17 December marks International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers (IDEVASW): a day to recognise the ongoing realities many sex workers face, and to reaffirm the importance of safety for all.
Across our sex work services at Changing Lives, we witness every day the stigma and oppression that sex workers continue to face. Our teams work tirelessly to ensure that anyone involved in sex work has a voice, no matter the circumstances that led them there. We challenge harmful misconceptions, educate professionals and communities, and advocate for the rights and respect that every person deserves.
Violence against sex workers often goes unreported due to discrimination, stigma, and fear of repercussions. IDEVASW reminds us that safeguarding must extend to every community including those who are too often overlooked or silenced.
Reaching Women Online Through Netreach
As part of this commitment, our Netreach team has developed an innovative approach to reach women online who are advertising sexual services and may need support around safety, wellbeing, or experiences of abuse. Many of the women we connect with face multiple unmet needs and challenges, many as a result of poverty, hardship, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Through a pioneering partnership with Vivastreet, we offer enhanced support to individuals advertising online, using an industry-first vulnerability pathway designed to identify risk and provide help where it’s needed most.
As we honour those affected by violence, we renew our commitment to ensuring that every sex worker is seen, heard, and protected.
