FACT SHEET HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATIONS / LGBTI ASSOCIATIONS Remember that: → “People have different gender identities and expressions. Each person should have the right to define their own identity and be treated accordingly.” (TGEU, TOOLKIT) → “The human rights situation of trans sex workers calls for urgent action” (TGEU, Sex Work Policy) → Stigma leads to human rights violations which in turn have effects both on the whole community and on individual behaviors. → International Organisations like the WHO, the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, Amnesty International call “(…) for the decriminalization of all aspects of adult consensual sex work due to the foreseeable barriers that criminalization creates to the realization of the human rights of sex workers.” (AI Policy on Sex Work 2016) → Trafficking and exploitation are not identical to sex work. They are different phenomena and not to be confused or conflated with. → Transphobia und whorephobia persist in many LGBTI contexts → TSW have been significant actors in LGBTI Struggles (e.g. Stonewall Riots) → ILGA-Europe released a position paper on sex work in 2018 empowering LGBTI sex workers towards the full respect of their fundamental rights
ILGA Europe states, that “(…) LGBTI organisations have a key role to play in fighting against stigma affecting LGBTI sex workers, both within and outside the LGBTI communities.” (ILGA Europe 2018)
Fact Box: → 88 % of murdered trans people in Europe are sex workers (TGEU 2017) → 43% of murdered trans people in Europe are migrant sex workers (TGEU 2017) → 33% report having at least one negative experience with doctors or medical personnel (Transgender Survey 2015) → Within the European Union, only 7 states have introduced anti-discrimination law, which protects against discrimination on grounds of gender expression. (TGEU 2019) → 86% of TSW in the USA have reported about being harassed, attacked, sexually assaulted, or mistreated in some other way by the police. (TGEU 2017)
This publication was funded by the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020). The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of TransR and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.
Do’s:
Don’ts:
Consider the working hours of trans sex workers, when scheduling Do not perpetuate the stigma over trans sex workers based in assistance and opening hours of services. moralistic assumptions. Place signage or provide information materials in the waiting room, indicating that all genders are welcome.
Do not perpetuate the stigma over trans sex workers caused by the stereotype that relate trans identities to sex work.
Understand the specifities of LGBTI sex work community.
Don’t portray TSW as voiceless victims.
Make efforts to include the sex work community in meetings, events and activities. Support publicly the decriminalization of sex work inclusively in written public statements. Be specific about the different ways different individuals of the LGBTI spectrum are exposed to violence Include TSW in your staff Acknowledge and include in your activities the dialogue with trans sex workers activism Acknowledge immigrant trans communities may identify themselves differently than the european identities or classifications, try to know best how they identify themselves rather than adapt to your own language and classification Empower sex workers to organize collectively and supply them tools to apply for funds for example
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For further information, please contact the main coordinator: APDES | Agência Piaget para o Desenvolvimento Arcozelo, Vila Nova de Gaia - Portugal T. +351·227·531·106/7 | M. +351·939·406·020