Grantee-Partners Map

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Anonymous

ANON

Local, Subnational, National

English

Ashraya

India

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.

Ashraya

India

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.

Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW)

Regional Network - Thailand based

International

English

This regional network unites 54 sex worker organisations in 22 countries with the aim to improve the health and rights of sex workers of all genders in the region. APNSW trains its members on human rights and advocacy strategies, and lobbies regional inter-governmental bodies and UN agencies for improved policies and programmes that affect sex workers. This grant enables the network to strengthen its organisational financial systems and skills to enable it to grow and increase its future fundraising opportunities.

Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW)

Regional Network - Thailand based

International

English

This regional network unites 58 sex worker organisations in 23 countries 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 and trains its members on human rights, setting up sex worker-led legal services and developing advocacy strategies. The grant will enable APNSW to support its members in the areas of organisational development and financial management.

Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW)

Regional Network - Thailand based

International

English

This regional network has 36 active organisational members in 28 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, quality HIV and health services, setting up sex worker-led legal services and developing advocacy strategies.

Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW)

Regional Network - Thailand based

International

English

This regional network 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, quality HIV and health services, setting up sex worker-led legal services and developing advocacy strategies.

Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW)

Regional Network - Thailand based

International

English

This regional network 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.

Asociación Civil CAMBIO Y ACCION

Peru

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.

Asociacion de las Prostitutas del Estado de Piaui (APROSPI)

Brazil

Local, Subnational

English

This self-led group of women sex workers was created in 2008 to advocate for sex workers’ rights and work together with other social justice movements amongst others. With the grant from Red Umbrella Fund, the organisation will work on a documentary to raise the visibility of the realities faced by sex workers in the state of Piauí, Brazil.

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.

Asociación de Mujeres Trabajadoras Sexuales Girasoles Nicaragua

Nicaragua

Local, Subnational, National

Spanish

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.

Asociación Los Caprichos de Goover

Ecuador

Local, Subnational

Spanish

Founded in 2004, Asociación Los Caprichos de Goover sex worker-led group in Quito, Ecuador, unites diverse male sex workers by providing a space where they can come together and ensuring the representation of male sex workers in the sex workers’ rights movement. With this grant, the group will organise a training on sex workers’ rights bringing together sex workers of all genders and decision-makers.

Association for Support of Marginalized Workers STAR-STAR

Macedonia

Local, Subnational

English

This sex workers’ rights organisation in Skopje mobilises sex workers from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds, and working in different sectors of the sex work industry. The group campaigns against discrimination against sex workers, including men and trans* sex workers who face high levels of state harassment. To ensure that sex workers are visible and present in policy development and other decision-making spaces, STAR-STAR works closely with other civil society groups, including those working in the LGBTIQ, health and HIV sectors.

Association for Support of Marginalized Workers STAR-STAR

Macedonia

Local, Subnational, National

English

This self-led organisation promotes the human rights of sex workers and develops programmes that address their diverse needs in Macedonia. STAR-STAR mobilises sex workers from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds who are working in different sectors of the sex industry, ranging from brothels to border highways. The group organises advocacy trainings for sex workers, monitors political parties’ views on sex work, and works to influence relevant laws, policies and practices. STAR-STAR is expanding its network with two additional branches, Star-East and Star-West, to better reach sex workers across the country.

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.

Association for Support of Marginalized Workers STAR-STAR

Macedonia

local, national, international

English

Sex workers in North Macedonia are facing numerous of social and legal problems, which make the community a vulnerable population, susceptive to various human rights violations and drive sex workers to the margins of society. In this context, STAR-STAR Skopje widely known as STAR-The First Sex Workers Collective in the Balkans is a sex workers? community-led collective mobilizing the sex workers to advocate for law reform in partnership with relevant stakeholders to ultimately secure the respect of sex workers? human rights and freedoms.

Best Practices Policy Project (BPPP)

United States

National, International

English

This advocacy organisation is led by sex workers and dedicated to supporting sex workers’ rights across the United States. BPPP produces materials for policy spaces, addresses research and academic questions, provides organizations and advocates with technical assistance and engages in rights-based campaigns.

Best Practices Policy Project (BPPP)

United States

Local, Subnational, National

English

Best Practices Policy Project (BPPP) is an advocacy organisation led by sex workers and dedicated to supporting sex workers’ rights across the United States. BPPP produces materials for use in policy advocacy, addresses research and academic questions, provides organisations and advocates with technical assistance and engages in rights-based campaigns for sex worker’s rights.

Butterfly Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network

Canada

Local, National, International

English

This sex worker-led organisation based in Toronto provides support to and advocates for the rights of Asian and other migrant sex workers in several cities in Canada. Butterfly builds leadership skills and capacities of migrant sex workers through a peer-to-peer programme. Its members visit migrant sex workers in detention centres, prisons and court. The group provides legal support and interpretation services, assists with arranging bail and supports deported workers. Butterfly advocates for changes in anti-trafficking policy and immigration laws to make them less harmful for migrant sex workers.

Butterfly Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network

Canada

Local, National, International

English

This sex worker-led organisation formed in 2014 as a support network for Asian and migrant sex workers in several cities of Canada. Through legal support, interpretation services and advocacy activities, the organisation fights for sex workers’ entitlement to respect, dignity, equality, basic human rights and justice, regardless of their gender, race and immigration status.

Caribbean Sex Work Coalition (CSWC)

Regional Network - Guyana Based

International

English

This network brings together sex workers from organisations across the Caribbean with the aim to promote the health and human rights of sex workers of all genders in the region. CSWC trains its members to become peer educators on HIV and human rights, and builds leadership and advocacy skills.

Caribbean Sex Work Coalition (CSWC)

Regional Network - Guyana Based

National, International

English

Caribbean Sex Work Coalition (CSWC) is a network that brings together sex workers from organisations across the Caribbean with the aim to promote the health and human rights of sex workers of all genders in the region. CSWC trains its members to become peer educators on HIV and human rights, and builds leadership and advocacy skills.

Caribbean Sex Work Coalition (CSWC)

Regional Network - Guyana Based

National, International

English

Created in 2008, Caribbean Sex Work Coalition brings together its sex worker-led member organisations from 6 countries across the Caribbean. The network implements two strategies: advocacy for the promotion of sex workers’ rights and capacity building of its members at national and local levels. With this grant, the networks will organise a training for sex workers from the region to increase their skills on sex worker-led service delivery.

Centro de Informacion para la Prevencion, Movilizacion y Asesoramiento (CIPMAC)

Brazil

Local, Subnational

Spanish

This sex worker-led group in the State of Paraiba in in the north-east of Brazil was set up in 1987. CIPMAC speaks out on the right to self-organize, sex workers’ rights and social justice. With this grant the group will organise workshops on human rights, organise webinars, strengthen its organisation and produce communication materials.

Coalicion de Organizaciones de Trabajadoras y Trabajadores Sexuales de Quito (La Calle en DisPuta)

Ecuador

Local, National, International

Spanish

Known also as La Calle en DisPuta, this new strategic coalition joins together four sex worker organisations that have existed for many years in Quito. The coalition unites sex workers of all genders and gives visibility to sex workers’ struggles against police violence and for the protection of their human rights. The coalition advocates for the labour rights of sex workers and local and national level and aims to create a labour union for sex workers. At regional level, La Calle en DisPuta is connected to the Plataforma Latinoamericana de Personas que Ejercen Trabajo Sexual (PLAPERTS).

Coalition Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre pour le travail du sexe (CAFOC-TS)

Regional Network - Senegal Based

International

French

Formed in 2015, this network of 21 sex worker-led organisations in 14 countries in West and Central Africa focuses on building the leadership of sex workers in Francophone Africa. CAFOC-TS works to harmonise sex workers’ rights advocacy in the region and to document and share the successes of its members. The network collaborates with the African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA) and Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) to better address the specific needs of Francophone sex workers.

Desiree Alliance

United States

National, International

English

This network brings together organisations and individuals from diverse sex worker communities across the US to strengthen their advocacy for the human rights of sex workers. Desiree Alliance supports the development of local and regional sex worker leadership in the country, so that sex workers themselves can advocate for their human, labour and civil rights. The network organises national conferences, providing space and opportunity for sex workers and allies to share, learn and strategise together for more effective sex workers’ rights advocacy.

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.

Engender Rights Centre for Justice (ERCJ)

Zambia

Local, Subnational

English

This group works to protect the rights and interests of sex workers through outreach and capacity building of sex workers of all genders in the capital city Lusaka and surroundings. Three out of four members of the group are HIV positive and one of the priority areas of the group is access to HIV prevention and treatment services for sex workers. The group also trains health care workers and police on the needs and rights of sex workers.

European Sex Workers Rights Alliance (ESWA, former ICRSE)

Regional Network - Netherlands based

international

English

The European Sex Workers Rights Alliance (ESWA)’s membership comprises more than 100 organisations spread across the WHO Europe region. With their actions and approach inspired by their membership, ESWA works to build a strong, vibrant and sustainable network that mobilises national, regional and international advocacy activity that moves us towards long-term, systemic change.