The 56th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) represents a critical juncture in the struggle for decriminalisation of sex work and the recognition of sex workers’ rights. Amidst harmful developments in violence against women discourse, which positions sex work as violence, there is an urgent need for coordinated and sex worker-led advocacy to counter regression and conservative actors that have gained visibility and traction within the multilateral system.
In collaboration with the Global Network of Sex Work Project, SRI supported a delegation of 14 sex workers from different countries to participate in the 56th session of the Human Rights Council. This delegation also benefited from the support of the Count me In! Consortium and the Our Voices, Our Future Consortium.
The delegation met with multiple states, independent experts and UN agencies to further their advocacy. They also organised a protest under the banner “bodily autonomy for all” at the Place des Nations in Geneva during the session.
At the HRC 56 session the delegation made the following statements:
- LALAYAT Statement to the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls
- Akãhatã statement to the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls
- IWRAW statement to the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls
- NSWP statement to the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls
- Women Deliver statement to the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls
Side-Event: Decriminalising sex work
The delegation also presented evidence from sex worker movements on the human rights imperative to decriminalise sex work if states want to respect, protect and fulfil all human rights of everyone. The event was co-sponsored by Amnesty International, Association of Progressive Communications, AWID, WO=MEN, MamaCash, JASS, ICJ, Urgent Action Fund, Our Voices Our Futures (OVOF), Women Deliver, IPPF, Global Action for Trans Equality, Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women, Urgent Action Fund Africa, IWRAW Asia Pacific, ILGA World and Human Rights Watch
Context & background of the side-event
Multiple human rights mechanisms have reaffirmed and recommended to states that decriminalising sex work is a necessary pre-condition for the full realisation of human rights including sexual and reproductive health and rights. Amongst the many principles that underpin the need to decriminalise sex work is the framework of the right to bodily autonomy, which highlights that consent and autonomy of all people are fundamental when making laws and policies. This side event showcased evidence from sex worker movements on the human rights imperative to decriminalise sex work if states want to respect, protect and fulfil all human rights of everyone.
Sex worker movements worldwide have, time and again, highlighted that decriminalisation is the only way to ensure that the rights of everyone are protected, including ensuring safe working conditions, social protection, and access to judicial remedies in case of violations. Yet, sex work advocacy is often hampered by state and non-state actors that undermine sex workers' rights by conflating sex work with trafficking or by framing all sex work as violence. In both these instances, sex workers are seen as passive subjects in need of protection and, consequently need to be rescued and/or rehabilitated.
Carceral and protectionist approaches create a hierarchy of rights of the ‘deserving’ and those of people seen as disposable, as economic and social outcasts, or as pawns in broader capitalist and ethno-nationalist ambitions. We need instead an approach to human rights that truly - in conceptual terms and in practice - treats them as indivisible and which recognises the agency and right to self-determination of every person and peoples. It is through this analysis and practice that we see the connections between our struggles - whether for the rights of sex workers, or for the liberation of Palestine. We are none of us free, until all of us are free.
Panelists
- Jules Kim - Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP)
- Phelister Abdalla, Kenya Sex Workers Alliance (KESWA)
- Kholi Buthelezi, Sisonke
- Leticia Britez, Zona Roja Paraguay and PLAPERTS
Moderated by
- Carrie Shelver, Sexual Rights Initiative
Some quotes from our panellists at this event:
“Sex worker movements worldwide have time and again affirmed that decriminalisation of sex work is the best way to ensure the safety and right to dignity for not only sex workers but the communities that they support with their work. “
"Digitalization spares the agency to work and access to workers who are up there to make their jobs easier. It provides sex workers access to a bit of labour which is essential."
"I own my body, I can decide what I do with my body and I want to be free... We’re here because we’re passionate about the health, safety and rights of our communities."
“The conversation should be done with us and the communities that we have. When these laws are being rejected, we need to gain support, because we know the industry and we know how it works.”
"We work against criminalization, we work against gender discrimination, we work against exploitation, we work against trafficking of women"
"We're looking at the need for freedom of the community, we want to understand what criminalization is, what it means for us in our own understanding of our language, what is the legalization of the community"
Supporting the delegation through communications
A communications plan was devised and implemented with the delegation’s coms working group. This plan was implemented from 17 to 28 June 2024. This plan aimed to highlight the participation of the delegation at HRC 56 by centering and foregrounding the voices of sex workers, counter harmful narratives on sex work and influence public discourse and decision-makers to shore up support for the full decriminalisation of sex work and the realisation of the rights of sex workers.
Messages reflecting the demands of the movements was published by partners and allies of the delegation through social media. You can consult examples here, here, here and here.
As part of this plan, a series of messages aiming to debunk misinformation and factual inaccuracies of the SR VAW report were published on 21 June. See examples from SRI here and from NSWP here.
Some participants and allies to the delegation also related their experiences at HRC 56 through online publications:
Nadia Van der Linde from WO=MEN tells us her account of her participation in the session:
The presentation itself of the report on prostitution and violence against women and girls by the Special Rapporteur takes place in the afternoon in the main room with the colorful ceiling. The small ngo-observation area is packed with sex workers rights defenders and allies. It hurts to see the reality and rights of people who do sex work so blatantly denied in this important human rights space. Seeing extremely conservative States talk about the integrity of women and claiming all sorts of action and policies in place to protect women from violence.
It hurts, but it also harms. Criminalisation and stigma result in discrimination and more violence against and killing of sex workers. Poorer health outcomes. Denial of basic financial services like a bank account. Lack of access to legal services. Abuse by authorities like the police, including theft and rape. Children being denied an education. Loss of custody of your own children. Homelessness.
Erika Smith and N’Jaila Rhee from the The Best Practices Policy Project (BPPP) have blogged about their experience:
On Thursday and Friday Erika and N’Jaila were able to enter the United Nations but given the current questioning of sex worker rights and trans rights, the experience was mixed. Mixed with “rage, anger, disgust” Erika noted when reflecting on the photos she had taken on this day. People walked out of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women’s speech. Why? “The Special Rapporteur pushed for approaches that criminalize the lives of sex workers.” “It was hot inside the UN,” Erika continued. “We are in this important place, standing up for ourselves. Yet regardless of what we say, some delegates have already have their mind made up. And those that are in support of us, their statements are muted.”
Erika had one word to describe how the sex worker delegation operated. “Inclusion.” Erika and N’jaila were also honored to spend time with Sinnamon Love of BIPOC-AIC, building community among Black sex workers and being together.
The Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network (SWAN) reported on their participation in the delegation:
At the 56th session of the Human Rights Council in June, sex workers from around the world gathered to hear Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem present her report on Prostitution and Violence against Women and Girls. Although visa obstacles prevented a few young sex workers from attending, about 20 sex workers from various regions made it to Geneva. Among them was Trajche Janushev, SWAN’s programme officer, representing SWAN and our region.
This participation was vital, particularly during the presentation of the Special Rapporteur’s report on Prostitution and Violence Against Women and Girls. The sex worker delegation was organized by the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) and supported by the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI). The trip aimed to address the report’s damaging effects and amplify the voices of sex workers.