Global Network of Sex Work Projects

Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) is an organisation that advocates for the health and human rights of sex workers.[1] It is a private not-for-profit limited company, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and founded in November 1990.[2] NSWP is a membership organisation, with members from five regions (Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Caribbean). NSWP publishes resources, including briefing papers, policy briefs, community guides, global and regional reports, smart guides, statements, the Research for Sex Work Journal, and case studies. It supports the decriminalization of sex work.[3]

A woman carrying a NSWP red umbrella in 2015

NSWP advocates for sex worker representation at international policy forums. It "credits itself as largely responsible for sex work replacing prostitution as the go-to terminology for institutions such as the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO)."[4]

Manifesto

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NSWP's website states:

NSWP amplifies the voices of sex worker-led organisations advocating for rights-based services, freedom from abuse and discrimination, freedom from punitive laws, policies, and practices, and self-determination for sex workers. NSWP works primarily with sex worker-led regional networks, and facilitates sex worker-led capacity building.[5]

History

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Global Network of Sex Work Projects was founded in November 1990, at the 2nd International Conference for NGOs working on AIDS,[2] and was registered in the UK in 2008.[6][7]

In 2008, it received $60,000 in grant funding from Open Society Foundations.[8]

In 2009, it was appointed co-chair of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) "Advisory Group on HIV and Sex Work",[9] established to "review and participate in the development of UNAIDS policy, programme or advocacy documents, or statements".

Publications

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NSWP consensus statement

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In 2013, NSWP released a consensus statement on sex work, human rights, and the law which details eight essential activism goals of sex work-related advocacy groups.[10] They include the right to:

  • Associate and organise;
  • Be protected by the law;
  • Be free from violence;
  • Be free from discrimination;
  • Privacy and freedom from arbitrary interference;
  • Health;
  • Move and migrate; and
  • Work and free choice of employment

Research for Sex Work journal

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  • Research for Sex Work 8: Sex Work and Law Enforcement. Edinburgh: NSWP, 2005.
  • Research for Sex Work 9: Sex Work and Money. Edinburgh: NSWP, 2006.
  • Research for Sex Work 10: Sex Workers’ Rights. Issue 10. Edinburgh: NSWP, 2008.
  • Research for Sex Work 11: Sex Work and Pleasure. Edinburgh: NSWP, 2009.
  • Research for Sex Work 12: Sex Work and Violence. Edinburgh: NSWP, 2010.
  • Research for Sex Work 13: HIV and Sex Work. Edinburgh: NSWP, 2013.
  • Research for Sex Work 14: Sex Work is Work. Edinburgh: NSWP, 2015.
  • Research for Sex Work 15: Resistance and Resilience. Edinburgh: NSWP, 2016.

Contributions to publications

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ford, Liz (21 September 2016). "Sex workers in poor countries have no voice on UN consultation, activists say". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b "History of the NSWP and the Sex Worker Rights Movement: 1990s". Global Network of Sex Work Projects. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  3. ^ Murphy, Catherine (13 August 2015). "Here's why we at Amnesty backed the decriminalisation of sex work". The Independent. London. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  4. ^ Banyard, Kat (7 June 2016). "The dangers of rebranding prostitution as "sex work"". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  5. ^ "What we do". Global Network of Sex Work Projects. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  6. ^ "History of the NSWP and the Sex Worker Rights Movement: 2000s". Global Network of Sex Work Projects. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Global Network of Sex Work Projects Limited". Companies House. Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  8. ^ "Network of Sex Work Projects". Open Society Foundations. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  9. ^ Banyard, Kat (22 October 2015). "Why is a pimp helping to shape Amnesty's sex trade policy?". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  10. ^ NSWP (16 December 2013). "NSWP Consensus Statement on Sex Work, Human Rights, and the Law". Global Network of Sex Work Projects. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
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