«Today is International Sex Worker Rights Day»
Tuesday March 3rd 2026.
This day's history goes back to 2001, when over 25,000 sex workers gathered in India for a festival despite efforts from prohibitionists groups who tried to prevent it taking place by pressuring the government to revoke their permit.
The event was organised by Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, a Calcutta based group that has over 50,000 sex worker members, and members of their communities.
Sex workers groups across the world have subsequently celebrated 3 March as an annual, international event, as International Sex Workers' Rights Day.
Source: International Sex Worker Rights Day - Scarlet Alliance, 2024.
‣ Sex worker rights day in so called ‘Australia’
The FULL decriminalisation of sex work removes sex work-specific criminal and licensing laws AND police powers for ALL sex workers, including sex workers from marginalised groups.
While many jurisdictions in so called ‘Australia’ have achieved decriminalisation, many sex workers still work under criminalised models.
Even states with versions of decriminalisation, like here in NSW, still seek continued improvements.
Rights now, Western Australia, Australian Capital Territory, and South Australia have active campaigns to decriminalise sex work in their jurisdictions. You can help by following their social media and staying up to date with their movement.
‣ Sex worker rights day in NSW.
Although NSW was the first jurisdictions in the world to achieve the decriminalisation of sex work in 1995, we are still fighting to repeal some remaining criminal offences related to sex work.
Even though these offences are rarely applied, this means we still do not have full decriminalisation in NSW.
Sex workers in NSW also do not have anti-discrimination protections, despite this being achieved in other states and territories.
SWOP NSW will continue to advocate for these protections, and are currently waiting for the second phase of the review of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act and the Prostitution Act.
You can stay up to date with our campaigns by following us on social media or subscribing to our newsletter.
‣ The fight is not over!
Even with decriminalisation and anti-discrimination protections, sex workers still experience stigma.
To access new and existing civil laws, protections from the appropriate regulatory bodies, and justice - cultural and societal attitudes towards sex workers need continued improvement. This includes attitudes towards migrant sex workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, sex workers who use drugs, LGBTQIA+ folk, disabled sex workers, and any group in the margins.
“…while sex workers are (rightly) celebrating… decrim laws, we should not forget that some groups in our community—including migrant sex workers—are still being targeted, criminalised, and denied basic labour rights”
Also see:
🎧 International Sex Worker Rights Day: Give Inglenook the Boot in 3CR Radical Radio.
#ISRWD #ISRWD2026 #Australia #SWOP_NSW
![Our work is real, our lives and rights matter.
— Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee.
«International Sex Workers' Rights Day»
March 03, 2026.
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![[logo: Magenta]
«Sex worker rights are human rights»
Sex Worker Rights Day
March 3rd 2026](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7p4pbes77hhseeifiozhobxl/bafkreichaoda4l5b5dusmaqklr3yknw4lgwuaswdqql2mdqjn2l55cd76e)
![«International Sex Workers' Rights Day»
3 March.
Highlighting the need for decriminalisation, protection from violence and promotion of human rights for sex workers everywhere.
[The bottom half consist on Meridian's logo, but instead of a solid color, it shows through (parts of) a photograph of red umbrellas under a lit forest canopy.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7p4pbes77hhseeifiozhobxl/bafkreidtkt2k7kirxbieihmcdijecrrmyxt3pafksbszwrkrtcphkrzbcq)
![[Photo of several red umbrellas under the sky.]
«International Sex Workers' Rights Day»
3rd March.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7p4pbes77hhseeifiozhobxl/bafkreia2ppmrgdpx3ox5ioqiidqjll42xu5fbztrikdyzpvsi3qlopaizu)