Sex workers are the only population besides undocumented people that are criminalized for their status as a person. In fact many of the institutions that are supposed to protect us, are sent to erase our existence. Sex workers face many barriers in organizing, fighting for their labor rights and are often faced with hostility from members of their own communities.
Blood Money: COYOTE on S/W Diversion Grants
COYOTEri Mission: We oppose Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion. Decriminalization is empowering whereas LEAD places people in a cycle of punitive and social services. While we support DECRIM, we vehemently oppose all forms of human trafficking and child prostitution. The victims of these crimes deserve our compassion and support; those who exploit others in such a manner deserve severe punishment. Our goal is to reduce harm by education and decriminalizing indoor consensual sex work between consenting adults.
Hit & Run: Real Reporting Thanks To Reason Magazine’s Elizabeth Nolan Brown
Human-Trafficking Arrests Are Very Rare in Most States - shared from Reason.com - Overall, the data do little to support the idea that the U.S. is experiencing unprecedented levels of labor and sex trafficking or that we are in the midst of some sort of "modern slavery" epidemic.
Community Collaborative Survey
Data collected from this research will be used to help draft policy recommendation promoting the health and safety of US sex workers by sex worker rights-led organizations. It will also help identify what barriers sex workers face in accessing services, protecting their sexual health and reporting violence.
Open Democracy: On Why Sex Workers Should Be Involved In Anti-Trafficking Efforts
Wendelijn Vollbehr is a sociology graduate of the VU University of Amsterdam. For her masterthesis she conducted qualitative research on sex worker-led organizations in collaboration with the Red Umbrella Fund. Her research interests are human rights, especially minority rights, marginalization and empowerment.
SWOP Behind Bars | Community for Incarcerated Sex Workers
“At SWOP Behind Bars (SBB), along with COYOTEri and ESPU-Philly, we know these are not easy situations to understand and to determine the right and wrong of — “, offers M. Dante, who believes: “Protecting our youth from punitive abuse is as essential as protecting them from predators.”
Update on AK HB 112 / SB 73: Cops On Sexual Contact During Investigations
The Anchorage Police Department is fighting a pair of state bills that would criminalize cops who have “sexual contact” with people under investigation. The reason for the opposition, according to Deputy Chief Sean Case, is that there are “very, very limited” situations in which cops need to cross that boundary — specifically, when it comes to undercover investigations of sex workers. Article by Tracy Clark Flory for Vocative; supporting statistics from ISWFACE LA.
Cartoon Clarifies Crusade
Art cannot change the world, but it can contribute to changing the consciousness and drives of those men and women who could change the world. - Herbert Marcuse
2015 Sex Work Year in Review 2015
A Pa prostitute details stepping back into the industry amidst unexpectedly intense and changing legal and legislative crossfire. Her Year in Review explores the issues of being a victim/Survivor/WORKER.
