On June 2nd, 1975, over 100 sex workers in Lyon, France, occupied the church of St Nizier in protest about their criminalised and exploitative living conditions. They managed to occupy the church for 10 days making national and international news headlines, and started a strike that involved sex workers from all over France, creating a legacy of activism that is celebrated each year on International Sex Workers’ Day as a defining moment of the modern sex worker rights movement.
IWW Ireland joins today sex workers and their supporters worldwide to demand full decriminalisation of all forms of sex work.
Present legislation known as the 'Nordic Model' has worsened the work and life conditions of sex workers. Decriminalisation of sex work is necessary to work in safe spaces, have the right to access adequate Healthcare and state benefits, and to end social stigma, deportations, and police and state violence.
Unionise the fight for workers rights and against capitalist exploitation.
An injury to one is an injury to all!