International Sex Workers' Rights Day

Today is the International Sex Workers' Rights Day. This is not to be confused with the 12/17 date of International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, though it is in the same spirit. Those who don't want sex work or sex workers to exist at all think it a joke for us to be demanding rights. Most people, however, are simply extremely ignorant of the legal status and the trials and tribulations of being a sex worker in most parts of the world.

So what kind of rights? The right to have the law enforcement agencies of the world take our incident reports seriously whether it be for rape or actual theft of services. The right to know that the law will have our back. The right to have the legal status that will allow us to work openly in sex work fields that are currently illegal. The right to be respected by society. The right not to have murder or rape as an "occupational hazard". This is just a start.

SWOP-USA has a listing of events around the country today (and over the next several days) in honor of the event. They also have the history of the day, which I will quote in part here:

The 3rd of March is International Sex Worker Rights Day. The day originated in 2001 when over 25,000 sex workers gathered in India for a sex worker festival. The organizers, Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, a Calcutta based group whose membership consists of somewhere upwards of 50,000 sex workers and members of their communities. Sex worker groups across the world have subsequently celebrated 3 March as International Sex Workers' Rights Day.

Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (2002): "We felt strongly that that we should have a day what need to be observed by the sex workers community globally. Keeping in view the large mobilization of all types of global sexworkers [Female,Male,Transgender], we proposed to observe 3rd March as THE SEX WORKERS RIGHTS DAY.

Read SWOP-Chicago's "How To Be An Ally To Sex Workers", maybe use the services of a sex worker if you so choose (and tip well!), but overall educate yourself in the movement. My post about sex workers' rights organizations around the world is located on the sidebar but for easy perusal click this.