After months of protests and demonstrations of sex workers, some restrictions have finally been loosened.
At this point in time the imposed unemploy- ment for many has been in place for half a year. Less than 4 weeks after being able to work again, we face the second lockdown due to a sharp rise in new infections. All the small but hard-fought victories have vanished.
During the corona crisis the unequal treatment of our sector compared with others has been made visible: if we do not actively fight for our rights, no one else does. Because sex work in Germany and Austria is still a very long way from societal and political recognition.
There exist so many prejudices as well as a lack of political will to protect our rights to safety, adequate health care, a free choice of work and equal treatment. We first experienced this during the corona-induced anti-sex-law. Sex workers were unable to work and were left alone by the government. We were able to help around 400 people with a corona fund financed through donations, although we received so many applications that this fund was rapidly used up, a drop of water on a scalding stone. The state has clearly failed its obligation to- wards its citizens in this situation.
Additionally, shockingly debates on a gener- al sex work ban similar to the Swedish model have started again. Studies have proved that the consequences of a sex work ban are devas- tating for sex workers no matter in which sector they work or the circumstances they work in. For years experts have been warning us about the implications of such bans such as the removal of rights while entrenching marginaliza- tion and spread of criminality. Those who work under very precarious conditions within the sex work industry- such as those without a regular residence status or with missing education– are thereby further pushed into isolation and lack of rights.
The most reasonable way of handling this in- dustry is to de-criminalize all aspects of con- sensual sex work and to strengthen the rights and safety of sex workers. Further, support and networking such as expansion and financing of accepting counselling centres are more impor- tant than ever.
We need strong representation of our politi- cal interests within this country. The BesD e.V. (Berufsverband erotische und sexuelle Dien- stleistung) is still the largest organisation of its kind in Europe. It is 100% organized by sex workers.
Its goals are the improvement of working and living conditions of sex workers, as well as destigmatisation of sex workers. All those who work or have worked as sex workers may become members anonymously and free of charge. Independent of being an active or passive member, each new member helps our voice for sex workers become louder and helps our concerns being taken seriously.
berufsverband-sexarbeit.de/index.php/verband/mitglied-werden/
for donations:
https://berufsverband-sexar-beit.de/index.php/wissen/besdnotfallfonds/
