#DECRIMINALISE_SEX_WORK. A growing body of evidence show that criminalisation of sex work directly increases HIV prevalence amongst sex worker communities. Any form of criminalisation of sex work – including criminalisation of clients – further marginalise sex workers and limits our/their access to health services.

#DECRIMINALISE_SEX_WORK. A growing body of evidence show that criminalisation of sex work directly increases HIV prevalence amongst sex worker communities. Any form of criminalisation of sex work – including criminalisation of clients – further marginalise sex workers and limits our/their access to health services. Read and share ICRSE’s Intersection Paper on Sex Workers’ Right to Health here!

#END_STIGMA #END_ DISCRIMINATION. Sex workers face structural barriers to health services. Sex workers face routine stigma, discrimination and even the denial of services and treatment, which are violations of sex workers’ fundamental right to access ‘the highest attainable standard of health’. Intersecting stigmas also increase the discrimination faced by migrant, trans, and sex workers who use drugs, increasing their vulnerabilities to HIV. Read and share a Key Population statement developed for European HIV and Hepatitis Testing Week here!

#FUND_RIGHTS_BASED_PROGRAMMING. Health programmes for sex workers will not succeed in tackling health inequalities and HIV without the meaningful involvement of sex workers. Sex worker input into health programmes is the minimum standard of global guidelines, with sex worker-led health programmes showing the most effective in tackling HIV and other STIs amongst sex worker communities. The Sex Worker Implementation Tool is now a normative guideline for Global Fund programming, and must be used to inform and ensure rights based and community led programming for sex workers. Watch and share SWAN’s video on Engaging in Global Fund – A Community Perspective here!

#IMPLEMENT_SWIT Sex workers and other partners such as WHO and UNAIDS have published the Sex Worker Implementation Tool (The SWIT), a programmatic tool which offers guidance on how to deliver best services for sex workers. Evidence-based recommendations include meaningful engagement of sex workers in the development and delivery of services. Watch and share ICRSE and SWAN’s video ‘United we stand!’ about SWIT here!