worker safety reduces violence

Sometimes folks advocating for a person-centered, worker rights, wellbeing approach to ending exploitation in commercial sex are accused of "caring more about the rights of buyers than victims." While criminalization of consensual sexual behavior between adults is always a violation of human rights, the facts are simple: Worker safety reduces violence. 

• When consensual workers are not trying to "fly under the radar" to reduce their own or their clients' risk of arrest, they have more autonomy over what choices they make, including what kinds of clients they will see, what kinds of work they will do, and what kinds of screening they need to feel comfortable in their work.
• Consensual workers who are not forced to "fly under the radar" can be our best allies in the work to end human trafficking, as they can refer people being exploited to resources, options, and agencies that have built trust-based relationships with them.
• When consensual workers are not forced to "fly under the radar," they can more easily report sexual assault, robbery, or other forms of violence they experience without fear of being blamed, criminalized, or threatened. 
• Consensual workers who are not forced to "fly under the radar" are less vulnerable to being threatened with outing as sex workers, which is a common tactic used by traffickers.
• When consensual workers can organize for labor rights and safety (in strip clubs or other adult industries), corporations have less power over workers and more investment in protecting workers and meeting their demands. This reduces the likelihood of exploitation.

"Wait a minute. You're telling me that workers in commercial sex can organize for safety?"

YES! For every factor that creates increased risk of trafficking in the sex trades, workers are organizing to address it! Black, Indigenous, and other people of color workers are organizing to address racism in the adult industry and support BIPOC workers. People who are targeted by patriarchal violence (predominantly women, but also LGBTQ individuals of all genders) are organizing to create feminist approaches to sexuality, sexual health, and ending violence. Trans and queer street and hotel-motel-based workers are organizing mutual aid and harm reduction programs. These efforts are often hindered or criminalized by policy approaches that claim to be about addressing trafficking.

The reality is: The history of the sex worker rights movement is a history of impacted individuals organizing to increase safety, fight exploitation, and end violence. This an be a very confusing concept to people who have only heard messages created to discredit se worker organizing, but just like all other forms of labor, sex worker organizing is about increasing safety, addressing worker needs, and ending exploitation. Learn more about the history of worker organizing: History