Grantee-Partners Map

Adarsha

India

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.

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.

And Soppeku (AS)

Senegal

Local, National

French

And Soppeku (meaning “together for a change in behaviour”) is a ten-year-old sex worker organisation that aims to improve sex workers’ knowledge of their rights and achieve legal reform in Senegal to ensure that sex work is respected as work. And Soppeku provides leadership training for sex workers and engages in advocacy with parliamentarians and other politicians. The group is comprised of women sex workers who live and work in the suburbs of Dakar and in the regions of Thies, Kaolack and Sédhiou.

Anonymous

ANON

Anonymous

ANON

Anonymous

ANON

Local, Subnational, National

English

Asociación de Trabajadoras Sexuales Mujeres del Sur

Peru

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

Asociación de Trabajadoras Sexuales Sarita Colonia

Peru

Local

Spanish

This women sex worker-led organisation is based in Iquitos, a remote city in the Amazon area of Peru. Sarita Colonia reaches sex workers of different generations as well as Indigenous sex workers. The group conducts peer education among sex workers and organises workshops to build knowledge of sex workers on human rights and HIV. Sarita Colonia works to influence local policies and laws, including regional ordinances, that impact the lives of sex workers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Coletivo Rebu – Minas Gerais

Brazil

Local

Spanish

This group was established in 2015 to benefit cis, trans and transvestite sex workers working on the streets and in hotels in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. Coletivo Rebu organises conversation circles with sex workers in hotel venues, conducts outreach work, distributes condoms and lubricants, and gives information regarding health prevention and sexual and reproductive rights of sex workers. The group advocates at the city, regional and state levels for the rights of sex workers.

Community Health Rights Advocacy (CHeRA)

Malawi

Local, National

English

This young community network advocates for the rights of male sex workers in Malawi, who face a double stigma related to homosexuality and sex work. It conducts outreach throughout the country to expand its reach. CHeRA is building a network of friendly health-care providers by training health workers in five districts of Malawi on the health needs and rights of sex workers.

Fundación Margen de Apoyo y Promoción de la Mujer

Chile

Local, Subnational, National

Spanish

This group promotes the sexual and reproductive health and human rights of women sex workers in Chile. Fundación Margen reaches around 2000 sex workers across the country, including many migrant women, by distributing condoms, providing peer education on HIV and human rights, offering accompaniment of sex workers to health centres, and organising informative community workshops. The Red Umbrella Fund grant supports the group to expand its efforts to build local leadership and advocacy skills of sex workers in different parts of the country.

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)

Jagriti Mahila Mahasangha (JMM)

Nepal

Local, Subnational, National

English

This network unites 27 community-based organisations of women sex workers in 22 districts of Nepal. JMMS raises awareness among sex workers about HIV and works to end violence against sex workers perpetrated by police, institutions, clients and intimate partners. The network provides legal counselling to sex workers and supports them with filing complaints with the police. At the national level, JMMS engages in CEDAW reporting processes and advocates against laws and policies that discriminate against sex workers and criminalise them.

Jamaica Sex Work Coalition (JSWC)

Jamaica

National

English

This group of sex workers works to change laws that criminalise aspects of sex work in Jamaica. SWAJ promotes the rights of sex workers and aims to reduce stigma through outreach to the general public and videos that show the human face of sex work. The group organises workshops with police officers to sensitise them about how to interact with sex workers, especially street workers who are the most vulnerable to police harassment. SWAJ plans to organise a conference where sex workers will share their experiences with law enforcement.

New Jersey Red Umbrella Alliance (NJRUA)

United States

Local, Subnational

English

This alliance of sex worker activists promotes the human rights of sex workers living and working in New Jersey. In the context of rising criminalisation, NJRUA provides community support and campaigns for better policies. The group conducts outreach to street sex workers and organises community activities in various cities throughout the state of New Jersey, informing sex workers about their rights, distributing condoms and expanding its network among sex workers.

Nigeria Sex Workers Association (NSWA)

Nigeria

National

English

This national network of sex workers in Nigeria provides trainings to build the capacity of its 24 member organisations. This group particularly works on reducing violence from the police by educating sex workers on how to document abuse when they face it and by organising workshops with police officers on respect for human rights. NSWA provides trainings to sex workers to build self-esteem and public-speaking skills so that sex workers can speak out more effectively in national and international forums.

Organización de Trabajadoras del Sexo (OTS)

El Salvador

Local, National

Spanish

This national sex worker organisation in El Salvador aims to end the discrimination, abuse and violence experienced daily by sex workers at work, within their families and in society in general. The group provides peer support and information to women sex workers working on the street and in parks, with particular attention to sex workers living with HIV, young sex workers, mothers and elderly sex workers. OTS reaches out to media and builds partnerships with feminist organisations to more effectively influence policymakers, and improve laws and practices in order to protect the human rights of sex workers.

Plataforma Latinoamericana de Personas que Ejercen Trabajo Sexual (PLAPERTS)

Regional Network - Ecuador Based

Subnational, National, International

Spanish

This regional network, created in 2013 and based in Ecuador, unites 28 member organisations of sex workers of all genders in seven countries of Latin America. PLAPERTS offers trainings to its members to develop strategies and conduct political advocacy for the recognition of the labour and other human rights of sex workers. PLAPERTS reinforces local leadership and shares tools among its members to denounce the violations of sex workers’ rights in the challenging context of rising conservatism and violence in Latin America.

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.

Sex Workers Network Bangladesh (SWNOB)

Bangladesh

Local, Subnational, National

English

This national network unites 29 member organisations representing sex workers of all genders and different localities in Bangladesh. The group aims to strengthen its member organisations by building their leadership capacities. SWNOB works with community leaders and the media to raise awareness about the human rights of sex workers, and takes action against brothel evictions and violence from law enforcement institutions. SWNOB advocates at the national level for the inclusion of sex workers in the country’s social security strategy

Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network (SWAN)

Regional Network - Hungary Based

International

English

This regional network unites sex workers of all genders and their allies from 18 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. SWAN provides a joint advocacy platform for the voices of sex workers in regional and national debates on health, labour rights and safety for sex workers. The network exposes violence against sex workers. Through training and a mentorship programme, SWAN builds the capacity of sex workers to effectively use available tools and resources in their community mobilisation and advocacy efforts.

Sramajibi Mahila Sangha (SMS)

India

Local, National

English

This group in West Bengal advocates for the rights of sex workers at local and national levels in India. SMS has been actively opposing a harmful new anti-trafficking bill. The group interacts with government departments to ensure access to social entitlements for sex workers and to secure their participation in advisory and decision-making bodies that address issues relevant to them and their families. The group runs 20 Self-Regulatory Boards, an effective community-led anti-trafficking mechanism that has been endorsed by the Supreme Court of India