Indoors Project - Sex Work Advocacy

"To tell you the truth, the problem today is not finding a job, but finding a job that gives you a reasonable wage. I prefer to do striptease than to work 8 hours for a miserable salary." - Italian

"I have all sorts of clients. Some are ugly, old, or fat. I don’t care. But sometimes they are also goodlooking, thin and young. Some are even good lovers!" - Dutch, in an apartment

"I have many regular clients, who pay very well. This is why I try to satisfy all visitors, so they will always come back to me. I really cannot complain about business!" - Dominican, 35
"I was working in Spain with a colleague from Brazil. We decided to come to Germany because we thought we would earn more money here. The financial situation in Spain is very bad…" - Venezuelan, 25

"I have no problems with clients. When they call, I select them based on their voice and the sort of language they use, which must be respectful. You have to be patient and take your time to talk a little with them." - French, 24
"All I can do is sex work. I have never worked at anything else before and cannot even imagine working in a shop, or in an office or whatever. I am a prostitute and that’s it." - Bulgarian, 30

"Seven years ago I left Venezuela and went to Spain. In Barcelona I was working as a cleaning lady in hotels. Then I came to Vienna, a friend told me that I could earn a lot of money doing sex work. I needed the money to pay back debts I incurred when buying my house in Venezuela." - Venezuelan, in a studio
"They should just legalise sex work once and for all. I am so sick of hearing and reading that I am a victim, and that I am forced into this. Well, maybe some girls are, but I don’t know them. You know what?! There are girls in this flat studying medicine! Some have husbands and families. We are not miserable victims. We lead normal lives, like everyone else." Paraguayan

"Of course this is work. My god! We work hard for our money! People think it is easy and quick. I have to wait for hours for clients and you have to know how to treat the men and get them in the mood. It is not easy…" - Portuguese
"I’m worried because three weeks after I started working, the police came to see me and put me on file. I am worried about the consequences this could bring to my future private and professional life, when I stop…" French, 28

"I have never felt as humiliated as when I was arrested. I felt like I was a criminal." - Brazilian, 27

"I owe €12,000 to the police, for fines! They said they’ll take my green card if I don’t pay soon…" - Bulgarian, in a hotel

The European project INDOORS, a partnership of nine European organizations financed by the European Union in the framework of the Daphne Programme, is pleased to announce the launch of the campaign “Different jobs.
Equal Rights” on the 17th December 2013, the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.

In line with its main goal, which is to support and empower sex workers, INDOORS project intends to call society attention to the need to recognize labour rights as a way to combat stigma and violence against sex workers.
The campaign was thought to give visibility to the claims of sex workers through postcards and banners,

which reflect the situation of sex workers in 9 European countries.
The campaign materials carry a common slogan – Different Jobs. Equal Rights. – and national messages that target specific advocacy needs in each country, and seek to empower sex workers to counteract adverse political contexts.

We invite you to visit our European campaign on the INDOORS website and on Facebook

“Respect for sex workers! Stigma is a serious health risk.”

Leföe – Austria

Sex workers own the same respect as any other worker. It is important to make clear, that stigma and discrimination have a negative impact on the living and working conditions of sex workers as well as their physical and psychical wellbeing.
“Respect yourself, respect the others!”

HESED – Bulgaria

In Bulgaria the message “Respect yourself, respect the others!” is touching a sensitive issue for the whole society today.

Stigmatisation of different persons and general irreverence is spread in the everyday life of all people but it is especially hard towards underprivileged groups like sex workers.
“Stigma is a serious health risk!”

Pro-tukipiste - Finland

The stigma that is directed at sex workers poses a serious health risk. Stigma makes it harder for people doing sex work to get help. Stigma silences sex workers and isolates them.

Stigma can kill. We want this campaign to make people realize that we are all equal. Health is a person's fundamental right.
“No to criminalization of clients”

Autres Regards - France

The law on criminalization of clients of sex workers was passed on December 4 but not yet entered into force. This law will have a serious impact on sex workers’ access to health and rights, and stigma and violence will increase.

It is important to continue fighting against this law.
“My job is not the problem. The problem is how it is evaluated.”

ragazza – Germany

Point out and remind the general public that, despite still being discriminated and stigmatised, sex work in Germany is legal and recognised as a profession since 2002.
“Respect for male and female sex workers”

CDCP - Italy

This slogan expresses what we need in our country today. We call upon the entire society to help us overcome stigma and end violence. It is of fundamental importance that society bears a different view on us: a respectful and loyal view.

We believe that sex workers are fully entitled to be in this list together with other workers and professions.
“Fight Trafficking, NOT sex work ”

TAMPEP Netherlands

The confliction between sex work and trafficking threatens the working situation and conditions of sex workers in the Netherlands. Recent policies developed by the municipalities limit the fundamental rights of sex workers in anti-trafficking efforts.
Although sex work is a legal occupation in the Netherlands, often sex workers complain about not receiving equal labour and social treatment by state institutions. The actual debate is not rights-based and provoking stigma and discrimination in society.
“Different jobs. Equal Rights. Sex workers don’t ask for more. They demand the same.”

APDES - Portugal

The Portuguese message was written by a group of sex workers for the labor’s day parade and APDES recycled it to give voice to their demands.

It reinforces the need to recognize the same labor rights to sex workers with no specificities that foster further stigmatization.
“Different jobs but equal Rights. No to this bylaw!”

Hetaira – Spain

Fines to sex workers and their clients do not solve anything, just make worse the general situation. Provoke faster and clandestine negotiation, making worse the sex workers employment status.

Sex workers want to work calm without annoying anyone and without been annoyed by anyone. Spaces negotiation now!

Considerations for the empowerment of sex workers

The INDOORS project acknowledges that sex workers experience violence, discrimination and stigma related to their professional activity. In an effort to promote sex workers’ empowerment, the INDOORS partners have continuously implemented human rights-based activities. The project therefore calls on European and national stakeholders, governments, public authorities and institutions to consider the following five key issues in sex workers' empowerment.

Recommandations pour l'autonomisation des travailleurSEs du sexe

Le projet INDOORS reconnait les violences, les discriminations et les stigmatisations dont sont victimes les travailleurSEs du sexe en lien avec leur activité professionnelle. Afin de promouvoir leur autonomisation, les partenaires du projet INDOORS ont mis en oeuvre des activités fondées sur les droits humains. Le projet appelle donc les parties prenantes européennes et nationales, les gouvernements, les autorités publiques et les institutions à examiner les recommandations suivantes pour l'autonomisation des travailleurSEs du sexe.

Für das Empowerment von SexarbeiterInnen

SexarbeiterInnen erleben im Kontext der Ausübung ihrer beruflichen Tätigkeit Gewalt, Diskriminierung und Stigmatisierung. In ihrem Bemühen, Empowerment von SexarbeiterInnen zu fördern, haben die INDOORS Partner kontinuierlich Aktivi-täten auf der Grundlage der Menschenrechte umgesetzt. Das Projekt appelliert daher an europäische und nationale AkteurInnen, Regierungen, Behörden und Institutionen die folgenden fünf Aspekte zur Stärkung von SexarbeiterInnen zu berücksichtigen.

Consideraciones para el empoderamiento de las trabajadoras del sexo

El proyecto INDOORS reconoce que las trabajadoras del sexo padecen violencia, discriminación y un estigma relacionados con su actividad profesional. Para lograr el empoderamiento de las trabajadoras del sexo, los participantes de INDOORS han realizado a lo largo del proyecto diversas actividades desde la perspectiva de los derechos humanos. El proyecto invita, por lo tanto, a gobiernos, autoridades públicas e instituciones a considerar las siguientes cinco claves para el empoderamiento de las trabajadoras del sexo.

Considerazioni per l’empowerment delle sex workers

Il progetto INDOORS riconosce che le/i sex workers subiscono violenze, discriminazioni e stigmatizzazione a causa della loro attività professionale. Nel tentativo di promuovere l’empowerment delle/dei sex workers, i partner INDOORS portano avanti diverse iniziative in tema di diritti umani. Il progetto fa dunque appello alle istituzioni e alle autorità pubbliche, ai governi e agli enti interessati nazionali o europei affinché prendano in considerazione questi cinque punti chiave relativi all’empowerment delle/dei sex worker.

Considerações para o empoderamento de trabalhadores do sexo

O projeto INDOORS reconhece que os/as trabalhadores/as do sexo (TS) são vítimas de violência, discriminação e estigma associados à sua atividade profissional. Num esforço para promover o empoderamento dos/as TS, os parceiros do INDOORS têm vindo a implementar atividades baseadas nos direitos humanos. Este projeto faz um apelo a atores-chave Europeus e nacionais, governos, autoridades públicas e instituições para que sejam consideradas cinco questões-chave no que diz respeito ao empoderamento dos trabalhadores.

Някои съображения относно овластяването на секс работници

Проект „Зад вратата“ приема, че секс работниците преживяват насилие, дискриминация и стигматизация, свързани с тяхната професионална дейност. В опит да се насърчи овластяването на секс работници, партньорите на „Зад вратата“ непрекъснато изпълняваха дейности, базирани на човешките права. Затова проектът призовава Европейските и национални заинтересовани страни, правителства, публични власти и институции да вземат предвид следните пет ключови точки в овластяването на секс работници.

Näkökulmia seksityöntekijöiden voimautumiseen

Seksityöntekijät kokevat väkivaltaa, syrjintää ja negatiivista leimaamista osana työtään. INDOORS ‐ järjestöt ovat pyrkineet edistämään seksityöntekijöiden voimaantumista painottamalla ihmisoikeuksia kaikessa toiminnassaan. INDOORS ‐ projekti haastaa eurooppalaiset päättäjät, hallitukset ja julkisen vallan viranomaiset ottamaan huomioon seksityöntekijöiden voimaantumiseen vaikuttavat viisi avaintekijää.

project

International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.

to support and empower sex workers, INDOORS project call society attention to the need to recognize labour rights as a way to combat stigma and violence against sex workers.

INDOORS carries out analysis of the working and living conditions of female sex workers in nine European cities.

Since 2009 it has developed resources and tools for the empowerment of female sex workers, particularly those who work indoors.
This project was made possible through the funding from the European Union, in the framework of the Daphne III Programme of the European Commission.

INDOORS partners are members of ICRSE and support sex worker advocacy and activism

"We are concerned about how these laws will affect us, our work, our rights and our access to health and other services."

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