Sex workers worldwide face pervasive stigma, discrimination, criminalisation, economic vulnerability, and constant threats to their safety. Despite being a crucial part of the broader struggle for gender equality, they are often side-lined in mainstream feminist and human rights movements, leaving them without the solidarity and support they need. 

In 2023, during the Women Deliver Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, there was a turning point, with one session in particular stealing the spotlight. The event, titled “Get Your Hustle On: Be a Good Ally to Sex Workers,” marked an important step towards inclusivity in feminist movements, highlighting the often-overlooked struggles and rights of sex workers.

Organised by Red Umbrella Fund, CREA, and Urgent Action Fund Africa as part of CMI!’s Sex Workers’ Rights Working Group, the session aimed to build up support for the sex workers’ rights movement. The panel featured diverse voices including from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from the African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA), from the Uganda Network of Sex Worker-Led Organisations (UNESO), and from Red Umbrella Fund. 

The inclusion of this session was not just symbolic; it represented a systemic change. Women Deliver had previously been criticised for its narrow focus on women and girls, and for excluding structurally excluded groups like sex workers. 

The sex worker activists invited into the space were able to speak directly to an audience that included activists, donors, civil servants, and other stakeholders. They spoke from their own experiences and expertise to address how donors and other actors within the women’s rights movement can improve their support for sex worker movements. They highlighted the support they received from CMI! and provided examples of how other organisations can offer similar support. Daisy Nakato, National Coordinator of UNESO, passionately stated, “We need feminist funders to see all women, not only some. If you are a feminist, be one without If’s or But’s.”

The session’s success was evident from the overwhelming attendance, with many participants standing or sitting on the floor due to the lack of space. This unexpected turnout underscored the high interest and demand for discussions on sex workers’ rights within feminist spaces. In order to sustain and keep expanding these gains, it is essential to keep up continued advocacy, in addition to creating platforms where sex worker activists can lead the discourse about their own realities and the futures they envision for themselves.

 This is one of the seven stories we have published as CMI! Stories of Change 2023 under the #FundWhatWorks campaign. The stories portray how activists and organisations worldwide are working to advance human rights and gender justice.