On 2 June 1975, approximately 100 sex workers occupied Saint-Nizier Church in Lyon, France, to express their anger about their criminalized and exploitative living conditions. On 10 June at 5 o’clock the Church was brutally raided by police forces. This action sparked a national movement, and the day is now celebrated in Europe and around the world as International Sex Worker Day.
Theme and significance
Every year, the theme of the International Sex Workers’ Day remains the same — ‘Access to Justice’ for sex workers across the world. Sex workers face significant hurdles when it comes to accessing justice, as they often face criminal charges and harassment despite being victims. Prostitution is illegal in almost every country, yet people engage in it.
Is prostitution harmful?
A common argument against prostitution states that selling sex is harmful because it involves selling something deeply personal and emotional. However, some people also believe that sexual encounters need not be deeply personal and emotional in order to be acceptable – they believe in the acceptability of casual sex. Female sex workers (FSWs) are vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and encounter socio-economic and health problems, including STIs/HIV, unintended pregnancy and complications from unsafe abortion, stigma, violence, and drug addiction. Reducing risks associated with sex work requires an understanding of the social and cultural context in which sex workers live and work.
#SayNoToProstitution
#ShowLoveToSexWorkers
