Every year on June 2, International Sex Workers’ Day is observed to recognise the struggles, resilience, and demands for justice voiced by sex workers around the world. The day is a powerful reminder of a decades-long movement rooted in dignity, human rights, and labor justice.
The significance of June 2 dates back to 1975 in Lyon, France, when over 100 sex workers occupied the Saint-Nizier Church. Their peaceful protest, sparked by unchecked violence, police harassment, and unsafe working conditions, lasted eight days before they were forcibly removed by authorities. Despite the eviction, the protest sent a clear message: sex workers were no longer willing to stay silent about the abuse, marginalisation, and lack of protection they endured daily.
That moment marked the beginning of a broader international movement advocating for the rights and recognition of sex workers as legitimate members of society.
Continuing challenges in 2025
Fifty years later, many of the same issues persist. Sex workers around the world continue to face systemic discrimination, criminalisation, and exclusion from legal protections enjoyed by workers in other sectors. Violence, exploitation, and poor access to healthcare are rampant in regions where sex work remains illegal or heavily stigmatised.
Criminal laws often push the industry underground, increasing the risks for those involved. Additionally, social stigma continues to isolate sex workers from families, communities, and essential services-making it harder to report abuse or seek justice.
Sex workers recognition and rights in India
The legal framework surrounding sex work in India is largely governed by the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA), 1956, which criminalises activities associated with trafficking and exploitation, such as brothel-keeping, pimping, and soliciting in public spaces. While the Act does not criminalise sex work per se, it imposes significant restrictions that often lead to the harassment and marginalisation of sex workers.
In addition to the ITPA, provisions under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act also deal with issues related to trafficking, exploitation of minors, and forced prostitution. These laws, though aimed at curbing abuse and trafficking, are frequently used in ways that blur the line between consensual sex work and coercion, often resulting in legal ambiguity and misuse.
Despite the progressive stance taken by the Supreme Court in recent years, the existing legal provisions continue to create a hostile environment for sex workers, who remain vulnerable to police action, social stigma, and denial of basic rights. Activists and human rights advocates have long called for comprehensive reform to decriminalise consensual adult sex work, ensure labor protections, and separate it clearly from trafficking-related offenses.
A global call for decriminalisation and dignity
International Sex Workers’ Day is not just a memorial to a protest -it’s a call to action. Advocates around the world are pushing for the decriminalisation of sex work, legal recognition of workers’ rights, and protection from violence and exploitation. Organisations use this day to hold events, share stories, and amplify the voices of sex workers demanding safety, fairness, and equality.
Some countries are taking progressive steps. In recent years, legal reforms in places like Belgium have granted sex workers access to labor protections, including contracts, healthcare, and safe working conditions -setting an example for other nations to follow.
