CSW68 Pitch: Increase the financial self-reliance, independence, autonomy and inclusion of women and girls in all their diversity

During the CSW ngo-briefing on the 22nd of januari 2024, pitches were given to the Dutch CSW68 delegation with recommendations from the civil society. They had a clear message: involve us and listen to the insights of people living in poverty to work towards the goal of equal rights more effectively.

Alexis Wilson Briggs, interim coordinator of the Red Umbrella Fund, speaks on the importance of financial self-reliance, independence, autonomy and inclusion of women and girls in all their diversity.

“Last week I sat at a table of sex workers discussing whether it was safe to open a bank account, how to describe our work to the Chamber of Commerce, and how to comply with tax reporting regulations without exposing ourselves and our clients to unknown legal risks.

This conversation was here, in the Netherlands. Although sex work is not criminalised, it is not regulated by the Ministry of Labour, it is regulated by the Ministry of Justice and Safety – and this stigmatises sex work, making it appear as if it is inherently dangerous, and causes financial and economic inequality for sex workers.

Safe access to financial institutions is key to addressing poverty and removing barriers for financial independence for women.

As Interim Coordinator for Red Umbrella Fund, I have also had the privilege of sitting at the table with global leaders of the sex worker-led movement. These leaders also discuss barriers to their individual financial independence.

Beyond this, sex worker-led organisations globally face increased scrutiny by their banks when we distribute grants to their accounts– this is happening in banks in Tanzania, India, Russia, Guyana, Ecuador, China and beyond. Many of these grants are funded in part by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sex work is work – like any work it is a choice that is impacted by individual economic realities. Marginalisation based on gender is one of those realities that places women, transgender, non-binary, and intersex people in poverty.

As women, sex workers are often caregivers with multiple dependants. They are often economic migrants providing resources to their communities. Criminalisation of this choice in any form creates violent consequences – for them, their dependents, and their communities.

This is what is at stake we call on the Dutch government to defend the rights of sex workers – locally as well as globally.

It matters to the safety of women whether sex work is regulated by the Ministry of Labour. It matters to our safety, our economic independence, and our human rights.”

See all the Dutch civil society's CSW68 recommendations here, in Dutch and English.

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