The sex workers led organization Silver Rose from St Petersburg, Russia, has published a security guide for sex workers. The guide was developed by sex workers with the financial help of SWAN, Mama Cash and Global Fund for Women.
17 December 2017 marks the 14th annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. For fourteen years, sex workers around the world have used this day to highlight the need for action to end violence against sex workers. The issues faced by sex workers often vary from region to region, due to different laws, social and cultural contexts, but one common issue faced by all sex workers is their vulnerability to and experience of violence.
Every year on 1st of December the world marks World AIDS Day. This year, SWAN together with ICRSE issued a joint statement and SWAN members marked the day with various different events.
To mark World AIDS Day 2017, SWAN and ICRSE, two regional networks for sex workers’ rights in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia join individuals, organisations and other networks in uniting in the fight against HIV globally, and remembering those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. Together, SWAN and ICRSE are publishing this joint statement to continue to highlight the key issues sex workers face in relation to health and HIV. We invite sex workers and allies in our region to join us in marking #WorldAIDSDay by including these HASHTAGS on social media and help us raise awareness of the importance of sex workers’ rights in the fight to end HIV and ensuring nobody is left behind!
The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) recommended that Russia decriminalise sex work on 6 of October 2017, in their concluding observations to Russia’s sixth periodic review. This recommendation was the result of advocacy by SWAN members Silver Rose, a sex worker organisation in St. Petersburg, and New Life from Ekaterinburg.
On 25th of May, 2017, new SWAN members Red Umbrella Athens (Greece) together with Hellenic Association of People Living with HIV “Positive Voice” have organized a conference on policy issues regarding sex work in Greece. It was very successful as for the first time this topic was discussed by representatives from the government, political parties, civil society, sex workers and scientific community.
Global Fund is leaving Macedonia this year in June. It means that most of the services will be closed or reduced to minimum if the Government doesn't provide financial support. Healthy Options Project Skopje - HOPS started a campaign for securing sustainability of harm reduction programs in Macedonia with various activities - petition, meetings with Ministry of Health, press conferences, social media campaign, a video. The key focus are harm reduction programs for drug users, but wider focus are all programs targeting key populations - sex workers, MSM, PLWHA.
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