Athens, December 17, 2020
PRESS RELEASE
Subject: «Campaign of GTSA for the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.»
The Greek Transgender Support Association (GTSA), is a voluntary non-governmental organization for the rights and freedoms of trans, gender-diverse, intersex and LGBTI persons in general, as well as sex workers, with this announcement, informs about the campaign undertaken by GTSA on the occasion of the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, which is internationally honored on December 17th.
On the occasion of this International Day, we remember and honor all those who have been victims of murder and violence, while at the same time, we declare our commitment and solidarity in the ongoing struggle for the empowerment, visibility and human rights and freedoms of those persons who work in sex. Murders, assaults, violence, rapes, threats to life and physical integrity are the most inhumane forms of violence faced by sex workers. Racism, economic inequality, but also the institutional violence they often face must end. The stigma, discrimination and any form of criminalization that aggravates and intensifies social marginalization, their exclusion from social life and the restriction and violation of their fundamental rights and freedoms, cannot be tolerated in democratic societies.
In this context, we must remember that according to the international records of the international network for recording the murders of trans people, which since 2009 records in a detailed and systematic way the murders of trans and gender diverse persons, out of a total of 350 murders of trans people in 2019, of those recorded in the profession, 62% of homicides were against trans women working in sex. This international image is not far from the Greek reality, as although trans murders of trans people have not been recorded in our country in the last ten years, most transphobic hate attacks that took place in Greece were against trans women who work in sex.
In this context, the GTSA has undertaken – in order to contribute to the rights of these fellow human beings – this campaign with the general title “InVisible” implemented within the project ” (In)Visible Strengthening advocacy for the rights of trans sex workers, combating discrimination and empowerment “, a project that focuses on strengthening advocacy for the rights of trans sex workers, combating discrimination, asserting their rights, and integrating them socially.
The campaign is part of the general framework of the pan-European action entitled “No One Left Behind” and will run across Europe as supported by ILGA-Europe, an international non-governmental organization umbrella for the protection of LGBTI rights, participating in more than 600 organizations and associations from 54 countries in Europe and Central Asia, and despite the fact that at the moment we are facing restrictive measures and open events with the participation of the public are not possible, are included mainly online actions, such as visual audio material (video), posters, and more generally focus – online – on the rights and freedoms of sex workers. Apart from ILGA-Europe, the campaign is supported by the International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE), the non-governmental organization PRAKSIS, as well as with the support of the Technopolis of the City of Athens and the newspaper EFSYN.
At the same time, and for these purposes, we are intensifying our efforts at the political level in the direction of the State taking a legislative initiative, in order to change the current legislation and to rationalize the absurdly excessive existing framework, in the view that sex work is work, and in securing employment, insurance and welfare rights for all persons working in sex, as well as in reducing and eliminating the stigma, discrimination and marginalization they experience.
Say no to violence and stigma!
Recognition of sex work as work!
THE BOARD OF MEMBERS
GREEK TRANSGENDER SUPPORT ASSOCIATION
79 Sygrou Street, 3rd floor, Athens, 11745
Tel. 210.9210697
Office hours: Monday to Friday
09.00-14.00 & 17.00-20.00
http://tgender.gr – http://www.transgender-association.gr/
contact@tgender.gr – transgender.support.association@gmail.com
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