Global Network of Sex Work Projects


Global Network of Sex Work Projects is an organisation that advocates for the health and human rights of sex workers. It is a private not for profit limited company, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and founded in November 1990. NSWP is a membership organisation, with members from five regions. NSWP publishes resources, including briefing papers, policy briefs, community guides, global and regional reports, smart guides, statements, the Research for Sex Work Journal and case studies. It supports the decriminalisation of sex work.
NSWP advocates for sex worker representation at international policy forums. It "credits itself as largely responsible for "sex work" replacing "prostitution" as the go-to terminology for institutions such as the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids and the World Health Organization."

Manifesto

NSWP's website states:
"NSWP amplifies the voices of sex worker-led organisations advocating for rights-based services, freedom from abuse and discrimination, freedom from punitive laws, policies and practices, and self-determination for sex workers. NSWP works primarily with sex worker-led regional networks and facilitates sex worker-led capacity building."

History

Global Network of Sex Work Projects was founded in November 1990 at the 2nd International Conference for NGOs working on AIDS and was registered in the UK in 2008.
In 2008 it received $60,000 in grant funding from Open Society Foundations.
In 2009 it was appointed co-chair of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 'Advisory Group on HIV and Sex Work', established to "review and participate in the development of UNAIDS policy, programme or advocacy documents, or statements."

Publications

NSWP consensus statement

In 2013, NSWP released a consensus statement on sex work, human rights, and the law which details eight essential activism goals of sex work-related advocacy groups. They include the right to: