The Regional Community Networks Consortium (RCNC) of five regional networks in EECA has successfully developed and submitted a proposal for the Global Fund. RCNC undertook this step for addressing continuing and increasing growth of the HIV epidemic in EECA and the fact that the most affected by HIV populations such as drug users, men who have sex with men, sex workers, women living with HIV, transgender people and other, have strongly insufficient access to HIV prevention, support and treatment services.
SWAN is proud to present its Annual Reports for the years 2016 and 2017. The Annual Reports highlight the activities and achievements of SWAN in 2016 and 2017. These activities include capacity building and community mobilization activities, advocacy tools and opportunities, regional projects and initiatives as well as a glimpse in SWAN major internal processes.
A new security application, Artemis' Umbrella, has been developed for sex workers in Finland, and can be used anywhere in the world. The app alerts a trusted contact when sex workers are in trouble, and uses location services to track the smart phone.
17th of December was the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. SWAN joined the global statement and the members of SWAN marked that day with different actions.
17 December 2017 marks the 14th annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. For fourteen years, sex workers around the world have used this day to highlight the need for action to end violence against sex workers. The issues faced by sex workers often vary from region to region, due to different laws, social and cultural contexts, but one common issue faced by all sex workers is their vulnerability to and experience of violence.
To mark World AIDS Day 2017, SWAN and ICRSE, two regional networks for sex workers’ rights in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia join individuals, organisations and other networks in uniting in the fight against HIV globally, and remembering those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. Together, SWAN and ICRSE are publishing this joint statement to continue to highlight the key issues sex workers face in relation to health and HIV. We invite sex workers and allies in our region to join us in marking #WorldAIDSDay by including these HASHTAGS on social media and help us raise awareness of the importance of sex workers’ rights in the fight to end HIV and ensuring nobody is left behind!
The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) recommended that Russia decriminalise sex work on 6 of October 2017, in their concluding observations to Russia’s sixth periodic review. This recommendation was the result of advocacy by SWAN members Silver Rose, a sex worker organisation in St. Petersburg, and New Life from Ekaterinburg.
Three men who have attacked Kemal Ördek (LGBTI activist and Chair of Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association) are sentenced to 7 years and 6 months imprisonment for the attempted robbery. The defendant, who Ördek has accused of raping her, is acquitted of sexual assault. All three defendants were sentenced for 7 years and 6 months in prison for the crime of attempted robbery.
Today, on 2nd of June 2017, we mark The International Sex Workers’ Day. On this day in 1975 French sex workers occupied the Saint-Nizier church in Lyon for 8 days in a desperate attempt to call attention to their worsened working conditions. On 10th June at 5 o'clock the Church was brutally raided and cleared by police forces.
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