The main aim of this project is to establish a regional network of contacts working on sex work SW advocacy and policy issues, to share experience, to collect and share information and best practices, to raise the advocacy capacity of SWAN members, and through them, capacity of sex workers, and to introduce or strengthen the human rights approach to sex work issues.
SW related issues cannot be addressed effectively without the involvement of sex workers themselves. Thanks to SWAN, we wish to promote human rights of sex workers, and to create a supportive environment in which sex workers and NGOs working with sex workers can take part in decision-making processes regarding SW issues.
Sex workers are human beings who have the same human rights as any other people. Sex workers should have the same rights and responsibilities as all other workers, and as every other citizen and resident. To ensure protection of these rights, sex workers should be able to work legally.
Barriers preventing access to health, social, and drug treatment services need to be removed to improve the health and social well-being of sex workers. Activities related to sex work between consenting adults should be decriminalized.
All national criminal laws relating to adult prostitution should be repealed. All regional and local regulations targeting sex workers to prosecute the practice of their trade should be repealed. Sex workers and other community members should have an active role in designing commercial regulations of the sex trade.
