17 December, 2009 is the 7th annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. Each year this day is marked by more sex workers and sex worker rights activists globally! This event was created to call attention to hate crimes committed against sex workers all over the globe.

The ICRSE campaign for 2009 calls for safer working conditions and respect for sex workers.

The impact of violence on sex workers affects all of us, including family, partners, friends communities, and colleagues. This year for the 2009, 17 December Campaign we want to have a special focus under the theme:

'PEOPLE CARE!' About us & we care about people. We are not alone.
You know that sex workers are not alone and that we are part of communities. In most of our countries we struggle against our governments for the recognition of the rights of sex workers to work; so they can take care of themselves and the people they love and do this under safe and healthy working and living conditions.The role of punitive laws in preventing sex workers from accessing the services and support they need has been recognised by the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon and Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS among many others.

Current moves to 'save us' by criminalising our clients means we lose our livelihood, we lose our right to make decisions about our lives and we are forced to rely on others who take advantage of our lack of rights. We ask our governments "Do you Care? Do you care about violence against sex workers? We do and our families do. We hope you do too.

How can you participate in this day?
Share your event here on sexworkeurope.org. We will gather all the news and events related to this day from our members and beyond and post it here on our site.

Are you holding a protest, vigil, cultural event, or other activity to honour this day? Let us know.
Develop messages with affected communities - messages of support, experiences, love, concern, solidarity ...we will post them,
Do you have testimonies, stories and messages, statements, drawings, videos or images from families, friends and communities calling for safer working conditions and respect for sex workers.
Are you on FACEBOOK? Then consider joining the "Online Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers! 17th december" group. This group asks it's members to change their Facebook photo to a red umbrella for 17 December. The ICRSE also has a Facebook page!
Add a red umbrella logo to your website or blog; use it everywhere! You can find some examples here.
We are also looking for positive examples of protections being given to or [created by] sex workers to put on our site. For example, hotlines, bad date info, handbooks, self-defence, self-organisation working in collective work settings, or teaching. But also government policies such as recognising violence against sex workers as a hate crimes (for example in Liverpool, UK), court cases where perpetrators have been convicted, or establishing safe working zones. If you have examples to contribute then let us know.

In 2007 ICRSE network members participated in events, protests and actions promoting the rights of sex workers to live and work without violence and to be protected when they are the targets of violence.

The 2008 theme was FOCUS ITALY! Highlighting protests and actions led by sex workers and allies in resistance to the extreme police repression of migrant sex workers and the proposed bill outlawing street prostitution in the country.

Let’s all work together in 2009 to make this the strongest campaign yet! Let’s work in solidarity to show the world that:

“PEOPLE CARE! About us & we care about people. We are not alone.”back to top
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