lives. Sex workers benefit from the trainings in computer, fundraising and management skills organised by the network. Established in 2012, the network is developing its first strategic plan with support from the Red Umbrella Fund.

Silver Rose

Russia

Subnational, National

Russian

Silver Rose is a nation-wide peer support group of sex workers with representation in eight different cities across Russia. It provides health, psychological and legal services and support for sex workers. They advocate for the decriminalisation of sex work in Russia and the abolition of the administrative penalty on prostitution.

Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association (Red Umbrella Turkey – Kimizi Semsiye)

Turkey

Local, National

English

This organisation works locally and nationally to improve the human rights and wellbeing of sex workers in Turkey. Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association supports access to sexual health and prevention services for sex workers of all genders and increases visibility and awareness of human rights violations they experience. Red Umbrella monitors and documents violence against sex workers, collaborates with bar associations to train lawyers and provides legal services to sex workers. The group builds alliances with community groups, NGOs, service providers, the United Nations, academia and media to strengthen its lobby towards key decision makers to improve laws and practices that affect sex workers.

Sex Worker Advocacy and Resistance Movement (SWARM)

United Kingdom

National

English

This workers’ cooperative aims to strengthen the sex workers’ rights movement through organising community workshops and festivals, networking and collaboration. SWARM advocates for full decriminalisation of sex work through lobbying parliamentarians, amplifying sex workers’ voices in public debates, and speaking out in media. The cooperative actively campaigns against the recent rise in arrests, unlimited detention, and deportation of migrant sex workers in the UK who are being specifically targeted since the Brexit vote.

TAMPEP – European Network for the Promotion of Rights and Health among Migrant Sex Workers

Regional Network - Finland Based

International

English

TAMPEP is a migrant sex worker-led European network that focuses exclusively on advocacy and networking for the promotion of social inclusion, economic empowerment, health access, and legal rights and safety of migrant and mobile sex workers. It collects and maintains updated information on the political and legal situation on sex work in European countries, supports national and European advocacy efforts through the production and dissemination of position papers and amplifies the voices of migrant sex workers by mobilising network members and ensuring their presence in key EU-level advocacy spaces.

The Red Edition – Migrant Sex Work Group

Austria

Local

English

Created in 2015, this is the first sex worker-led organisation in Austria. Red Edition welcomes sex workers of all genders, identities and ethnic backgrounds and has a specific focus on migrant sex workers. The group promotes the full decriminalisation of sex work and the recognition of sex work as work. This grant supports Red Edition to expand its outreach work, strengthen its organisational and financial capacities and to develop a strategic plan.

TAMPEP – European Network for the Promotion of Rights and Health among Migrant Sex Workers

Regional Network - Finland Based

International

English

This self-led European network promotes the human rights of migrant sex workers at local, national and regional levels in Europe. To support its advocacy, the network documents and shares the stories, good practices and needs of its members, develops position papers, and supports sex workers’ presence in key advocacy spaces. TAMPEP actively reaches out to other migrants’ rights organisations to build alliances and collaborate for migrants’ rights in Europe.

The Red Edition – Migrant Sex Work Group

Austria

Subnational, National

English

Established in 2015, The Red Edition unites sex workers of all genders, identities and ethnic backgrounds with a particular focus on migrant sex workers. The group conducts regular community meetings and outreach activities. The Red Edition advocates for the recognition of sex work as work among policy makers and the labour union in Austria. With this grant The Red Edition will explore social entrepreneurship opportunities to enhance the sustainability of the group in the future.

Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association (Red Umbrella Turkey – Kimizi Semsiye)

Turkey

Local, National

English

This group documents violence and other human rights violations against sex workers and provides legal assistance to sex workers of all genders. The group collects data that is used for its public awareness raising activities targeting civil society, media and academia and for lobbying with government officials to improve the legislation that affects sex workers in Turkey.

Silver Rose

Russia

Local

Russian

Supporting an expanding network of self-help initiatives throughout Russia, Silver Rose works with diverse groups of sex workers – including migrants, those who are HIV positive and those who engage in substance abuse – to advocate for changes in policies which marginalise sex workers. Silver Rose also uses peer support groups and legal volunteers to engage in strategic litigation.

Sex Worker Open University (SWOU)

United Kingdom

Local

English

This collective brings together sex workers of all genders and sexual orientations, and works closely with sex workers who are migrants. SWOU organizes public events such as film festivals and public debates to educate people about stigma and violations of sex workers’ rights, and uses research to challenge people’s stereotypes about the sex work industry.

Sex Work Polska

Poland

Local, Subnational, National

English

Formed in 2014, this organisation provides services to sex workers, networking opportunities and carries out advocacy activities. The organisation works with a particular focus on outreach and the legal environment and its impact on sex workers in Poland.

European Sex Workers Rights Alliance (ESWA)

Regional Network - Belgium Based

National, International

English

This sex worker-led network has a membership of 105 organisations across 35 countries of Europe and Central Asia. At national level, ESWA supports sex workers’ self organisation though trainings, development of activities or strategic plan as well as submission to governmental consultations. At European level, ICRSE coordinates advocacy and campaigns and has been very active in building alliances with key European civil society networks across movements, and especially with migrants and LGBTI+ organisations.

Note: Prior to 2020 ESWA was known as International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE)

Association for Support of Marginalized Workers STAR-STAR

Macedonia

Local, Subnational, National

English

This sex worker-led organisation was the first sex workers’ collective in the Balkans and was legally registered in 2010. The group includes sex workers from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds to promote the human rights of all sex workers and address the diverse needs of sex workers. The group organises advocacy trainings for sex workers, monitors political parties’ views on sex work, and works to influence relevant laws, policies and practices.

Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network (SWAN)

Regional Network - Hungary Based

International

English

This network unites sex worker-led organisations and their allies in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The network works to create societies where sex work is decriminalised and empowered sex workers can live free from violence, stigma and discrimination. SWAN provides capacity building to sex worker-led groups to advocate for their rights, support community mobilisation efforts and provides a space for its members to share resources and experiences.

Syndicat du Travail Sexuel (STRASS)

France

Local, National

English

This sex worker-led union advocates for the interests of sex workers from all sectors of the industry. The group carries out advocacy, legal and capacity building activities to fight against violence and exploitation in sex work in France.

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.

International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE)

Regional Network - Belgium Based

National, International

English

This sex worker-led network unites 103 organisations from 32 countries in Europe and Central Asia with the aim to increase the visibility and influence of sex workers at the European level. ESWA advocates against the criminalisation of sex work, and conducts research and advocacy on rights violations against sex workers. The network organises training opportunities for sex workers on advocacy and human rights, and builds partnerships with other movements such as human rights, LGBT and migrant organisations.

Note: In 2020 ICRSE became European Sex Workers Rights Alliance (ESWA)

Public Association Shah-Aiym

Regional Network - Kyrgyzstan Based

National, International

Russian

This network unites sex workers from across Kyrgyzstan and neighbouring countries (mainly Tajikistan and Russia) to build peer support structures and amplify the voices of sex workers in public and policy debates. Shah-Aiym documents rights violations and builds the capacity of sex workers on leadership, advocacy, safety and security. In Kyrgyzstan, Shah-Aiym aims to protect existing legislation that decriminalises sex work while speaking out against police violence against sex workers. In Tajikistan, Shah Aiym builds the capacity of sex workers to enable the creation of an independent national organisation.