The Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network (SWAN) conducted an analysis of the situation and needs of migrant sex workers in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia in early 2021. The results of the analysis are presented in a recent briefing paper “Sex Work and Migration in CEECA”.
Despite the significant scale of migration of sex workers throughout the region, there is a lack of available research on the specific experiences of migrant sex workers and what support is available to them. As the regional network of sex worker-led organizations in CEECA, SWAN undertook this exercise as a first step to better understand the movements of migrant sex workers and their experiences in accessing services and support.
The briefing paper focuses on access to health services, particularly to HIV prevention services, testing, treatment, as well as sexual and reproductive health services and access to health services for transgender people. The authors of the article note that difficulties arise in almost all countries of the region and in all aspects related to access to these services. In a large number of cases, migrant sex workers can only rely on private medicine, which is often very expensive. In some cases, it is possible to obtain services with the help of friendly NGOs, and, in rare cases, within the state medical system.
The full text of the review article can be downloaded here.
The Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network is a sex worker-led regional network in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia that advocates for the human rights of sex workers of all genders. SWAN was founded in 2006 and was officially registered as the SWAN Foundation in January 2012. The membership of the SWAN is made up of 28 sex worker-led and ally organizations from 20 countries across the region.