People involved in the sex trade are vulnerable to violence. Sex workers, even more than others, are blamed when raped, murdered, assaulted, or harassed. And sex workers face added barriers to reporting, from elevated shaming and victim-blaming to criminal charges for prostitution.

December 17th, International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers,  was created to call attention to crimes committed against sex workers all over the globe, and collectively demand protection, respect, and accountability.

On December 17, sex workers and allies stage protests, memorials, marches and vigils. They gather to raise awareness about systematic, widespread, often ignored violence against sex workers, as well as related systematic violence against women of color, undocumented immigrants, trans-women, indigenous women, homeless and low-income women, and other groups at the margins.

Learn More About 12/17 |  History of 12/17 | Event Locations | Organize an Event

This year, Sex Workers Outreach Project is asking you to help us gather funds to...

1. Aggregate and publish details of International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers events across the world.
   
2. Reach out to North American media about December 17 and how criminalization and discrimination perpetuate violence against our communities.
   
3. Cover costs of US-based December 17 events.
   

What We Need & What You Get

This year, Sex Workers Outreach Project wants to ensure chapters can afford space, flyers, and other materials for December 17 events. We also want to have funding available for others trying to organize public events on this day. And we want to have a big media presence. To do this, we need your help.

We are asking you to help us raise $4,500.

$4,500 will fund...

• Central Coordinator - 70-80 hours of media outreach, web publishing, coordination with and book-keeping for events ($900)
• Twelve US December 17 Events - Refreshments, promotional materials, space, decor and other supplies for twelve US-Based events that don't have an account and budget($3,600, or appx. $300 per event)

The Impact

December 17 is an important day for individuals involved in the sex trade, activists and allies. This year, a number of high-profile murders have brought systematic violence against individuals involved in the sex trade to mainstream media, reminding us as a community the extent of violence we face. Additionally, the closure of My Redbook, the passage of PROP 36 in Canada, and a myriad of new laws that hurt sex workers reminded us of how widespread targetting of our community is. This year, it's important to come together as a community, and stand up against violence.

 Funding will:

• Support a coordinated, nation-wide effort to raise awareness of the harmful impact of discrimination, criminalization, and stigma on sex workers.
• Ensure impacted populations can hold events.
• Ensure nation-wide media attention to December 17 and issues most important to sex workers.

Other Ways You Can Help

Any amount you give will help make nation-wide events on International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers possible. 

Even if you can't contribute, you can support the goals of December 17th by: 

• Emailing your friends, family and colleagues, and asking them to give.
• Donating a Perk for our campaign!
• Sharing the campaign via social media.
• Organizing a December 17 event in your city.
• Reaching out to your local SWOP Chapter and offering space, flyer-design, snacks, free printing, or general man-power to support their event. 
• Writing a blog, editorial, or article about December 17 and the multiple forms of violence individuals involved in the sex trade face.