Sex workers’ National Forum forged alliance with the labor movement in India

Ms. Bharati Dey, Ms. Mahasweta Mukherjee, Dr. Protim Ray

Issue: As a fallout effect of right based HIV intervention program promoted by the national govt. more than hundred sex workers collective came into existence across the country by 2007 who felt the necessity to develop a National forum of sex workers.

Project: AINSW (All India Network of Sex Workers) is a membership-based network of sex workers organization which represents 70 sex workers organization from 13 states in India. AINSW evolved as a federation of sex workers collectives who are committed to decriminalize sex work in addition to their engagement in HIV intervention program. Since its inception in 2010, the AINSW initiated a nationwide campaign to establish sex worker like any other worker in our society. AINSW demands change in policies and legislation in the country. To protect and promote sex workers’ rights and to improve quality of life of sex workers AINSW initiated a process of building solidarity and alliances with other like-minded organizations in the country. Over the years AINSW and its member organizations went through several campaign and advocacy programs to raise their issues both at State as well as at the National level involving other stakeholders with special reference to labor organizations and unions in the country.

Result: The movement of the unorganized labor sector which represents more than 90% of labor forces in the country embraces AINSW as a part of the joints movement to ensure unorganized workers’ rights to access social and political entitlements. AINSW established their leadership role through securing their representation at National as well as state level decision making committees. AINSW has also got the affiliation to the largest trade union of the country named as New Trade Union Initiative who recognizes sex workers as part of unorganized labor forces in the country.

Lesson Learned: It is extremely important for sex workers’ community who are stigmatized and criminalized to strategize their rights movement through forging alliances with other labor movement of the country.

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