Today Women With a Vision wishes to join sex worker allies and advocates from around the world in recognizing December 17th, the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.
The day of recognition was founded in 2003 by the Sex Worker Outreach Project (SWOP), and it is a day met with actions, events, and vigils in many cities around the world to call attention to the violence that is commonly committed against sex workers. These events also often address issues relating to stigma and discrimination, which allows violence against sex workers to occur with impunity.
On a daily basis, sex workers here in the United States and across the globe face severe repression, stigmatization, marginalization, violence, and human rights abuses. They are often left vulnerable to exploitation and abuse by the police. They are also often reluctant to come forward for HIV-related services out of concern that they will be placed at risk of arrest, fines, mistreatment, or further stigmatization.
Here at Women With a Vision, we are renewing our commitment to fighting for the human rights protection of street-based sex workers and their families here in New Orleans and Louisiana. We have worked diligently over the years to address the needs of women impacted by laws and policies that make them unsafe, that put them at risk for violence, stigmatization, and marginalization. Today we remember the strength of the women we’ve worked with over the years as they’ve fought for visibility and basic rights, and rededicate ourselves to doing the same.
In the coming year, WWAV will continue to target policies that increase violence against women and exacerbate the structural factors of criminalization, poverty, economic discrimination, HIV vulnerability, and the poor availability of health care. WWAV will continue to mobilize resources and opportunities to better serve the needs of sex workers, advocating for the decriminalization of sex work, and educating around policies that impact their lives.
We ask you to join us in 2014 in our work to fight for sex workers’ rights and against violence and stigma. Help raise the voices of sex workers across New Orleans and the South!
Sex Workers’ Rights are Human Rights!