There is a reason why sex workers don't disclose their work. The stigma against them is so strong that sex workers who are single mothers feel it might be used against them in custody cases like this. www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/co...

This is how sex workers should be treated by society. Not scandalised, not stigmatised, not rejected or subjected to religious fundamentalists as is the case here in Ireland.

The second edition of Red Umbrella Film Festival is on 16th-19th October 2025 across venues in Dublin, Ireland, including Light House Cinema and DV8. Check out their new website to keep up to date. www.redumbrellaeireann.com/filmfestival

In 2022 Belgium became the first European country to decriminalise sex work. Recent legislation introduced regulations that guaranteed the labour rights of sex workers. Now they can access maternity leave, health insurance, unemployment benefits and pension rights www.france24.com/en/europe/20...

We're continuing to highlight SWAI's work. For every election cycle, we create a candidate checklist with suggested questions to ensure that politicians know that the rights of sx workers are important to voters.

I think this is very cool. People should be free to change jobs as their circumstances, opportunities and interests evolve.

Sex workers are everywhere! www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/2785586...

100% of people who have taken our Sex Worker Awareness Training would recommend this training to others. This training is available in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Developed by sex workers, this training will enhance participants' knowledge including • What is sex work?

MENTAL HEALTH IS A RIGHT Sex workers navigating stigma, violence and climate stress deserve safe spaces and support for mental wellbeing. #MentalHealth #HumanRights #JusticeForAll @hrw.org @hrc.org @awacuganda.bsky.social @swaiireland.bsky.social

While Epstein and other high profile abusers are in the news we want to remember his victims. Virginia Giuffre died this year after years of campaigning and demanding justice for the girls and women he trafficked. www.bbc.com/news/article...

ICYMI A case from last year that shows that neither the number of clients of sex workers nor incidents of trafficking have reduced under client criminalisation in Northern Ireland. www.bbc.com/news/article...

What with everything going on social media these days (!!!) we're asking you to sign up for our newsletter here: eepurl.com/hig-DT #SupportSafeSexWork We want to ensure that you hear the voices of sex workers in Ireland and we think email is the best way to do it.

PAID WRITING OPPORTUNITY for trans and/or intersex sex workers! Looking for pitches of essays and personal narratives about your experience in sex work to be included in Transactional Intercourse, a trans and intersex sex worker anthology. Send in your pitches here: forms.gle/UV8TLD8xKGxZ...

"Empowering is the opposite side of the disempowered coin. The only binary responses people can imagine when it comes to sex work”. Michelle Gurule nós oferece muito o que pensar sobre trabalho sexual, e o péssimo hábito do capitalismo de transformar necessidades básicas em bens de consumo

Ireland needs clear guidelines for the National Referral Mechanism as soon as possible so that trafficking victims are not forced to interact with Gardaí unless they want to. www.irishlegal.com/articles/ire...

🌟 September 14th is Pride Day! 🌟 SWers have always been here, building friendships, celebrating every win, and supporting one another in the face of exclusion. Today we rejoice in the strength, wisdom, and love of our communities across the globe. Happy Sex Worker Pride Day!

Today is Sex Workers' Pride Day, and we want to highlight some of SWAI's work. In March, SWAI, Red Umbrella Éireann, and Reclaim the Agenda placed a plaque at the Ulster Female Penitentiary grave in Belfast City Cemetery. Seven women who died in the penitentiary are buried there.

Good story. Common story of why people go into sex work - financial strain. Medical bills. Student loans. Also a nice story for humanizing "Johns", men who pay for sex. There are so many lovely, empathetic sweet men who want to do good and help their providers beyond the "regular rate".

If you are in Cork, the Sexual Health Centre provides the following for sex workers. Free STI At-Home Kits Order online for collection at the Sexual Health Centre, or have them posted to you. Free Condoms and Lubricant for Sex Workers Just ask for "the bag" at reception www.sexualhealthcentre.com

People enter sex work for all kinds of reasons, but fundamentally, it is because they need money. This article outlines how sex work helped the author avoid poverty and get the help they needed. www.huffpost.com/entry/sugar-...

Have you seen the new Red Umbrella Éireann website? Here you can find out info about the Red Umbrella Film Festival (October 16th - 19th) and the campaign for decriminalisation of sex work in Ireland and beyond. www.redumbrellaeireann.com

💛 ESWA developed Gold Standard Guidelines, setting clear standards that put sx workers’ rights, safety, and voices at the centre of research. Online launch: 16 Sept 2025, 14:30 CET Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. Stigma against sex workers, combined with criminalisation, negatively impacts their mental health.

#sexwork #sexworkiswork

💸 #Donations 👥 #SWEAT You can support SWEAT to continue their advocacy! ^^ 💸 www.givengain.com/campaign/swe... 🐦🛡️ xcancel.com/SweatTweets/... 🐦🕸️ x.com/SweatTweets/...

Ireland is failing trafficking victims by conflating all sex work with trafficking, by the Direct Provision system and by not yet providing guidelines for the National Referral Mechanism. www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-...

Over 100 Gardaí were on this nationwide operation, which yielded.... up to 4 arrests. Is this a good use of Garda resources? www.galwaybeo.ie/news/galway-...

The internet and advertising sites have allowed sex workers much more control over their work environments and increased their ability to screen clients. Discussions like these overlook that sex workers will return to outdoor work, which is more dangerous. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

You can check this explicative video as well~ ^^ From the 👥 #HRW in 🗓️ #August2019; it summarizes their report at the time. 📼 www.youtube.com/watch?v=t30Q...

Check this brief article for more context: 📰 www.hrw.org/news/2025/08... Or, for detail, HRW's 2019 report: 🌐 www.hrw.org/report/2019/... (Also shared by the SWAI:) 🦋 bsky.app/profile/swai... For reference: • 2019: HRW report • 2022: Decrim bill • 2024: SWEAT legal case • Now: see above posts. ;3

ICYMI We launched our Migrant Sex Workers and Housing Research last month. It outlines how current laws encode discrimination against sx workers in law and the racism migrant sex workers face. www.ireland-live.ie/news/ireland...

Today, we want to continue highlighting SWAI's work. As part of our meet-ups, we held a BDSM workshop to upskill sex workers into new areas of work. Due to our laws and grinding stigma, sex workers are isolated which has a detrimental effect on their mental health.

🇿🇦 #SouthAfrica 📰 #News ⚖️ #Legal 🗓️ #August2025 Besides the litigation itself, 👥 #SWEAT has managed to push for a moratorium on the prosecution of sex workers, while the aforementioned case is concluded — a huge win already, 🎉 even if it ends up being temporary. 📰 sweat.org.za/2025/08/26/s...

🇿🇦 #SouthAfrica 📰 #News ⚖️ #Legal 🗓️ #August2025 🗓️ #September2025 The Western Cape High Court held a hearing around a SW decrim proposal on Sep. 1–2, due to the litigation brought forward by 👥 #SWEAT. This case can set a landmark in the fight for rights in South Africa. 📰 sweat.org.za/2025/08/07/d...

Our crowdfund is still open and your donation will ensure sx workers' voices are heard in Ireland.

Free contraception for anyone with a uterus from 17-35! To access free contraception, you need to: • be a woman or person with a uterus • be aged 17 to 35 • live in Ireland • have a PPS number Go to sexualwellbeing.ie to find out more.

This month, courts in South Africa will hear the case for the decriminalisation of sex work. This video outlines why treating sex work as a crime has harmful effects. www.youtube.com/watch?v=t30Q...

8 years into a failed law and the supports for sex workers has not materialised. The radio segment this story is taken from highlights that the needs of sex workers are not being addressed. www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-n...

INCLUSION IS JUSTICE Sex workers face stigma, harassment, and unsafe working conditions—but their voices are often ignored. #SexWorkerRights #Inclusion #JusticeForAll

*Businesses are NOT people *People over profit *All workers deserve rights and need protections *SEX WORK IS WORK and most importantly *FUCK CAPITALISM!!!!!!!! Hapoy Labor Day

This beautiful BYOB event is celebrating friendship and raising funds for SWAI! On Monday at The Winding Stair Bookshop, there will be poetry, prose, and discussions all centred around friendship. www.eventbrite.ie/e/salon-roga...

At what point can we acknowledge that the sex work laws in Ireland are not reducing the number of trafficked individuals, and conclude that these laws are failing to achieve their intended purpose? www.sundayworld.com/news/irish-n...

I gotta say, @siridahl.com was banging on pots and pans about this. Not only does sex work lead the charge in new media (DVDs and BluRay) it’s also the canary in the coal mine for conservative bullshit. Support sex work even if you’re a prude or pay for it later.

In fairness this sort of thing is a problem with many police forces. But it's off the scale with the Gardai and you often really cannot get any help whatsoever. Not sure why institutional laziness doesn't seem to be widely recognised as a feature of police culture.

For example the most common responses you get calling around Garda numbers asking for help for a victim of trafficking are like: My shift is nearly over, I'm not working today, our office isn't doing trafficking cases anymore, you'll have to call somewhere else, we don't have resources, I'm on leave

We also tend to excuse institutional laziness more than we do other factors like blatant police corruption for personal gain. But actually the end result is often the same for victims of crime.

The question of why Gardai don't act against child abusers etc often comes up at international policing conferences and as an Irish org we get asked, what is the explanation for it, is it police corruption? The answer is that is it more complex than that. One factor is just institutional laziness.

Of no surprise to anybody who has ever seriously engaged with Gardai. This report is about roads policing. But can speak to it being the same with issues like child abuse, sexual violence, human trafficking. Many Gardai are determined not to do work.

SWAI is facing a precarious future. Despite great efforts, we have no secured or expected income to fund our core work due to being viewed as too radical for publicly critiquing the Nordic Model, government, and policing. If you are able to host an event to fundraise for us email [email protected]

Oi, Ireland!