International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

Every year on December 17, people in many countries mark the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. The observance began as a memorial and a call for attention to attacks on people in the trade, and it is now marked by vigils, readings and community gatherings.

Commentary written around the date often reflects on why the work carries particular dangers and why such a day still draws attention.

Why the work carries risk

Sex work is often a form of self-employment, and workers may handle their own administration, marketing and security. Doing so in a legal grey area can make the load heavier.

Different branches face different threats. Performers in adult entertainment can be targeted by obsessive fans. People who sell sexual services in person can be particularly exposed, since the work can involve being alone with a client, and advocates note that stigma can lead some people to treat workers as less deserving of protection.

A well-known Canadian case

The murders linked to a pig farm in British Columbia, which involved many women, including large numbers from marginalized communities, became the best-known example of this vulnerability in Canada. Commentators stress, however, that violence against sex workers is not confined to one person or one place. It occurs around the world and on a continuing basis.

Law and public debate

Canadian discussion of sex work and safety has long involved the courts. In the Bedford decision, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down three prostitution-related provisions, finding that they endangered the people they covered, and Parliament afterwards passed replacement legislation. Supporters of full decriminalization and supporters of the current approach continue to disagree about whether the law improves or reduces safety.

Observance events often include community programming, such as vigils, readings and gatherings that centre the experiences of Indigenous and other marginalized workers.

The wider point

Commentators often close such pieces with calls for respect and fair labour conditions. The broader message is that safety, labour standards and dignity are linked, and that awareness days exist to keep those links visible.