Former Australian sex workers who have spoken out about their experiences in the sex industry, claiming human rights violations are rampant, say they have been harassed and targeted by pro-prostitution groups since coming forward.

Key points: New book details rape, assault and blackmail experienced by sex workers

New book details rape, assault and blackmail experienced by sex workers Former workers say the legalisation of prostitution only protects pimps

Former workers say the legalisation of prostitution only protects pimps Former workers have been labelled as traitors by pro-prostitution groups

Former workers have been labelled as traitors by pro-prostitution groups Scarlet Alliance criticised for not helping former workers

A controversial new book titled Prostitution Narratives — Stories of Survival in the Sex Trade details accounts of rape, assault, blackmail and coercion.

Former sex workers Alice* and Simone Watson say the book is a way for their voices to be heard and for the curtain to be lifted on an industry that caters to pimps but does little to protect the rights of workers.

The women are fighting against the legalisation of prostitution, saying it is a myth that sex workers are safer under this model, and are pushing for safe exit strategies for women who wish to leave.

Ms Watson said "illegal" street sex workers had more rights than women working in a legal brothel because they had more control over who they chose to accept or decline as clients and could negotiate their own payment.

"People on the street can negotiate pay better than workers in the industry," she said.

"People hear decriminalisation and they think it will make the industry safer, but this is just catering to the pimps.

"I entered a world where night after night my body was sold for men to use as they pleased, where violence was to be accepted as just part of the job. A world where fellow co-workers would join me in getting black-out drunk or taking copious amounts of drugs, just to be able to cope with the physical pain endured while working and to avoid the mental and emotional pain altogether."

Alice said when she worked in the industry she was blackmailed, had clients make sexually violent requests of her and was subjected to clients who expressed a desire to play out pre-pubescent fetishes.

"I would have clients who would say 'oh you look like my daughter's age, oh you look like you could be in high school'," she said.

Ms Watson said it was imperative for her to expose the reality of the sex-trade.

"To be offered the opportunity to contribute with other survivors was perhaps one of the most important and validating experiences I can think of."

Ms Watson said women working in the sex industry were more likely to be murdered or die prematurely due to overall poor health or substance addiction.

"PTSD is a leading cause of overall general poor health, and not just suicide, but slow death through smoking, alcohol and so on," she said.

"The backlash against the book has also highlighted that this reality is uncomfortable for those with a vested interest in keeping the sex trade going."

Alice said her self-worth diminished rapidly while she was part of the industry and both former workers say since speaking out they have been harassed by pro-prostitution groups who label them traitors.

'Legalising prostitution does not reduce crime'

Co-editor of the book Melinda Tankard Reist said the sex industry did not want the women to be heard because there was a financial motivation to maintaining an unregulated industry that allowed for "pop-up" brothels with minimum transparency.

Co-author of Prostitution Narratives Melinda Tankard Reist says legalisation of the sex industry will not work. ( Supplied: Melinda Liszewski )

"Why do they send activists to every event? The only narrative that is allowed is the 'happy hooker' narrative. It has been documented that the legalisation of prostitution does not reduce the incidence of crime, drugs or weapons in the industry," she said.

"Legalisation has failed and all the promises have not come true."

Ms Tankard Reist said the need for targeted exit strategies to help former workers overcome the financial, emotional and psychological repercussions was vital, with a large number of women suffering health issues including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Scarlet Alliance, or the Australian Sex Workers Association, has been criticised by the women for failing to help former workers.

Ms Tankard Reist said the Scarlet Alliance was keeping women in the industry and did nothing to help those wishing to leave.

"The Scarlet Alliance receives hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding to apparently help with trafficking, but they are saying there is no trafficking. They are not there to help women get out. They're there to keep women in," Ms Tankard Reist said.

She said the Australian Sex Party and Respect Inc, a community organisation focusing on the rights of sex workers in Queensland, were also targeting the women by attending book launches and shouting over the top of the women during their presentations.

Scarlet Alliance says it is helping sex workers

The CEO of Scarlet Alliance, Jules Kim, said the organisation supported sex workers whether they were in the industry or leaving it.

"We are directed by the needs of the people who contact us. There are a number of different organisations who can help with exit programs," she said.

"Not all sex workers have the same experience or want the same thing."

Ms Kim said assisting women with resumes to help with employment prospects outside of the industry was often necessary.

"As a sex worker they may have been managing their own finances, so there is a range of skills they have and we help them deal with the stigma and discrimination they experience," she said.

Ms Kim said the decriminalisation of the sex industry was the best way to support former workers and those still in the industry.

"Violence against sex workers is a big problem and reporting crime is difficult. Models for criminalisation create a lot of issues for sex workers," she said.

She said it was a misrepresentation to suggest the organisation had attended the book launches of former sex workers and disrespected the speakers.

"I can't comment to that because I have not attended, but obviously there are concerns if this is occurring. Other sex workers who attended told me they were respectful and not talking over the top of people."

*Surname withheld to protect privacy.