On 2 June 1975, approximately 100 sex workers occupied Saint-Nizier Church in Lyon, France, in protest against criminalisation, police harassment, violence, and the inhumane conditions they were forced to endure. Carrying banners that read, “Our children do not want
Read MoreSex workers in Botswana are experiencing growing challenges in accessing healthcare, HIV prevention services, and social support following reductions in funding for community services, according to Andrew, a sex worker and part-time administrative officer with Sisonke Botswana Organization. Andrew
Read MoreDon’t Abandon Africa’s Sex Workers – We Demand Justice, Healthcare, and Funding Now On International Sex Workers’ Day, we honour the powerful legacy of the 1975 occupation of Saint-Nizier Church in Lyon, France, when over 100 sex workers stood
Read MoreBy Sham Kenzi, Sex Worker Peer Leader, Lady Mermaid Empowerment Centre (LMEC) My name is Sham Kenzi (preferred name). I’m a sex worker, an HIV advocate, and the co-founder of the Lady Mermaid Empowerment Centre (LMEC), a frontline sex
Read MoreReal Stories from Uganda’s Sex Work Community on the Threatened HIV Services and the Consequences of Frozen U.S. Funding Across Uganda, sex workers are sounding the alarm as critical HIV services face collapse due to the suspension of U.S.
Read MoreWhen U.S. foreign aid was suspended, it triggered a quiet crisis for sex workers across Africa. Vital programs that once provided HIV treatment, shelter from violence, STI testing, and access to contraceptives have disappeared—leaving many to face increased risk,
Read MoreA sudden and unexpected halt in U.S. funding, including USAID and PEPFAR programs, hasleft sex worker-led organizations in Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya in crisis. Critical healthcare, employment services, and harm reduction initiatives have been abruptlycut, impacting thousands of sex
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