December 17th is often just another day in the holiday season that’s ramped up at this time of year; however, it is filled with deep meaning and significance for the many courageous and marginalized members of society, as it is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, established to preserve and honour those who were lost to this violence, and to create visibility around the treatment of a group of human beings who are human beings first, and then sex workers who have the right to live and work in safety, dignity and respect.

The International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers was created in 2003 by the SWOP USA, and initially was created as a memorial for the victims of the Green River Killer, who took many lives in Seattle, Washington; but, as the years have gone by, it has become a global event and has expanded to include vigils, education, and advocacy to promote and protect the human rights of these workers. As a very symbolic item, the red umbrella is often pictured as representing sex worker rights, as it provides protection from rain and from a number of dangers that sex workers face everyday.

The Harsh Reality of Vulnerability

Sex workers do not experience violence in an abstract way; it is a literal and terrifying day-to-day existence. Not only are they significantly more likely than any other group to be victims of assault, robbery, rape, and murder, but human rights organizations from around the world report on studies indicating that sex workers experience violent events at rates many times that of the general population. Many sex workers do not report their abuse due to fear of police, stigma, or the realistic possibility of being further criminalized. Sex workers are also vulnerable to violence from a variety of sources, including ill-intentioned clients, trafficking networks, abusive partners, and, sometimes, from law enforcement officials who are supposed to be protecting them.

Imagine that you were living in a constant state of heightened awareness and concern that if you were to seek assistance for a violent crime committed against you, you might be arrested, charged, fined, or imprisoned. This is current reality for many sex workers throughout the world. In regions of the world where common public health practices are stigmatized, and where simply possessing a condom can be used as a basis for police harassment and arrest, sex workers are being forced to choose between their own personal safety, health, or freedom.

The True Root Causes: Stigma and Criminalization

To understand the violence epidemic, you must be able to track its roots back through societal stigma and the criminalization of sex work. In the eyes of society, sex work is either immoral or unlawful; therefore, those who do sex work are treated as though they are “less than” others and not deserving of protection (as victims) from violence perpetrated against them.

The criminal justice system has driven sex workers further into hiding and removed the legal protections associated with doing sex work, such as having safe working conditions, registering to do sex work, and having a support network to call upon when harmed.

Sex workers are often in no position to call the police when a crime is committed against them because of fear of arrest. Because of this fear, there is a culture of impunity for those who commit crimes against sex workers. The laws that regulate and prohibit sex work remove a sex worker’s ability to perform sex work legally and create a legal vacuum, leaving sex workers vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and violence.

Laws meant to “control” or “eliminate” sex work often empower those who want to exploit and harm sex workers. Because sex workers are criminals, the legal system sends a message to society that the rights of sex workers are not important (if they exist at all). As a result, there is little or no accountability for violence against sex workers; accessing justice, healthcare, and social services is almost impossible for most sex workers, and they fear discrimination and punishment.

Beyond Physical Harm: The Invisible Scars

The effect of this ongoing threat transcends mere physical injury; it causes severe damage to the mental wellbeing of victims due to the stress caused by constantly being exposed to violence, combined with the judgment and separation that society typically holds toward victims. As a result, many individuals suffer from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and may even contemplate suicide. Additionally, losing trust in oneself and others makes sex worker populations increasingly isolated from families and communities, causing marginalization. When victims of sexual trafficking or exploitation cannot obtain medical care, have a place to live, or find legal representation without fear of being judged or discriminated against, their basic human rights are being violated. Victims are human beings with families, aspirations, and the right to live in freedom and peace.

Why this matters to all

You may think that this issue is not significant to you because you do not have a connection to sex work; however, that is not the case. All human rights are universal and should be upheld for every human being. No human being should be a victim of violence, exploitation, or discrimination, regardless of their profession, background, or life choices. Upholding the rights and safety of sex workers is about recognising every human being’s worth and the right to live in safety; it’s not just about whether or not you endorse or condemn sex work. It’s about creating a world in which every person can live without fear, a world in which there is justice for all, and a world in which every human being has access to a minimum level of human dignity.

A Call to Action on December 17th and Beyond

On December 17th, and every day, we are called to action.

Educate Yourself and Others: Take on the challenges of stereotypes, misinformation and/or discriminatory views about sex workers. Become knowledgeable about the impact of criminalizing consensual sex work and of stigma.

Advocate For Decriminalization: Support and promote policies that eliminate criminal penalties for sex workers, and instead focus on preventing and addressing human trafficking, exploitation and violence using well-established frameworks of human rights. Decriminalization enables sex workers to report crimes, gain access to services and to advocate for greater workplace safety.

Support Those Organizations That Are Run By/For Sex Workers: These organizations provide Critical Services, Advocacy, Community Support – they are the experts when it comes to their people and community.

Listen To Sex Workers: Help to amplify the voices and experiences of sex workers – sex workers are the true experts when it comes to their lives and needs.

Practice Empathy: See beyond just the profession of a person and recognize the humanity of that person and their right to be treated safely and with dignity.

December 17th is a day of sadness because far too many individuals in the sex industry have suffered gross injustices and violence. Yet it can be seen as a rallying cry for change, as we work with Sduko to advance the campaigns for Decriminalization of Sex Work, and to encourage Empathy in changing the way we view sex workers in our society. Together, we can create a world where sex workers are no longer criminalized or face violence without consequence; rather they are respected and valued members of the human community. Together, let’s work towards creating a world where sex workers are treated with dignity and have access to safety.

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