SWAN at the International AIDS Conference 2026
During the International AIDS Conference 2026 SWAN was represented by Trajche Janushev, SWAN Executive Director, and Wszebor Sienkiewicz, SWAN Media and Communications Officer. During the conference, the SWAN team contributed to several events, including workshops, panel discussions and protests.
Alongside the formal conference programme, SWAN’s Executive Director also had informal meetings and conversations with partners, including coordinators from other regional networks/members of the sex work consortium, IPPF, AWID, and EWNA, as well as funders, including ViiV Healthcare, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and Aidsfonds. These exchanges provided a useful opportunity to reconnect, share updates and discuss possible areas for future collaboration.
On the opening day of the conference, SWAN joined the opening event in the Sex Worker Networking zone, as well as the 15th anniversary celebration of one of our donors – Robert Carr Fund.
Advancing Sex Workers’ Health Equity: Challenges and Opportunities for Community-Academic Partnerships and Collaboration.
SWAN Executive Director Trajche Janushev took part in this panel, which brought together sex worker-led organisations and academic researchers to address the critical role and value of community evidence and lived experience. Speakers shared that community organisations collect large amounts of data and evidence but their findings are often dismissed as “not scientific” or insufficiently rigorous. Academic institutions continue to be seen as the primary source of legitimate knowledge, and stigma and discrimination against sex workers affects whose expertise is considered credible.
One of the clearest messages throughout the panel session was that participation cannot be limited to data collection and that sex workers should be involved from developing research questions and deciding what data will be collected right through to analysing findings, interpreting results and disseminating research outcomes.
The session was also attended by SWAN board member, Janset Kalan, who contributed insights from the perspective of her country and the CEECA region.
SWAN also hosted a workshop titled Beyond Projects: Funding Sex Worker-Led HIV Responses, facilitated together with Anna Shapiro from the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP). Trajche Janushev and Anna Shapiro, Acting Global Coordinator of NSWP, discussed the importance of sustainable funding for sex worker-led organisations. Trajche introduced our new SHIFT programme, which helps sex workers start their own social entrepreneurship initiatives to generate additional income in the challenging political landscape. We heard feedback, thoughts, and questions from community members and allies.
Words to Win: Speaking Up for Sex Workers’ Rights
SWAN Media and Communications Officer Wszebor Sienkiewicz represented SWAN in the panel discussion with International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) on effective messaging to advance sex workers’ rights. In this session we looked at the key findings from IPPF’s recent research on audience reactions to different narratives around sex work, discussed best practices and basic principles of political communications, and adressed the need for community leadership and meaningful involvement in all media and communications activities.
The sex worker-led talk show
hosted by Kholi Buthelezi from Sisonke, brought together activists including Wszebor Sienkiewicz (ESWA and SWAN), Karina Bravo (PLAPERTS), Dudu Dlamini (SWEAT), and Pamela Chakuvinga (Sisonke).
Speakers reflected on the struggle for decriminalisation and the power of collective organising. The panel discussed how punitive laws continue to shape sex workers’ lives, highlighting that criminalisation of clients has increased violence and created more dangerous working conditions. Participants also stressed the importance of moving beyond HIV-only discussions to address violence, discrimination and access to comprehensive healthcare.
Funding sex worker-led organisations in the shifting HIV landscape
Trajche Janushev represented SWAN in this panel discussion with Grace Kamau (ASWA/ NSWP), Trajche Janushev (SWAN), Silvia Jongeling (Aidsfonds) and Shaun Mellors (ViiV Healthcare), moderated by Luca Stevenson (IPPF)
Speakers reflected on shrinking HIV funding and the consequent loss of services. Despite these challenges, participants emphasised the resilience of sex worker communities and the importance of maintaining strong movements. As one speaker noted, “the voices of sex workers in those country dialogues and in those country-level processes are becoming more vital,” particularly at a time when funding decisions are increasingly being made without meaningful community participation.
Sex Worker Protest March
Like every year, we joined the sex worker protest. A crowd of red umbrellas marched through the conference premises, singing and chanting “sex work is work” and “my body, my business”. The International AIDS conference is a unique opportunity to have our voices heard by a wide range of high-level decision makers, as well as allies in sister movements. Sharing these powerful moments also brings us closer as a community, building connections that nourish our work, advocacy, and the movement.
