Sex workers of all genders have been amongst the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and Central Asia. Lock downs, self-isolation and travel restrictions have put sex workers out of work, pressing some onto the streets and into destitution, where the risks are heightened by the pandemic.
As sex work is criminalised to varying degrees in all countries of the region, most of sex workers have been unable to access the safeguards provided for many other workers, such as sick pay and social benefits.
Sex Workers’ communities all across Europe report systemic exclusion from government bailouts and support measures to substitute missing income, and in many contexts sex workers are even facing heightened surveillance and policing. A large number of undocumented migrants working in the industry face no protection from states and social services, whilst trans sex workers and women of colour struggle with extremely high levels of discrimination and violence.
In this context, the International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE) has set up a website to monitor and document the situation and allow sharing of information between sex worker rights groups, allies and supporters and amplify the sex worker movement’s demands. Even is these hard times, sex workers come together online, support each other and defy the victim label that has been attached to sex workers for so long by abolitionist activists and governments.
Organisations are calling European governments and institutions to develop and implement evidence-based and rights-based policies to include and protect all sex workers in this crisis and the disastrous aftermath which will follow. After lifting of lockdowns, an increasing number of women, migrants and LGBTIQ people will enter the industry, having lost their jobs, accumulated debts and been pushed into precarious living situations.
