(Picture: Ella Byworth)

The UK’s sex worker community are going on strike today, to campaign for decriminalization.

The decriminalization of sex work is an on-going debate, which sex workers say would make their lives safer, better regulated and help to end violence against them.

The strike, which is being organised by the Women’s Strike Assembly, is not just for sex workers but for all people who feel that the decriminalization of the sex work industry is important.

The organisers explained their mission, writing: ‘We are calling on sex workers all over the country and around the globe to join us. We strike to protest against the sexist, racist and criminal laws and whore stigma that jeopardise our lives.’




‘We will be on strike whether we work in brothels, saunas, strip clubs, street corners or porn shoots, in flats, escort agencies or working independently.’

Research indicates that sex workers have an average of a 55% chance of experiencing violence during any given year of work.

(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

The strike isn’t just for sex workers – allies are also encouraged to get involved. If you don’t do sex work, you can also strike from other traditionally female work, such as emotional and domestic labour. As the campaign’s Facebook page explains: ‘On March 8th, we will refuse to do the sex/work that we do for money and all the domestic, sex and care work that we are expected to do for free.’

Given that women do on average 40% more house work than men, and many of the female dominated roles such as career and parent are unpaid, you can see their point.

Those who are based in London can all attend the strike meeting this evening at St Anne’s Church in Soho from 7pm. You can find out more about the strike here.

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