Sex Workers and Allies South Asia-SWASA at AWID Forum 2024

From December 2-5, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand, Sex Workers and Allies South Asia (SWASA) hosted Sex Workers' Conversations with Feminist Allies at the AWID Forum 2024. This dynamic space provided an opportunity for feminists from across the world to visit the SWASA Lounge, engaging in lively discussions about sexuality, decriminalization demand, the intersection of feminism and sex work, cultural and religious perspectives, and the broader themes of women, work, and sex work.

A Space for Open Dialogue

The SWASA Lounge was a vibrant exchange hub, fostering critical and often challenging conversations on issues centring sex work as work. By facilitating these discussions, SWASA created an inclusive environment where sex workers and feminist allies could listen, learn, and critically reflect on each other’s perspectives.

One of the highlights of the engagement was a 15-question prompt, “Be an Ally”, which invited over 500 participants to explore and respond to contested topics within sex work activism. These prompts sparked important conversations around the lived realities of sex workers and how feminists can act as effective allies in the sex workers movement.

The engagement at AWID Forum 2024 marked an important step in strengthening the alliance between sex workers and feminists. The “Be an Ally” prompt, which encouraged deep reflection on key issues, reinforced the need for intersectional feminist solidarity that actively supports sex workers’ rights and challenges criminalization, discrimination, and stigma.

Tree of Resistance and Solidarity with Palestine

Sex Workers and Allies South Asia - SWASA put up the Tree of Resistance in the SWASA Lounge at AWID 2024, standing in solidarity with the Palestinians in the occupied territory. SWASA believes that this extermination by the colonial settlers MUST stop.

As sex workers continue to face systemic marginalization, conversations like those at the SWASA Lounge play a crucial role in fostering understanding and collective action. By centring sex workers’ voices in feminist spaces, SWASA and its allies are paving the way for a more inclusive and rights-based approach to gender justice.

For more updates on SWASA’s initiatives and ongoing advocacy, stay connected with our platforms and join the conversation on sex workers’ rights and feminist solidarity!