Grantee-Partners Map

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.

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

Regional Network - Belgium Based

National, International

English

This sex worker-led network unites 85 organisations and 150 individuals from 30 countries with the aim to increase the visibility and influence of sex workers at the European level. ICRSE 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 advocay and human rights and builds partnerships with other movements.

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

Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network (SWAN)

Regional Network - Hungary Based

International

English

Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network (SWAN) is a regional network that unites sex workers and their allies from 18 countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It provides a joint advocacy platform for sex workers’ voices in regional and national debates on health, labour rights, and safety for sex workers of all genders and exposes violence against sex workers. Through training and a mentorship programme, SWAN builds capacity of sex workers to use available tools and resources in their community mobilisation and advocacy efforts.

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.

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.

SCOT-PEP

United Kingdom

National

English

Founded in 1989, this is the oldest organisation that is led by sex workers in Scotland. It campaigns for sex work to be recognised both socially and legally as work, and for sex workers’ voices to be included in public debates. SCOT-PEP lobbies the Scottish parliament for the decriminalisation of sex work and against the ‘Safer Lives, Changed Lives’ policy strategy which aims to eradicate violence against women and defines sex work as exploitation, irrespective of the opinion of the women involved.

Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network (SWAN)

Regional Network - Hungary Based

International

English

This regional network unites sex workers and their allies from 18 countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the struggle to promote the human rights and improve the quality of life of sex workers. It provides a joint advocacy platform for sex workers’ voices in regional and national debates on health, labour rights, and safety for sex workers of all genders and exposes violence against sex workers.

Syndicat du Travail Sexuel (STRASS)

France

Local, National

English

This national union represents the interests of sex workers of all genders and backgrounds, and from all branches of the sex industry in France through public education, advocacy and strategic litigation. The group campaigns for the legal recognition of sex work as work, and counters discrimination and stigmatisation with the aim to create an environment of respect and inclusiveness towards sex workers. Self-organisation of sex workers is encouraged through the creation of local federations in different cities.

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.

Red por el Reconocimiento de lxs Trabajadorxs Sexuales (RxRTS)

Argentina

Local, Subnational, National

Spanish

Red por el Reconocimiento de lxs Trabajadorxs Sexuales’s mission is to promote new strategies throughout Argentina to demand and develop public policies for the protection of sex workers’ rights. Formed in 2012, the organisation has been crucial in organising relief for sex workers during the Covid-19 pandemic and took part in advocacy campaigns at Latin American level.

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.

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.

Associação Mulheres Guerreiras

Brazil

Local

English

Formed in 2005, Associação Mulheres Guerreiras aims to promote sex workers’ human rights through addressing stigma and discrimination and advocating for law reform. Based in Campinas, the organisation provides legal support and healthcare training locally and supports national advocacy efforts. The group welcomes all sex workers and has a membership of mainly black and trans sex workers.

Plataforma Latinoamericana de Personas que Ejercen Trabajo Sexual (PLAPERTS)

Regional Network - Ecuador Based

Local, Subnational, National, International

Spanish

Sex work is criminalised in most Latin American countries and some countries implement restrictive legal systems. As a regional network, PLAPERTS unites sex worker-led organisations working with sex workers of all genders in 11 Latin American countries. Formed in Peru in 2013, the regional network is now based in Ecuador. The network is a space to share information and provides capacity building to its members as well as advocates for the fulfilment of sex workers’ human rights. With this grant, the network will implement a virtual training on social protection and carry out campaigns demystifying sex work and promoting the recognition of sex work as work in the Latin American context.

Centro de Apoyo a las Identidades Trans A. C.

Mexico

Local

Spanish

This self-led group of trans sex workers was legally constituted in 2011 to advocate for trans sex workers’ rights. To do so, the organisation firmly believes in the meaningful involvement of sex workers and aims to increase trans sex workers’ ‘social capital’ through peer-to-peer learning in the metropolitan area of Mexico City.

Alianza Mexicana de Trabajadoras Sexuales (AMETS)

Mexico

Local

Spanish

Founded in 2017, this self-led group in Mexico City unites diverse women sex workers, including trans women and women working on the streets, in their fight against stigma and discrimination and for the recognition of sex work as work. With this grant, AMETS is organising workshops for sex workers on human rights, public health from a political perspective, access to justice and safety, and leadership. The groups distributes condoms and conducts peer outreach to promote HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health and rights among sex workers.

Asociación de Trabajadoras Sexuales, Miluska, Vida y Dignidad

Peru

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

Organización de Trabajadoras del Sexo (OTS)

El Salvador

Local, National

Spanish

This national sex worker organisation 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 and others to more effectively influence policy makers at local and national levels to improve laws and practices to that protect the human rights of sex workers.

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.

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.

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.

Fundación Margen de Apoyo y Promoción de la Mujer

Chile

Local, Subnational, National

Spanish

Fundación Margen de Apoyo y Promoción de la Mujer is a group that promotes sexual and reproductive health and human rights of women sex workers in Chile. The group reaches around 2,000 sex workers, including many migrant women, across the country through condom distribution, peer education on HIV and human rights, accompaniment of sex workers to health centres and by organising informative workshops. The Red Umbrella Fund grant is enabling the group to expand its efforts to build leadership and advocacy skills of sex workers in different parts of the country.

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).

Associação Mulheres Guerreiras

Brazil

Local

Spanish

Associação Mulheres Guerreiras is a group of sex workers in Campinas, Brazil that aims to end police violence, and tackles stigma and discrimination against cis and trans women sex workers. The group builds solidarity among sex workers, including sex workers living with HIV, in Jardim Itatinga, one of the largest urban sex worker zones in Latin America. Mulheres Guerreiras mobilises sex workers and supporters using arts and cultural events, and engages directly with key decision makers to influence policy and law enforcement.

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 Trabajadoras Sexuales Sarita Colonia

Peru

Local

Spanish

Sarita Colonia is a women sex worker led organisation based in a remote city of the amazon area in Peru. The group reaches sex workers of different generations as well as indigenous sex workers. The group conducts peer education and capacity building work with sex workers on human rights and HIV. Sarita Colonia aims to influence policies and laws, including regional ordinances, that impact the lives of sex workers.

Associação Mulheres Guerreiras

Brazil

Local

Spanish

This group of women and trans* sex workers in Campinas aims to end violence from police officers, and tackles stigma and discrimination against sex workers. The group builds solidarity among sex workers, including sex workers living with HIV, particularly in Jardim Itatinga, one of the largest urban sex worker zones in Latin America. Mulheres Guerreiras mobilises sex workers and supporters using arts and cultural events, and engages directly with key decision makers to influence policy and implementation.

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. The group reaches around 2000 sex workers across the country through condom distribution, peer education on HIV and human rights, accompaniment of sex workers to health centres and by organising informative workshops. The Red Umbrella Fund grant will enable the group to expand its efforts to build leadership and advocacy skills of sex workers in different parts of the country.

Suriname Coalition of Sex Workers (SUCOS)

Suriname

National

English

This sex worker-led group was created to promote the human rights of sex workers by pursuing decriminalisation of sex work and combating stigma in all its forms. With the Red Umbrella Fund grant, SUCOS will launch a two-year media campaign to illustrate sex workers’ stories and put sex workers’ demands forward. The group reaches out to law enforcement agencies, community and religious leaders to educate them about sex workers’ rights. SUCOS unites diverse sex workers including transgender people, migrants, and people living with HIV in Suriname.

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.

Suriname Coalition of Sex Workers (SUCOS)

Suriname

National

English

Created in 2015, this group unites diverse sex workers including trans people, migrant workers, and people living with HIV. SUCOS promotes the human rights of sex workers by pursuing decriminalisation of sex work and combating stigma against sex workers in Suriname. The group educates community members, law enforcement officers and religious leaders about sex workers’ rights. By training its members in how to engage with media, the group aims to raise visibility for their messages.

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.

Suriname Coalition of Sex Workers (SUCOS)

Suriname

National

English

Created in 2015, this group unites diverse sex workers including trans people, migrant workers, and people living with HIV. SUCOS promotes the human rights of sex workers by pursuing decriminalisation of sex work and combating stigma against sex workers in Suriname. The group educates community members, law enforcement officers and religious leaders about sex workers’ rights. By training its members in how to engage with media, the group aims to raise visibility for their messages.

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.

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.

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.

Community United for Safety and Protection (CUSP)

United States

Local, National

English

Based in Alaska, this group of sex workers, people who have experienced trafficking and allies works to promote the safety and protection of all people involved in the sex industry in the US. The members include people from diverse genders, ethnicities and backgrounds. CUSP provides a place of safety and protection for sex workers where they can find support and get information about their rights. The group challenges harmful trafficking laws and aims for decriminalisation of sex work through direct lobbying, media outreach and legal action.

Desiree Alliance

United States

Local, National

English

This network of sex worker organisations, communities and individuals across the US organises regular national conference for sex workers . These conferences provide unique opportunities for sex workers and allies to come together to share, learn and strategise for more effective advocacy for sex workers’ rights. Desiree Alliance engages in national and international advocacy by promoting the leadership of sex workers in combating HIV and in United Nations Universal Periodic Review processes.

New Jersey Red Umbrella Alliance (NJRUA)

United States

Local, Subnational, National

English

This group amplifies the voices of a diversity of sex workers through media, storytelling, peer-led trainings and creative advocacy programmes, with the aim of reducing stigma, promoting human rights, increasing access to justice and personal development.

Red Umbrella Project (RedUP)

United States

Local, Subnational

English

This New York-based group organises theatre, storytelling and memoir writing programmes in which sex workers of all genders share experiences with a wide audience to reduce stigma and fight discrimination. The group campaigns for improvements in legislation, such as the ‘No Condoms as Evidence’ campaign, which aims to ban the use of condoms as evidence of prostitution-related offenses. The group builds the leadership skills and capacity of sex workers through trainings that enable them to run their own advocacy campaigns.