‣ Introducing ESWA’s new Executive Director!

We are thrilled to share that after an extensive recruitment process, Kali Sudhra (they/ellx/she) has been selected as the new Executive Director of ESWA.

Kali has long been a vital organiser in the sex workers’ rights movement, previously serving as the Chair of the Board of Directors of ESWA.

In their own words:

> My vision for ESWA is that we remain resilient, sex worker led, that we uphold our values of collective liberation, and that we practice proactive advocacy to move beyond responding to challenges to actively shaping the future of our rights through solidarity.

We are beyond excited to work with Kali in this new capacity! Stay tuned to get to know Kali and the rest of the team better - we will soon publish a video where ESWA team members share what exactly we do at ESWA, why sex workers' rights are important to us, and who we are outside of work.

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‣ ESWA Team in-person meeting

The ESWA team came together in Athens Greece for our in person staff meeting. It was an exciting event as it was the first time the new team was all together!

Over three days, the team worked on defining our workplans, communication strategy, analysing our budgets, reviewing our strategic plan and our participation at upcoming conferences and events. We participated in inclusive communication training and had a session focused on care and resilience. We also paid a visit to our member organisation, Red Umbrella Athens, and got to see all the incredible work they are doing.

Of course, we found time for some downtime: LGBTQI+ history walk, photo booths, fawning over the local cats, sipping cappuccino with the best view and sharing incredible food.

We also shared a bittersweet moment with a surprise party for our colleague and friend Yigit Aydinalp, as he is getting ready to leave the organisation after 12 years. Over that time, he has contributed more than we could ever fully capture, shaping not only the organisation’s development but also the wider sex workers’ rights movement, and many of our own activist journeys. Many of you will know Yigit for his extensive research and digital rights work, including building ESWA’s Digital Rights Programme from the ground up, which is now a central pillar of ESWA’s work. Alongside this, he has played a crucial role in helping to secure significant funding that has sustained and strengthened our work. He also recently stepped into the role of interim director, guiding the organisation through an important period of change. We’ll miss him greatly, but we’ll stay in touch and look forward to seeing the new and exciting initiatives he brings to life in the future.

The staff meeting left us inspired and energized to continue to work to serve our community in the best way possible.

Last week, ESWA took to amplifying PICUM’s email campaign¹ calling upon Members of European Parliament to reject a version of text for the contested “Return Regulation” written by the European People’s Party (EPP), in association with far-rights groups, including France’s National Rally, Germany’s Alternative for Germany, and Hungary’s Fidesz. Despite immense efforts of civil society, Thursday’s vote gave the green-light to what human rights actors warn will replicate ICE-inspired migration enforcement.

The newly approved proposal introduces measures that would further restrict fundamental rights, paving the way for use of “Return Hubs” - migration detention centres in third-party countries where a migrant may never have even stepped foot. As negotiations progress toward final phases, all eyes are on the European Union to reverse the moving train toward democratic backsliding and mounting influence of the far right.

Earlier this month, ESWA’s Policy Officer on Access to Justice appeared in a segment concerning sex worker’ rights on ARTE’s ‘Weekly’.² While grateful for the opportunity to represent the perspectives of sex workers in Europe, alongside Hydra, Berlin, ESWA was disappointed at the conflation between legalisation versus decriminalisation made within the segment, despite our best efforts to outline the differences in these distinct legal models. Our experience prompted the Team to set wheels in motion toward a “Responsible Journalism and Media Checklist for Fair Representation of Sex Work” (working title). Stay tuned for more.

In other news, ESWA was grateful to attend the “Meeting of NGOs and Litigators on Bringing Cases to the European Court of Human Rights”, building on experiences of applicants among the sex worker community in the seminal case of M.A. and Others versus France. We also learned about practicalities from the Court’s approach to prioritisation of applications to its new E-communications systems for third-party intervenors (a position of privilege ESWA hopes to reprise in future).

¹ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kQGbFOQOE9EKGlQdiS1I5HKBPq-LEBa1dqpAMoE86As/view
² https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/112907-158-A/arte-europe-weekly/

‣ Discussing the Protection of Minors at the European Parliament.

Our Access to Justice Policy Officer Elizabeth McGuinness went to Brussels this Month to participate in a meeting hosted by the Parliament on the protection of minors online. As we know, protection of minors is one of the main arguments used to push for more censorship and discrimination against sex work online. This is why it was fundamental to have ESWA at the table and remind everyone how digital rights have been undermined for sex workers and this is also happening to the youth. Reactive measurements such as aggressive age verification and social media bans are not the solution to make the online environment safer.

‣ The future of Digital Rights at the EU and the enforcement of the DSA.

Our Policy Officer for Digital Rights, Ana Ornelas, has also participated in an online roundtable with other CSOs organized by DG CNECT, the European Commission’s unit taking care of digital rights. The meeting was focused on the importance of enforcing the Digital Services Act, and how the Commission is planning to work strongly around themes of access in 2026, including Age Verification strategies. She reinforced the importance of having sex workers’ voices amplified in this debate, especially when it comes to porn platforms.

In March we have observed the International Sex Workers’ Rights Day,¹ International Women’s Day,² and Trans Day of Visibility.

For the Trans Day of Visibility, ESWA has joined the video campaign of TGEU - Transgender Europe and Central Asia, centering trans voices talking about the invisibilised aspects of their lives. To highlight intersections between sex workers’ rights and trans rights, sex worker’s rights activist Ines Anttila and ESWA Director of Communication and Campaigns Wszebor Sienkiewicz sent their contributions. You can see the campaign videos on TGEU’s instagram.

Thank you everyone who joined the premiere and live stream of the community video on what sex workers wish the world knew. Being together, even in this small capacity, made the International Sex Workers’ Day on March 3rd special. For those of you who missed the video, check it out on ESWA YouTube.¹

¹ Relevant post for ISWRD: 🐘 https://kolektiva.social/@yenndc/116141536096476508
🎞️ Video (YouTube, sadly): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOp1q9x2qRw

² Relevant post for IWD: 🐘 https://kolektiva.social/@yenndc/116206888700309841

#ISWRD #IWD #TDoV #ESWA #TGEU #ISWRD2026 #IWD2026 #TDoV2026

‣ AFEMTRAS marks ten years in the streets for 8M and Celebrates Major RegularizaciónYa Campaign Success in Spain.

AFEMTRAS (Asociación feminista de trabajadoras sexuales) in Spain celebrated several wins and milestones over the past months. On March 8th, International Women’s Day, they marked the ten year anniversary of their first participation in the 8M day marches. Additionally, in late January, they celebrated the enormous win of the migrant regularisation campaign in Spain, a success in which they played a significant role.

On January 26th after years of advocacy by the “RegularizaciónYa” campaign, the Spanish Parliament approved a measure to regularise half a million people living with an irregular immigration status. Beyoncé, a founding member of AFEMTRAS and leader in the sex workers and migrant rights movement in Madrid explained in an interview with La Labortoria posted on their instagram page¹ that AFEMTRAS has actively formed part of the RegularizaciónYa campaign. “During the signature drive, we’ve been very active—we’ve collected signatures, attended meetings, and handled administrative matters. We’ve been closely following this issue for years. We’re part of RegularizaciónYa.”

She added, “The rights of sex workers are anti-racist demands; many of us are migrants and people of color. Anti-racism is essential to combating the oppression that leaves us in precarious situations and forces us to work without rights, in poverty.” Although the move marks an enormous win after years of organising and activism, Beyoncé emphasised that, “ It’s a big stone we’ve moved out of the way so we can keep moving forward, but there are still many more stones to move."

¹ https://www.instagram.com/p/DUGU5btjONS/

[See also (post noting and linking to the interview, in Spanish): 🐘 https://kolektiva.social/@yenndc/116350806095343258]

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‣ UTSOPI Celebrates Four Years of Decriminalisation This March!

On March 18th, UTSOPI,² in partnership with Bruxelles Laïques, and the support of the organisations Espace P and Alias, held a Sex Work Decrim Party³ in Brussels to commemorate the four-year anniversary since the historic win of decriminalisation of sex work in Belgium in 2022. The event hosted a roundtable discussion and sex workers' performances that continued to affirm: "Nothing about us without us!"

² https://www.utsopi.be
³ https://www.utsopi.be/agenda/sex-work-decrim-party

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‣ The Grisélidis Association advocates for Repeal of Toulouse’s 2014 anti-prostitution Ordinances in Municipal Elections.

The Grisélidis Association⁴ invited municipal candidates for this March’s elections in Toulouse to a meeting late last month, as well as community members to an open house the following day, to discuss anti-prostitution ordinances put into effect in 2014.

They took the opportunity to propose alternatives to the candidates and explained how the 2014 anti-prostitution ordinances have resulted in workers being “pushed to the periphery in isolated, poorly served, and often poorly lit areas,” where they, “are subjected to more physical, sexual, and verbal abuse.” Three left-wing candidates who attended the conference committed to working towards a repeal of the ordinances yet the current mayor who originally introduced the 2014 ordinances did not accept the invitation to attend the event and was re-elected this past March. The Grisélidis Association underscores that, “The number of complaints of violence has increased at our organisation since 2014,” and they continue to advocate for their repeal.

⁴ https://griselidis.com

#SexWork #AFEMTRAS #UTSOPI #Grisélidis

🧵 ESWA Monthly March 2026 (6/10): Opportunities (1/3).

‣ Callout for Contributions to the Redinsight.org × The Scarlett Letterpress Zine.

> Cash in hand, with ideas to unleash? Send your questions, pitches, and submissions to [email protected] by 7 April 2026.

#RedInsight #TheScarlettLetterpress #Zine #2026W15

«Call for Black Researcher: Digital Freedom Fund Pre-Litigation Research Project»

Details on the image, plus:

> Priority to researchers in Germany.
> Please send interests to [email protected] with RESEARCHER in subject line.
> LAST CALL! Delayed on getting this information out. Please repost and reshare.

— ⛲📷🕸 https://www.instagram.com/bswcberlin/p/DWqmmgcDPwe/
[🗓 April 3rd.]

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🧵 ESWA Monthly March 2026 (7/10): Opportunities (2/3).
> Black Sex Worker Collective (BSWC Berlin) is looking for a Black Researcher to join a one-year Digital Freedom Fund-supported Research Project!

#ResearchProject #BlackSexWorkerCollective #BSWCBerlin #Berlin #Germany #DigitalFreedomFund

«8th Annual Black Sex Worker Conference in Berlin»

🗓️ 25th–28th April 2026
🇩🇪🏙 Berlin 📍 Ashawo Café
(Exerzierstraße 13)
💶 0–50€ (see 👉) 🎟️ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-8th-annual-black-swer-conference-tickets-1986057905659?aff=oddtdtcreator

> The 8th Annual Black Sex Worker Conference is back, April 25–28 in Berlin, under the organization theme “This Bridge Called Our Backs.”

> This year, we’re building, holding, and crossing that bridge together through live sessions with Marbeliete, Godxxx Noirphiles, and new member Magdaline Lipesa, plus powerful pre-recorded sessions from our previous Villainous conference.

> With support from Mama Cash and Guerilla Fund, we’re continuing to center access and community. €100 scholarships are available for up to 10 local migrant, Black, and Sex Worker communities.

> No traditional tickets, entry is through membership donations available ahead of the conference by visiting https://thebswc.eventbrite.com. Other donation options will be available at the door each day.
> Come through and build with us.

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🧵 ESWA Monthly March 2026 (8/10), Opportunities (3/3).

> The Black Sex Worker Collective¹ will host the 8th Annual Black Sex Worker Conference under the organisation theme, "This Bridge Called Our Backs”. They explain on their Instagram² that, “This year, we’re building, holding, and crossing that bridge together through live sessions with Marbeliete, Godxxx Noirphiles, and new member Magdaline Lipesa, plus powerful pre-recorded sessions from our previous Villainous conference. With support from Mama Cash and Guerilla Fund, we’re continuing to center access and community. €100 scholarships are available for up to 10 local migrant, Black, and Sex Worker communities”.

¹ https://thebswc.org
² https://www.instagram.com/p/DWRgMhQCBxm/

#SexWork #BSWC #BSWCBerlin #BlackSexWorkerCollective #BlackSexWorkerConference #BlackSexWorkerConference2026 #BuildingBridges #Berlin #Germany #2026W17 #2026W18

«Disclosure as an Unsafe Practice: A Qualitative Exploration of How Stigma and Discrimination Shape Healthcare Engagement and Receipt of Quality Care for Sex Workers in Victoria, Australia»

🗓️ 5th February 2026
🆔 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes7010007
📄 PDF (open access): https://mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/sexes/sexes-07-00007/article_deploy/sexes-07-00007-with-cover.pdf

> Based on a qualitative health needs assessment with 31 diverse sex workers and 17 key stakeholders (including two mental health practitioners) in Victoria, Australia, this article adds to the emerging literature on stigma, sex work, and mental health. It does so by focusing on one element that plays a key role in determining sex workers’ experience of mental health support: whether they would disclose their sex work to a practitioner, why so, and what happens as a result. Our study finds that experiences and fears of being stigmatised by health practitioners when disclosing may prevent some sex workers from seeking professional mental health support in the first place and lead others to silence it or obfuscate; thus, potentially complicating access to safe and affirming mental healthcare. The value and role of disclosure is analysed in context by acknowledging the agency and ability of sex workers to understand, or take action in response to, their own mental health needs. Peer-to-peer support and solidarity are identified as key to sex workers’ mental well-being. Criminal restrictions on sex work are found to negatively impact sex workers’ access to mental healthcare. The findings from this study support ongoing efforts aimed at the full decriminalisation of sex work in order to improve sex workers’ access to high-quality mental health support, should they seek it, as well as the implementation of sensitivity training for mainstream mental health providers and the creation of reliable and accessible referral lists of sex worker-friendly mental healthcare providers.

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🧵 ESWA Monthly March 2026 (9/10): Recommendations (1/2).
> An open access article on the impact of stigma and discrimination on the quality of care for Sex Workers in Victoria, Australia. This research explores sex workers´ experiences while disclosing sex work to mental health practitioners in Victoria, Australia.

#Research #Article #SexWork #MentalHealth #Stigma #Outing #Australia #Victoria #February2026