Project Period: November 2024 – November 2026

The Sex Worker Policy Consortium is poised to be at the forefront of the global movement for sex workers' rights. This unprecedented coalition includes global, regional, and national organizations committed to advocating for this marginalized community. This alliance brings together sex worker organizations, community-based organizations, and IPPF Member Associations with decades of experience in SRHR and family planning. By forming this consortium, IPPF and its family of member Associations are taking a significant and courageous step to assert and position themselves in the global discourse on rights and opposition to rights work.

The Consortium operates in five middle-income countries—Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Colombia, and Sri Lanka—across the regions of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. The FPA Sri Lanka is spearheading efforts in Sri Lanka. While the consortium focuses its work in these regions, it aims to catalyze a wider influence on sex workers' rights throughout the globe.

The Consortium will address structural, systemic, and social violence and injustices against sex workers in order to advance their dignity, safety, and well-being worldwide. The work is centered on three key areas: structural, social, and community interventions.

1. Structural Interventions: These focus on improving the legal and policy framework affecting sex workers by advocating for amendments to existing laws and policies. The goal is to provide stronger protections, improve access to justice, enhance safety and welfare, and foster a more supportive environment that upholds sex workers' rights. Capacity-building initiatives target stakeholders—including law enforcement, the judiciary, and the media—to reduce harassment and increase access to essential support services.
2. Social Interventions: These aim to combat stigma and discrimination while advocating for community representation and leadership in initiatives and decision-making processes that directly impact their lives. This involves baseline studies and community education and awareness campaigns designed to foster greater societal acceptance and improve service delivery.
3. Community Interventions: These focus on economic empowerment and leadership among sex workers, aiming to strengthen the sustainability of their organizations and foster their economic independence. The Consortium seeks to position sex workers as leaders within their communities, enabling them to operate successful businesses while ensuring accountability by addressing violations and mistreatment.

Ultimately, this three-pronged approach aims to create an inclusive environment that respects the rights, autonomy, and dignity of every individual within the sex worker community. By prioritizing the leadership of sex worker communities, this project ensures that initiatives are informed by their experiences and needs, fostering a collaborative and impactful movement for change.