The discussion continues
It’s not hard to understand that we didn’t like the debate about online sex work that was in the Riksdag. Where politicians even doubted our competence to be able to email them. This was the start of a debate in media, which unfortunately is only in Swedish and starts with our member’s debate article
https://www.etc.se/debatt/na-r-blir-en-hora-tillra-ckligt-olycklig-fo-r-att-tas-pa-allvar
The politician in question then countered with this text:
https://www.etc.se/debatt/sexkoepslagen-utgaar-fraan-forskning-och-inte-enskilda-undantag
And our member then of course gave our answer:
https://www.etc.se/debatt/ni-ljuger-naer-ni-saeger-att-sexko-pslagen-a-r-till-fo-r-oss
We are waiting with excitement to see if the debate continues…
Help us help!
Sex workers are worried and RUS has to deal with the consequences of the law. Please support us with a donation!
EDRi questioning the law
Even those who work for digital rights see the flaws in Sweden’s new law.
We will not be silenced!
Give us rights instead!
https://www.aftonbladet.se/debatt/a/dRe97A/rattigheter-inte-raddning
Please sign!
There are many of us who want to stop the new law before it goes into effect. Sign up if you are one of us!
https://www.mittskifte.org/petitions/stoppa-lagen-mot-att-gora-sexkop-pa-natet-olagligt
Support us to help!
Due to the change in legislation, many sex workers are uncertain about their future and how they will be able to work, and they are turning to us for support and help. Red Umbrella Sweden is an entirely volunteer-run organization that receives no public funding. The new law proposal included no consideration for how support and assistance would be provided to the sex workers affected by the legislation — that responsibility has fallen to us as an organization. So if you would like to help us support those impacted, we would greatly appreciate your donation!
More sex workers in media
Sex workers are trying to make their voices heard through the media. Read more about what we have to say here:
https://www.etc.se/debatt/na-r-blir-en-hora-tillra-ckligt-olycklig-fo-r-att-tas-pa-allvar
https://magasinetkonkret.se/fordomar-och-snedvriden-statistisk-bakom-nya-sexkopslagen
https://www.expressen.se/debatt/debatt-vi-sexarbetare-ar-inte–lattlurade-och-pengakata
Was voted through
Unfortunately, the law was passed. Everyone voted in favor, except for the Social Democrats, who wanted the law to also include subscriptions to websites. And here is the debate that preceded the vote.
Sex work activists at the Riksdag
This week, sex work activists Kira Stellar (Chairperson of Red Umbrella Sweden) and Irena Konečná, ESWA Senior Policy Officer, visited the Riksdagen and spoke with politicians about the problems and consequences the upcoming bill could have.
Participated in conference
Members from RUS participated in a conference on sex work in the Baltic region, organized at Södertörn University. The conference wanted to create more contacts and building bridges between sex workers and academics who research in the field, and RUS participated in a panel discussion. It was a good conference with many exciting conversations.